Conical Flange Sealing for Membrane Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane modules face challenges in ensuring reliable separation of filtrate and unfiltrate during thermal expansion, often resulting in gasket slippage or damage during installation, and are not cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A filtration system with conically formed flanges and gaskets, where the flange is integrated with the filter element using a plastic casting compound, and a resilient clamp enhances the sealing effect, ensuring secure fixation and separation without slippage, and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gasket sealing methods are used in membrane modules, then assembly is simple, but reliable separation of filtrate and unfiltrate cannot be ensured during thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is designed with a conical sealing surface that complements the conical flange geometry. This curved surface design allows the gasket to maintain reliable sealing contact during thermal expansion and contraction of different materials, preventing leakage while accommodating dimensional changes in the membrane module components.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system uses a resilient gasket material that combines elasticity with sealing properties. This composite approach integrates a flexible gasket with rigid conical flange structures, creating a sealing mechanism that accommodates thermal expansion differences between materials while maintaining reliable separation of filtrate and unfiltrate.
2Ease of operation
If conventional gasket installation methods are used, then installation is straightforward, but gasket slippage or damage occurs during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The conical geometry of the gasket and flange provides a self-aligning sealing interface that prevents slippage during installation. The tapered surface guides the gasket into proper position while distributing clamping forces evenly, eliminating the slippage and damage problems associated with conventional flat gasket installation methods.
3Reliability
If conventional sealing methods are used, then production costs are low, but microorganism accumulation occurs due to unreliable sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The conical sealing geometry provides superior sealing effectiveness that prevents microorganism accumulation, while the integrated flange design simplifies manufacturing. The curved sealing surface is more effective at preventing leakage than conventional flat gaskets, yet can be manufactured using standard casting or machining processes for the flange and molding processes for the gasket.
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 solution provides a reliable, cost-effective, and secure sealing mechanism that prevents microorganism accumulation, ensuring effective separation of filtrate and unfiltrate while accommodating thermal expansion, and can be assembled on-site with low production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plastic casting material is applied around a first end portion of at least one filter element (16) with which said at least one filter element is encased and a flange (24) is generated, which extends laterally outwardly in the area of the first end portion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a filtration means (10) for the filtration of liquid media having a housing (12) and at least one filter element (16) arranged in said housing (12), wherein at least one of said filter element (16) at at least one axial end has a laterally outwardly extending flange (24), which is connected to said housing (12) forming a seal. Said flange (24) has a conical surface (25) projecting outwardly which interacts with a complementary conical surface (27) of a gasket (26) which is arranged between said flange (24) and said housing (12).