Depth Filter Impregnated with Separation Aid for Oil Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oil purification methods, such as gravity settling and filtration, are inefficient in removing small particles and often require high energy consumption, especially when dealing with high viscosity oils, leading to low purification efficiency and equipment wear.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase method and system involving a filter preparation phase where a depth filter is built from filter material and impregnated with a separation aid, followed by an oil filtering phase where contaminated oil is filtered through the prepared depth filter, effectively capturing small impurity particles using a separation aid that is insoluble in the oil and adsorbs contaminating solids or dissolved impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If gravity settling and filtration are used for oil purification, then the process is simple, but small particles are difficult to remove and purification efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by building a depth filter from filter material and impregnating it with separation aid before the actual oil purification process. This pre-preparation of the filter with separation aid ensures that when contaminated oil passes through, the separation aid is already in position to capture small particles effectively, thereby improving purification efficiency before the main filtration operation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining filter material with separation aid to create an impregnated depth filter. The filter material provides the structural framework for filtration, while the separation aid (which is insoluble in oil) provides enhanced particle capture capability. This composite structure allows the filter to simultaneously perform mechanical filtration and chemical separation, significantly improving the removal of small particles compared to simple filtration alone.
2Manufacturing precision
If coagulant flocculation is used with gravity settling, then purification efficiency improves, but the process becomes slow due to high oil viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the separation function from the bulk oil and concentrating it within the depth filter structure. Instead of adding coagulants to the entire oil volume and waiting for slow flocculation, the separation aid is embedded in the filter where it directly contacts and captures particles as oil passes through. This extracts the separation action from the slow gravitational settling process and concentrates it in the filter medium, dramatically reducing purification time while maintaining high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses porous materials by employing a depth filter with porous structure that allows oil to pass through while trapping particles. The porous structure provides large surface area within a compact volume, enabling the separation aid to interact with contaminants throughout the filter depth rather than just at the surface. This porous architecture maintains fast flow rates even with high viscosity oils while achieving thorough purification.
3Manufacturing precision
If distillation and dehydration methods are used, then purification efficiency is high, but energy consumption is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing thermal separation methods (distillation and dehydration that require heating) with a mechanical/physical filtration system. The depth filter with separation aid captures particles through physical adsorption and mechanical filtration at ambient or near-ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for high-energy thermal processes while achieving comparable or superior purification efficiency for particle removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing separation aid as a mediator between the contaminated oil and the filter structure. The separation aid, being insoluble in oil, acts as an intermediate substance that selectively binds to contaminants and facilitates their removal from the oil phase. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient particle capture without requiring the high energy input needed for distillation or dehydration processes.
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 approach significantly enhances oil purification efficiency, particularly for small particles, while allowing for automation and efficient reuse of oils, reducing equipment wear and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a separation aid that is insoluble in the oil and adsorbs contaminating solids or dissolved impurities
Implementation Method 2
filtering contaminated oil through said depth filter
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for purification of contaminated oil, said method comprising at least two phases: —a filter preparation phase which comprises the steps of: ∘ providing a depth filter by building at least a part of the depth filter from a filter material; and ∘ impregnating at least a part of said depth filter with a separation aid, and —an oil filtering phase comprising the step of filtering contaminated oil through said depth filter which has been prepared during the filter preparation phase.