Ceramic Filter Cleaning via Pressure Differential and Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for cleaning ceramic filters require a long operation time to recover separation performance due to fouling substances not being easily decomposed or dissolved, especially in liquid-liquid or gas-gas separation membranes with nano-level pores, where cleaning solutions stagnate and are not effectively discharged.

Innovation Solution

Reducing the pressure of the secondary side of the ceramic filter while supplying a cleaning medium to the primary side allows the cleaning medium to flow through, physically and chemically removing fouling substances, thereby shortening the cleaning time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cleaning medium is allowed to flow through a ceramic filter to remove fouling substances, then the separation performance is recovered, but the operation time becomes long due to fouling substances not being easily decomposed or dissolved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation performanceVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameters of the cleaning medium by heating it to elevated temperatures (e.g., 50-200°C or higher) and controlling its pressure. These parameter changes enhance the cleaning medium's ability to decompose and dissolve fouling substances, thereby reducing the operation time required to restore separation performance while maintaining effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transitions of the cleaning medium, particularly heating it to achieve phase changes that enhance its cleaning capability. The heated cleaning medium (in vapor or liquid phase) penetrates the ceramic filter more effectively, accelerating the decomposition and removal of fouling substances, thus reducing cleaning operation time while recovering separation performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Reliability

If a cleaning liquid is allowed to permeate a primary side space from a secondary side space (reverse cleaning), then cleaning effectiveness is improved for solid-liquid separation membranes, but cleaning time becomes long for liquid-liquid or gas-gas separation membranes due to stagnant fouling substances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional reverse cleaning approach by supplying the heated cleaning medium to the primary side space and allowing it to flow toward the secondary side space, rather than permeating from secondary to primary side. This inversion, combined with heating, enables effective removal of stagnant fouling substances in liquid-liquid and gas-gas separation membranes by enhancing the driving force for fluid flow and fouling substance decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

By heating the cleaning medium to elevated temperatures and controlling pressure differential, the patent changes the parameters of the cleaning process to enhance fluid flow through the ceramic filter. This prevents stagnation of cleaning medium and fouling substances, thereby reducing cleaning time while maintaining or improving cleaning effectiveness across different membrane types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a membrane of a different material is formed on the surface of the separation membrane, then cleaning capability is enhanced, but the process becomes costly due to additional formation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoidprocess cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming a membrane of different material on the ceramic filter surface, the patent changes the parameters of the cleaning medium itself by heating it to elevated temperatures. This parameter change enhances the cleaning capability of the same material cleaning medium, avoiding the need for additional membrane formation processes and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This method effectively reduces the operation time required to clean the ceramic filter, allowing for rapid recovery of separation performance by ensuring the fouling substances are suitably removed and the separation performance is restored quickly.

Implementation Method 1

supplying a cleaning medium to a primary side space while a pressure of a secondary side space is reduced

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

fouling substances present in portions which do not come in contact with the heated gas or liquid are not easily decomposed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP2703065B1Method for cleaning a ceramic filter

Publication Date: 2020.07.01 NGK INSULATORS LTD

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AI summary

There is provided a method for cleaning a ceramic filter which can shorten an operation time required to clean the ceramic filter. The method for cleaning the ceramic filter includes: reducing a pressure of a space on a secondary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, while supplying a cleaning medium to a space on a primary side of the uncleaned ceramic filter, thereby passing the cleaning medium through the ceramic uncleaned filter, so that the uncleaned ceramic filter is cleaned.