Filter Device with Segmented Housing for Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter devices for separating water from fluids like oils or fuels often suffer from undesired mixing of fluid and water after filtration, leading to reduced separation efficiency and increased maintenance costs due to corrosion and lubrication issues.
Innovation Solution
A filter device with a housing divided into spatially separate fluid inlet, water collection, and fluid collection spaces, featuring a coaxial passage opening for fluid transfer from the water collection space to the fluid collection space, and a coalescing filter element with a star-folded, multi-layered filter material and a separator element to prevent re-entrainment of water droplets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coalescence filter is used to separate water from fluid, then water separation is achieved, but undesired mixing of fluid and water occurs after filtration reducing separation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is divided into three spatially separate functional spaces (fluid inlet space, water collection space, fluid collection space) using partition walls. This segmentation prevents mixing of fluid and water after filtration by creating distinct zones for each function, with the partition walls acting as physical barriers that maintain separation between the collected water and the filtered fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
A coaxial passage opening through the partition wall serves as an intermediary structure that allows fluid to transfer from the water collection space to the fluid collection space while maintaining spatial separation. This intermediary passage enables controlled fluid movement without direct contact between water and fluid, preventing re-entrainment and mixing.
2Reliability
If multiple separation stages including cyclone separator are used, then water separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coalescence filter element with integrated separator elements within a single filter housing, merging multiple separation functions into one unified device. The filter element includes both coalescing material for water droplet aggregation and separator elements for water-fluid separation, eliminating the need for separate cyclone separators and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a coalescence filter for water droplet aggregation, a separator for water-fluid separation, and provides structural support for the entire separation system. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall device structure.
3Quantity of substance
If coalescing filter material is used, then small water droplets merge into large droplets, but subsequent mixing reduces the effectiveness of separation
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is segmented into distinct functional zones: a coalescing section with coalescing material for droplet aggregation, and a separator section with separator elements for water-fluid separation. This segmentation ensures that coalesced droplets are immediately separated from the fluid in a controlled manner, preventing re-entrainment and maintaining separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator elements act as intermediary structures between the coalescing material and the filtered fluid. These separator elements provide a controlled interface where coalesced water droplets are separated from the fluid without direct mixing, maintaining the effectiveness of the separation process.
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
Effectively prevents the mixing of fluid and water post-filtration, ensuring high separation efficiency and reducing maintenance costs by optimizing flow paths and using a hydrophobic coating to prevent electrostatic charges and re-entrainment.
Implementation Method 1
the merging of small particles into large particles, i.e. from small water droplets to large water droplets
Implementation Method 2
separator elements, which separate the coalesced water droplets from the oil in an additional step
Implementation Method 3
using a hydrophobic coating to prevent electrostatic charges and re-entrainment
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
A filter device for separating water from fluids, such as oils or fuel, comprising at least one filter element (24) whose filter material (32) has coalescing properties, preferably at least one coalescing layer, and extends between at least two common end caps (36, 38), and through whose lower end cap (38), viewed in the installation direction (13), water can be discharged from the filter element (24) via at least one water outlet opening (46b), and a filter housing (12) in which the at least one filter element (24) is received and to which a fluid-water mixture to be separated can be supplied via an end cap (36) open in the central area, is characterized in that the filter housing (12) is divided into at least three spatially separated functional spaces (15, 24, 50), one of which, a fluid inlet space (15), serves as the inlet for the fluid-water mixture to be separated.the fluid flows from the inside out through at least one filter element (24), and the at least one filter element (24) is surrounded by a fluid collection chamber (50) for the purified fluid and is connected via the respective water outlet opening (46b) to a water collection chamber (34) for the separated water.