Concentric Split Flow Filter for Reduced Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waste collector systems in space applications, such as the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, face challenges in simultaneous urination and defecation efficiency and are sensitive to crew alignment, leading to inadvertent fouling and suboptimal fecal collection performance.
Innovation Solution
A concentric split flow filter design that splits air flow equally through two beds of filter media, reducing air velocity by 50% and thereby minimizing pressure drop, is implemented to improve odor and bacteria removal while reducing system volume and pressure loss, effectively addressing the inefficiencies in existing cylindrical filter designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a single bed of filter media is used in a cylindrical filter design, then the system volume is reduced, but the air velocity increases causing high pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The filter media bed is divided into two separate beds arranged concentrically around the central transport tube. This segmentation allows the air flow to be distributed across two filtration paths instead of one, reducing the velocity through each bed and thereby minimizing pressure drop while maintaining compact system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter transitions from a single-dimensional linear flow through one bed to a two-dimensional concentric arrangement with two beds. Air flows radially outward through the first bed and then axially through the second bed, utilizing multiple spatial dimensions to reduce flow velocity and pressure drop without increasing overall system volume.
2Stress or pressure
If air flow velocity is reduced through the filter media, then pressure drop is minimized, but the system requires larger volume to accommodate the flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The filter design nests the two filter media beds concentrically around the central fecal transport tube. The first bed is positioned radially outward from the tube, and the second bed is positioned axially beyond the first bed, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces air velocity and pressure drop without requiring additional system volume.
3Device complexity
If conventional cylindrical filter design is used, then the structure is simple, but the air flow management is suboptimal leading to high pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is segmented into two distinct stages: radial flow through the first filter bed and axial flow through the second filter bed. This segmentation optimizes air flow management by distributing the filtration load across two directions, reducing pressure loss while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation.
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 concentric split flow filter design reduces pressure drop by a factor of four, enhances air flow management, and optimizes odor and bacteria filtration, supporting longer-duration missions with reduced system volume and improved crew satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
The concentric split flow filter design splits air flow equally through two beds of filter media, reducing air velocity by 50% and thereby minimizing pressure drop
Implementation Method 2
The filter unit may comprise a first filter media positioned within the housing between the inlet plenum and the first outlet. The filter unit may comprise a second filter media positioned within the housing between the inlet plenum and the second outlet
Implementation Method 3
The concentric split flow filter design splits air flow equally through two beds of filter media, reducing air velocity by 50% and thereby minimizing pressure drop
Data Source
AI summary
A concentric split flow filter may be configured to remove odor and/or bacteria from pumped air used to collect urine and fecal waste products. For instance, filter may be designed to effectively fill the volume that was previously considered wasted surrounding the transport tube of a waste management system. The concentric split flow filter may be configured to split the air flow, with substantially half of the air flow to be treated traveling through a first bed of filter media and substantially the other half of the air flow to be treated traveling through the second bed of filter media. This split flow design reduces the air velocity by 50%. In this way, the pressure drop of filter may be reduced by as much as a factor of 4 as compare to the conventional design.