Filtration device for a water-bearing domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration devices in water-conducting household appliances, such as washing machines, are ineffective in removing microplastic particles and fibers, and more efficient filters tend to clog quickly, requiring significant maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A filtration device with a housing containing a filter element and two drain elements, where the first drain element is used during the pumping process and the second drain element is used after the process ends, allowing microplastic particles and fibers to collect and be easily removed, with a rotatable inner element and support structure for efficient collection and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a more effective filter is used to remove microplastic particles and fibers, then filtration efficiency is improved, but the filter quickly clogs requiring considerable maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is divided into multiple filtering surfaces arranged in series, with each surface capturing particles of different sizes. This segmentation allows the filter to maintain high filtration efficiency while distributing the particle accumulation across multiple surfaces, preventing rapid clogging of any single surface and reducing maintenance frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element utilizes a three-dimensional cylindrical structure with filtering surfaces extending along the height axis, rather than a flat two-dimensional filter. This dimensional transition increases the total filtering area available, allowing more particles to be captured before the filter becomes blocked, thereby reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining high filtration efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If a filter with larger filtering area is used, then filtration capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filtering surfaces are merged into a single integrated cylindrical filter element, with all surfaces working simultaneously to capture particles. This consolidation achieves high filtration capacity while maintaining a simple, compact structure that does not increase device complexity, as the multiple surfaces are combined rather than arranged as separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical filter element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides large filtering area for high capacity, acts as a structural support, and enables easy installation and removal. This multi-functionality achieves high filtration capacity without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same structure fulfills multiple roles.
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 filtration device effectively captures microplastic particles and fibers, reducing maintenance needs by allowing for easy cleaning and removal of the filter element, thus providing a durable and efficient filtration solution.
Implementation Method 1
a filter element (3) arranged in a housing (2), wherein the filter element (3) is designed in such a way that it encloses an inner cavity (4)
Implementation Method 2
an inner element (10) extending along a longitudinal axis X is rotatably arranged within the inner cavity (4)
Implementation Method 3
Due to the effect of gravitational force, the remaining water flows downward from the filter element along the vertical axis Z
Data Source
Figure 1a~3b
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to a filtration device, in particular for filtering microplastics for a water-bearing household appliance, wherein the filtration device comprises a housing in which a filter element is arranged, wherein the filter element is designed such that it encloses an inner cavity which is fluidically connected to a supply element, wherein a first drain element is arranged along the vertical axis Z above the filter element, and wherein a second drain element is arranged along the vertical axis Z below the filter element.