Disc-Shaped Filter Element Support Structure for Membrane Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disc-shaped filter elements tend to buckle or warp during assembly and use, leading to improper filtration and increased risk of membrane rupture during cleaning, due to lack of adequate support for the filter media.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using two ring-like shaped support members with a hub, where the filter membranes are tensioned and securely fixed to the support members, ensuring full support and preventing creasing, with the support members bulging outward to maintain membrane contact and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the filter media are made sufficiently strong and thick to be self-supporting, then the media will not burst during cleaning, but the filter element tends to buckle and warp to one side
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is divided into multiple segments: thin filter media layers are separated and supported by independent support structures (perforated plates or wire meshes) at different locations, allowing each layer to be supported without needing to be self-supporting, thus preventing warping while maintaining integrity
Solution Approach 2:
Support structures (perforated plates or wire meshes) are introduced as intermediary elements between the filter media and the hub. These intermediaries provide mechanical support to the thin filter media, preventing them from warping while allowing the media to remain thin and effective for filtration
2Device complexity
If the filter media are not supported along their surface, then the structure remains simple, but the media wrinkle and create weak locations during filtration
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex support structure, the support is segmented into multiple simple perforated plates or wire meshes positioned at different locations. Each segment provides localized support to prevent wrinkling, maintaining overall structural simplicity while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The support structures use thin, flexible materials such as perforated plates or wire meshes that can conform to the filter media without creating rigid constraints. This flexibility allows the support to prevent wrinkling while maintaining simplicity and avoiding over-constraint of the filtration system
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a disc-shaped filter element and to a method to provide a disc-shaped filter element. A disc-shaped filter element has a diameter K, and comprises a first and a second ring-like shaped, liquid permeable support member having an outer edge having a diameter Ds and an inner central edge, having a largest width Ws. The disc-shaped filter element comprises a first and a second ring shape-like filter membrane, the first filter membrane being in contact with the first surface of the first support member, the second filter membrane being in contact with the first surface of the second support member. The outer edges of the first filter membrane, the second filter membrane, the first support member and the second support member are liquid tight fixed to each other. The disc-shaped filter element further comprises a hub having a central void space, an outer wall, at least one channel extending from this void space to this outer wall and a coupling means. The first surface of the first support member and the second surface of the second support member are separated from each other over a distance H being different from zero at the outer wall of the hub. For each of the first support member and the second support member, the support member are provided with a radius of curvature r being smaller of equal to (K2/4H) + H/4 along at least a zone of the support member, which zone is delimited by a first imaginary circle along the support member having a diameter of 0.9 DS and a second imaginary circle along the support member having a diameter of 1.1 Ws. The zone in which a radius of curvature r being smaller of equal to (K2/4H) + H/4 is provided, may be delimited by the first imaginary circle along the support member may have a diameter of 0.975 Ds and a second imaginary circle along the support member may have a diameter of 1.025 Ws.