Bucket-Mounted Pouring Filter for Microplastic Fiber Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional filters, including those in washing machines and sewage treatment plants, are ineffective in retaining microplastic fibers and particles from synthetic textiles, leading to environmental pollution in rivers and oceans.
Innovation Solution
A filter with a flexible fastening band and V-shaped inlet opening designed to attach to a bucket, featuring a filter bag made from multi-layered filter fabric with reinforcing tapes, effectively captures microplastic contaminants as dirty water flows through, allowing easy removal and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional filters are used in washing machines and sewage treatment plants, then they can retain larger particles, but they are ineffective in retaining microplastic fibers and particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the filter medium's pore size to match the dimensions of microplastic particles and fibers. The filter element is designed with a specific mesh size (5-50 micrometers) that corresponds to the size range of microplastics, enabling effective retention that conventional larger-pore filters cannot achieve.
2Ease of operation
If a filter is designed with a simple holding structure for easy attachment, then it can be easily fastened to buckets, but it may not provide sufficient support for the filter element
Solution Approach 1:
The holding structure is segmented into multiple independent fastening straps rather than a single rigid support. This allows the filter to be easily attached to buckets of various sizes while distributing the mechanical load across multiple attachment points, providing both ease of operation and sufficient structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding structure uses flexible fastening straps made of elastic or flexible material that can adapt to different bucket circumferences and shapes. This flexibility enables easy attachment while the cumulative strength of multiple straps provides adequate support for the filter element during operation.
3Reliability
If a filter element with fine mesh size is used to retain microplastics, then retention effectiveness improves, but the filter becomes clogged more easily and requires frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element incorporates local quality variations with different mesh sizes in different regions. The upper portion has finer mesh for capturing microplastics, while the lower portion has coarser mesh for larger particles. This gradient structure prevents rapid clogging by allowing larger particles to pass through to collection chambers while retaining microplastics.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is divided into multiple chambers or zones with different filtration functions. Some chambers are dedicated to microplastic retention with fine mesh, while others handle larger debris with coarser mesh, and include easy-access cleaning features. This segmentation allows selective cleaning of only the clogged sections without replacing the entire filter.
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 filter design ensures efficient retention of microplastic particles and fibers, preventing their entry into the environment, and can be easily attached to various bucket sizes, promoting effective environmental protection.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element (8) through which the water flowing through the filter (1) is filtered
Implementation Method 2
The filter design ensures efficient retention of microplastic particles and fibers
Implementation Method 3
the contaminated water is filtered as it passes (by gravity) through the filter element contained in the filter
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 7~8
Figure 9~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter (1) for filtering dirty water, comprising an inlet opening (2) for the dirty water, which inlet opening is at the top during normal use of the filter (1), and a filter element (8), by means of which the water passing through the filter (1) is filtered. The invention is characterized in that the filter element (8) is designed to retain microplastic particles or microplastic fibers having diameters or lengths of 200 μm and that the filter (1) has a holding structure (4), by means of which the filter (1) can be fastened to the upper edge (5) of a bucket (6) corresponding thereto in the dimensions of the bucket, in such a way that the filter (1), hanging on the outside of the bucket (6), can be used as a pouring filter for filtering the dirty water running out of the bucket (6) when the bucket (6) is tipped.