Cross-Flow Diafiltration Layout for Continuous Food Liquid Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diafiltration processes are discontinuous, requiring batch processing and leading to inefficiencies due to the need for interrupting the process to add diafiltration medium, which is economically and operationally suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
A crossflow filtration unit designed for continuous diafiltration, incorporating specific filter materials and configurations that allow for continuous addition of diafiltration medium, ensuring a stable flow path and reduced pressure drop, enabling efficient and uninterrupted diafiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If discontinuous diafiltration is used, then the process can be performed with conventional filtration equipment, but the process requires interruption to add diafiltration medium leading to reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the flow path into distinct regions: a retentate gap for continuous feed liquid flow, a diafiltration medium addition point, and a permeate collection gap. This segmentation allows simultaneous filtration and diafiltration medium addition without process interruption, resolving the contradiction between process simplicity and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables continuous diafiltration by maintaining constant flow through the retentate gap while continuously adding diafiltration medium and removing permeate. The cross-flow configuration ensures uninterrupted filtration action, eliminating the batch-wise interruptions inherent in conventional methods and thereby improving productivity
2Device complexity
If batch processing is used, then equipment requirements can be simplified, but the process requires complete processing of defined volume before new cycle begins leading to loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from batch to continuous operation by maintaining constant feed liquid flow through the retentate gap and continuous permeate removal. The cross-flow configuration with dedicated inlet/outlet positions enables uninterrupted processing, eliminating cycle completion and restart delays, thus reducing time loss while maintaining manageable equipment structure
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic flow control with adjustable inlet positions for feed liquid and diafiltration medium, and adjustable outlet positions for retentate and permeate. This dynamic configuration allows optimization of flow rates and pressure distribution, enabling continuous operation with controlled processing parameters while reducing overall process cycle time
3Device complexity
If conventional filtration configuration is used, then the structure can be simple, but the pressure drop increases and flow stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the filtration structure into a retentate gap with controlled width, separated from the permeate collection gap by the filter medium. This segmentation creates distinct flow channels that maintain stable flow patterns and reduce pressure drop while keeping the overall structure relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from conventional vertical filtration to a horizontal cross-flow configuration. The feed liquid flows horizontally across the filter medium surface in the retentate gap, while permeate is collected in a separate horizontal gap. This dimensional change improves flow stability and reduces pressure drop without significantly increasing structural complexity
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 crossflow filtration unit achieves improved diafiltration results with reduced process times and equipment requirements, facilitating continuous operation and enhancing the recovery of valuable materials from fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a planar first filter material (4), a retentate gap, a planar second filter material (6), arranged such that the planar first filter material (4) separates the diafiltration gap and the retentate gap from each other and the planar second filter material (6) separates the retentate gap and the permeate collection gap from each other
Implementation Method 2
In crossflow filtration, which can also be referred to as transverse or tangential flow filtration, a feed liquid to be filtered flows tangentially over the surface of a filter material, which is usually a membrane, and is thereby split into a retentate (concentrate) and a permeate (filtrate) of different compositions
Implementation Method 3
Diafiltration combines this separation with the addition of a diafiltration medium to the food liquid/retentate. This makes it possible, for example, to remove the other substances from a solution containing the target substance(s) and one or more other substances
Implementation Method 4
The permeate flows through the membrane perpendicular to the surface and is then removed. Target substances to be recovered can be contained in the permeate (permeate substances) and/or in the retentate (retentate substances)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for diafiltration using a crossflow filtration unit for the continuous diafiltration of a food liquid to obtain a retentate and a permeate.