Contour Sealing Adapter for Multi-Size Hollow Fiber Filter Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing adapters for hollow-fiber filter modules, such as cone and O-ring sealing adapters, face challenges in achieving airtight and liquid-tight connections, particularly due to axial unevenness and thermal stress, which can lead to mechanical damage and increased production costs, especially when handling filter assemblies of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
A contour sealing adapter with an integrated elastic contour sealing element that features convex sealing sections, allowing for universal fluid-tight adaptation of filter assemblies of varying sizes without the need for setup changes, by applying axial pressure forces that minimize transverse loads and thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cone sealing adapters are used to achieve universal connection for filter assemblies of different sizes, then adaptability is improved, but mechanical damage occurs due to high axial feed forces and transverse load components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic sealing element with a contour profile that flexibly adapts to different filter assembly sizes. The elastic material deforms under axial compression to accommodate axial unevenness while maintaining sealing contact, eliminating the need for high feed forces and transverse loads required by rigid cone adapters. This flexible sealing mechanism prevents mechanical damage to the filter assembly casting compound.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing adapter changes the sealing mechanism from rigid mechanical contact (cone adapter) to elastic deformation contact. The elastic sealing element's compliance allows it to conform to variations in filter assembly dimensions and surface unevenness, achieving universal adaptability without applying damaging forces to the filtered object.
2Reliability
If high axial feed forces are applied to compensate for axial unevenness in cone sealing adapters, then sealing reliability is improved, but transverse loads cause mechanical damage to the filter assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing element absorbs axial unevenness through its own deformation, eliminating the need to transfer high compressive forces to the filter assembly. The elastic material's compliance allows it to conform to surface variations while maintaining sealing integrity without causing mechanical damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing element acts as an intermediary between the rigid adapter body and the filter assembly. It mediates the sealing function by deforming to accommodate axial unevenness, preventing direct transmission of high mechanical loads to the filter assembly casting compound.
3Ease of manufacture
If O-ring sealing adapters are used for sealing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but setup changes are required for filter assemblies of different sizes reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing adapter incorporates a contour sealing element with multiple convex sealing sections of different diameters on a single adapter body. This allows the same adapter to seal filter assemblies of different sizes without requiring setup changes or tool changes, maintaining high productivity while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is divided into multiple convex sealing sections, each capable of sealing filter assemblies of different diameters. This segmentation allows a single adapter to perform multiple sealing functions for different product sizes, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated adapters.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple adapter types are used for different filter assembly sizes, then sealing precision is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single sealing adapter design with a contour sealing element serves multiple filter assembly sizes, reducing device complexity. The contour profile with multiple convex sections provides precise sealing for different diameters without requiring multiple specialized adapters, thereby lowering inventory costs and simplifying the adapter system.
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 contour sealing adapter ensures reliable airtight and liquid-tight connections across different filter assembly sizes, reducing mechanical stress, thermal load, and production costs, while enabling efficient testing and drying processes without the need for frequent tool changes or setup adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic contour sealing element (20) which is integrated and/or inserted into a sealing adapter front side (10) facing a filter assembly front side (31) along a circumference
Implementation Method 2
When an axial pressure force is applied in the axial axis (z), the elastic contour sealing element (20) and the front side of the filter assembly (31) abut against one another in a sealing contact region (K) in a fluid-tight manner
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealing adapter (10) for fluid-tight adaptation of a filter assembly (31) for functional testing of hollow fiber filter modules (30) in a manufacturing testing/drying device (100) has: an adapter body (11) with a lumen (15) open at opposite ends with respect to an axial axis (z) of the sealing adapter (10) to form a flow path from the filter assembly (31) in the testing/drying device (100) and an elastic contour sealing element (20). When an axial pressure force (F) is applied along the axial axis (z), the elastic sealing element (20) and a filter assembly end face are in fluid-tight contact with each other in a sealing contact area (K).The elastic sealing element (20) is formed as a contour sealing element (20) with a convex first contour sealing section (21) and at least one convex second contour sealing section (22) which is radially (x, y) extended to the first contour sealing section (21) and offset in the axial axis (z) by an axial offset (h) such that the contact area (K) is formed either by the first contour sealing section (21) as a first sealing contour (K1) for an adjacent first filter assembly of a first size or by the second contour sealing section (22) as a second sealing contour (K2) for an adjacent second filter assembly (31) of another second size.