Backflush Valve Piston Mechanism for High-Viscosity Filter Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filtering devices for high-viscosity fluids, such as plastic melts, face challenges in effectively cleaning filter elements due to the embedding of impurities and agglomerations, which can lead to reduced efficiency and clogging, requiring a method to reverse fluid flow for backflushing without additional valves.
Innovation Solution
A filtering device with a housing, pistons, and a backflush valve system that allows for isolation of cavities from inlet and outlet channels, pressurization of cavities, and reverse fluid flow through backflush channels to dislodge impurities from filter elements, utilizing a pressure-boosting mechanism to enhance cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional valves are added to enable backflushing, then the ability to clean filter elements is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston serves multiple functions: it acts as both a filter carrier and a valve mechanism. By moving the piston between different positions, the system achieves both production mode (filtering) and backflush mode (cleaning) without requiring separate valves, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own fluid flow and piston movement to perform backflushing automatically. The piston's movement creates pressure differentials that reverse fluid flow through the filter element, enabling self-cleaning without external intervention or additional control valves
2Device complexity
If piston is used as filter carrier only, then the structure is simple, but the ability to control flow paths and enable backflushing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is designed to perform multiple functions: filtering (as a carrier for the filter element), flow path control (by blocking or opening channels), and valve operation (by positioning to direct fluid flow). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while enhancing system versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is made movable between different positions to dynamically control flow paths. In production mode, the piston allows forward flow through the filter; in backflush mode, the piston moves to block inlet channels and open backflush channels, enabling dynamic adaptation of system function without structural changes
3Device complexity
If backflushing is implemented without pressure boosting, then the system is simpler, but the effectiveness of dislodging embedded impurities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic pressure pulses during backflushing. The piston movement creates sudden pressure increases that propagate through the filter element, generating shock waves that effectively dislodge embedded impurities. This periodic action enhances cleaning effectiveness without requiring continuous high pressure or complex boosting mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pressure parameter dynamically during operation. During production, pressure is maintained at normal operating levels. During backflushing, the piston movement creates temporary pressure spikes that increase cleaning effectiveness. This parameter change approach improves cleaning without adding permanent pressure boosting hardware
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 system effectively cleans filter elements by reversing fluid flow and increasing pressure, dislodging impurities and agglomerations, thereby maintaining filter efficiency and extending the lifespan of filter elements without the need for additional valves.
Implementation Method 1
the backflush valve (1) compresses fluid from the valve chamber into the first cavity via the first backflush channel so as to increase a pressure of the fluid in the first cavity
Implementation Method 2
the fluid is led from a downstream side of a filter element and through the filter element in a reverse flow direction (i.e., upstream direction) in order to detach impurities stuck to the filter
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a filtering device has a housing that defines an inlet opening, first and second bores with first and second pistons therein, respectively, first and second inlet channels that extend from the inlet opening to the first and second bores, respectively first and second outlet channels in communication with the first and second bores, respectively, and a first backflush channel. The first piston defines a filter cavity in fluid communication with the first inlet and outlet channels when the first piston is in a production mode. The second piston defines a filter cavity in fluid communication with the second inlet and outlet channels when the second piston is in the production mode. The device has a backflush valve that compresses fluid into the filter cavity of the first piston via the first backflush channel to increase pressure in the cavity during a backflushing operation.