Autogenous Cleaning Filtration via Elastic Filter Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration methods face challenges with filter plugging and fouling, requiring expensive equipment and energy for maintaining fluid flow rates, especially at higher shear rates, and often disrupt continuous flow to remove accumulated solids.
Innovation Solution
A filtration method and device that uses an elastically supported filter medium transitioning between a slack and ballooned state to autogenously dislodge and eject solids without interrupting fluid flow, utilizing a permeable medium with an elastic support to alternately expand and contract, maintaining continuous flow and improving fluid flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pumps or mechanical motion are applied to the membrane to generate shear and remove solids, then solids removal rate is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter medium itself generates the cleaning action through its own elastic deformation when transitioning between slack and ballooned states, eliminating the need for external pumps or mechanical vibration systems. The filter autonomously removes solids through its inherent elastic properties and pressure-driven state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter medium transitions dynamically between two states: a slack state during filtration and a ballooned state for solids removal. This dynamic state change creates the necessary shear force to dislodge solids without requiring continuous mechanical actuation or complex control systems.
2Productivity
If flow direction is reversed to break up filter cake, then solids removal is improved, but operating time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration process continues uninterrupted as the filter medium transitions between states. Fluid flow is maintained in the forward direction throughout the cycle, eliminating downtime associated with flow reversal or system shutdown while still achieving effective solids removal through the ballooning action.
3Productivity
If mechanical vibration is applied to the membrane surface, then solids dislodgment is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter medium undergoes periodic transitions between slack and ballooned states driven by cyclic pressure changes. This periodic action naturally creates the mechanical motion needed for solids removal without requiring continuous energy input from external vibration sources, reducing overall energy consumption.
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 method and device effectively maintain continuous fluid flow while removing accumulated solids, reducing fouling and the need for expensive equipment, and enhance filtration efficiency by increasing fluid flow rates without the need for tangential flow or vibration.
Implementation Method 1
repeatedly displacing the medium between the first slack state and the second ballooned state
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an apparatus including: a filter medium having a slack state and a ballooned state and an elastic support attached to the filter medium to define a contiguous fluid flow path through the filter medium and the support. The elastic support is adapted to displace the filter medium repeatedly between the slack state and the ballooned state; the ballooned state is out-of-plane with respect to the slack state; and the slack state of the filter medium provides for areal strain greater than about 10% of the ballooned state. A method of cleaning a filter medium in a flow path of a fluid containing a suspended component is also described.