Adsorptive Molded Parts Using Polymer-Bonded Agglomerates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional adsorptive bulk filters using small adsorber particles face high pressure loss and channel formation issues, leading to suboptimal adsorption efficiency and mechanical instability, while existing solutions with additional carriers or complex processing steps are inefficient and inflexible.

Innovation Solution

The development of adsorptive shaped bodies formed from agglomerates of adsorber particles connected via a thermoplastic organic polymer, allowing for reduced pressure loss and enhanced mechanical stability through a pressing process that maintains the adsorption efficiency and flexibility of the adsorptive structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If small adsorber particles are used in bulk filters, then adsorption efficiency is improved due to larger surface area, but pressure loss increases and channel formation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption efficiencyVSAvoidpressure loss and channel formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter media is segmented into individual adsorber particles that are subsequently agglomerated into larger clusters. This segmentation allows the use of fine particles for high surface area while the agglomeration process creates larger effective particle sizes that reduce pressure loss and prevent channel formation, resolving the contradiction between adsorption efficiency and flow stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite agglomerates by bonding adsorber particles together using thermoplastic organic polymers. These composite structures combine the high surface area of fine particles with the mechanical stability and flow characteristics of larger particles, achieving both high adsorption efficiency and reduced pressure loss simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If larger adsorber particles are used, then pressure loss is reduced, but adsorption efficiency decreases due to smaller surface area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure lossVSAvoidadsorption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter media is segmented into individual adsorber particles that are subsequently agglomerated into larger clusters. This segmentation allows the use of fine particles for high surface area while the agglomeration process creates larger effective particle sizes that reduce pressure loss and prevent channel formation, resolving the contradiction between adsorption efficiency and flow stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite agglomerates by bonding adsorber particles together using thermoplastic organic polymers. These composite structures combine the high surface area of fine particles with the mechanical stability and flow characteristics of larger particles, achieving both high adsorption efficiency and reduced pressure loss simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If additional carrier materials are used to support adsorber particles, then mechanical stability is improved, but device complexity and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for separate carrier materials by using the adsorber particles themselves as the structural framework. The thermoplastic polymer bonds directly to the adsorber particles, creating self-supporting agglomerates that maintain mechanical stability without requiring additional carrier structures, thus reducing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adsorber particles serve dual functions: they provide the active adsorption surface area and they form the structural framework for mechanical stability. The thermoplastic polymer binds the particles together to create self-supporting agglomerates, eliminating the need for separate carrier materials and simplifying the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Strength

If adsorber particles are bonded into agglomerates, then mechanical stability and flexibility are improved, but adsorption surface area may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stability and flexibilityVSAvoidadsorption surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The thermoplastic polymer is applied locally at the contact surfaces between adsorber particles rather than coating the entire particle surface. This localized bonding provides mechanical stability and flexibility at the particle interfaces while preserving the adsorption surface area on the particle exteriors, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and adsorption capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adsorptive shaped bodies achieve low pressure loss, high adsorption efficiency, and mechanical resilience, enabling effective use under mechanical stress without the need for additional carriers or complex processing, while maintaining high adsorption capacity and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

adsorber particles connected via a thermoplastic organic polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

pressing process that maintains the adsorption efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

pressing process that maintains the adsorption efficiency and flexibility

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

adsorber particles to remove poisons or pollutants and odors from gas or air streams or from liquids

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2349556B1Adsorptive molded parts and the use thereof
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 BLUCHER GMBH
  • EP2349556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2349556B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2349556B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an adsorptive molded part preferably formed as a monolithic or single-piece part, wherein the molded part is constructed of a plurality of adsorptive structures based on agglomerates of adsorber particles, and to a method for producing said molded part and to the use thereof.