Apertured Polymer Filter Sheets With Nanoparticles for Lower Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apertured polymeric sheets used in filters experience high cross-flow pressure drops, increasing operational costs and reducing filtration efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of nanoparticles within the polymer layer of apertured sheets to capture contaminants and reduce pressure drop, enhancing filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional apertured polymeric sheets are used as support membranes in filters, then structural support is provided, but high cross-flow pressure drop occurs increasing operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates nanoparticles within the polymer layer to create a porous structure that provides structural support while minimizing pressure drop. The nanoparticles create pathways that maintain structural integrity without significantly impeding fluid flow through the support membrane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by incorporating nanoparticles into the polymeric sheet matrix. This composite structure combines the structural support properties of the polymer with the flow-enhancing properties of the nanoparticles, achieving both strength and low pressure drop.
2Reliability
If nanoparticle concentration is increased to improve contaminant capture, then filtration efficiency increases, but pressure drop may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes nanoparticles locally within the polymer layer at optimized concentrations. Rather than uniform high concentration throughout, the nanoparticles are positioned to provide contaminant capture functionality where needed while maintaining open pathways for fluid flow, thus avoiding excessive pressure drop.
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 nanoparticles effectively filter contaminants while minimizing pressure drop across the support membranes, improving filter efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The nanoparticles capture contaminants and reduce the overall pressure drop across the support membranes
Data Source
AI summary
Apertured polymeric layers, sheets, mesh or films are provided for a variety of different applications. A polymeric sheet comprises at least one polymer layer having one or more apertures for flow of gas or liquid therethrough, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed within the polymer sheet such that the nanoparticles are disposed between a first surface of the polymer sheet and a second surface opposite the first surface. The nanoparticles filter contaminants passing through the polymeric sheet. The apertured sheets may comprise filter media and/or support membranes for filter media in gas or liquid filters. The nanoparticles reduce the overall pressure drop across the support membranes to improve the efficiency of such filters.