Capillary Microchannel Separator for Gravity-Independent Fluid Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid phase separation technologies are costly, bulky, and reliant on gravitational forces or membranes, which restrict their use in rapid design and implementation, especially in situations requiring high throughput and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The development of capillary-based devices that utilize capillary pressure to separate insoluble fluid phases by varying the contact angles with the capillary channels, allowing for efficient separation without filters or gravitational pull, and can be scaled up for increased throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional separation equipment is used, then separation reliability is improved, but device cost and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical separation systems (membranes, gravitational separators) with a capillary-based microfluidic system that uses surface tension and capillary pressure to achieve phase separation. This substitution eliminates bulky mechanical components while maintaining separation reliability through the fundamental physics of capillary action in micrometer-scale channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from macro-scale gravitational separation to micro-scale capillary separation by changing the operational dimension from millimeter/centimeter scale to micrometer scale. This dimensional change enables separation based on surface-to-volume ratio effects rather than gravitational forces, reducing device size and complexity while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If gravitational force-based separation is used, then separation effectiveness is improved, but adaptability and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from gravity-based to capillary pressure-based by modifying the physical parameters of the system. By controlling channel geometry, surface chemistry, and capillary pressure gradients, the system achieves effective separation while gaining adaptability to different fluid phases and flow conditions without relying on gravitational orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention substitutes gravitational mechanical separation with capillary force-based separation in a microfluidic system. This replacement enables the device to operate independently of gravitational orientation and adapt to various fluid combinations (gas-liquid, liquid-liquid) by adjusting channel dimensions and surface properties rather than requiring different mechanical configurations.
3Measurement precision
If membrane-based separation is used, then separation precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs capillary channels with micrometer-scale dimensions that function as physical sieves based on pore size effects. The channel geometry itself acts as the separation medium, eliminating the need for additional membrane components. Separation precision is achieved through controlled channel dimensions and surface properties that selectively permit passage of one phase while blocking another.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the separation function from separate membrane components and integrates it directly into the channel structure itself. The channel walls and geometry provide the separation mechanism, eliminating the need for additional membrane layers or filtering components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining separation precision.
4Productivity
If high throughput separation is achieved through parallel operation, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high throughput by segmenting the flow into multiple parallel capillary channels within a single device. Each channel operates independently to separate phases, and the combined output of multiple channels provides high overall throughput. This segmentation approach increases productivity while keeping individual channel complexity low and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple capillary channels into an integrated microfluidic device with common inlet and outlet manifolds. This combining approach allows parallel operation of multiple separation channels while presenting a unified device interface, achieving high throughput without proportionally increasing operational complexity or requiring multiple separate devices.
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
These devices achieve efficient separation of fluid phases with high throughput, reducing costs and improving reliability, and can be easily scaled up or configured in series/staging for enhanced extraction performance.
Implementation Method 1
These devices may comprise one or more capillary channels that separate insoluble fluid phases that may wet the walls of the one or more capillary channels differently. Such capillary pressure can cause phases with different contact angles with the channels to physically separate
Implementation Method 2
separate insoluble fluid phases that may wet the walls of the one or more capillary channels differently. Such capillary pressure can cause phases with different contact angles with the channels to physically separate
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to devices for the separation of mixtures of fluid phases. In some aspects of the disclosure, the separation device comprises an angled capillary cell. In other aspects, the separation device comprises a plurality of angled capillary cells operating in parallel. In some aspects of the disclosure, the separation device may be monolithically formed by an additive manufacturing process, such as three-dimensional printing. In some aspects of the disclosure, the separation device may function independently of gravitational direction, and without the use of filters.