Filter Element Frame Heating Channel for Bending Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filter elements used as head or end elements in filter presses experience significant bending during high-temperature filtration processes due to differential thermal expansion, as one side is exposed to hot filtrate while the other is in contact with cooler steel parts, leading to the bimetal effect, which existing insulation measures fail to mitigate effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heating channel in the frame of the filter element, which can be filled with a heating medium such as filtrate liquid, hot water, thermal oil, or air, or equipped with electrical heating elements, to achieve more uniform heating and reduce thermal gradients, thereby minimizing bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the head or end element is not screwed to the steel parts, then the filter element structure remains simple and easy to manufacture, but significant bending occurs due to differential thermal expansion during hot filtration processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the thermal parameter distribution by introducing a heating channel that supplies heat to the backside of the head/end element. This active thermal parameter modification compensates for the asymmetric thermal exposure, maintaining dimensional stability without requiring mechanical fastening to steel parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating channel acts as an intermediary thermal pathway that mediates the temperature difference between the two sides of the head/end element. By introducing this intermediate heating system, the patent resolves the thermal imbalance that causes bending, while preserving the simple unscrewed structural design.
2Temperature
If an insulation plate is placed between the head or end element and the steel part, then thermal insulation is provided, but the bending issue is not significantly improved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of insulating the head/end element from the steel part (blocking heat flow), the invention inverts the approach by actively heating the backside through the heating channel. This active heating strategy counteracts the thermal gradient more effectively than passive insulation, resolving the bending problem that insulation alone cannot solve.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a heating channel is added to the frame, then uniform heating is achieved and bending is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating channel is integrated into the existing frame structure, allowing the frame to serve dual functions: structural support and thermal management. This multi-functionality approach adds the heating capability without requiring a completely separate heating system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving uniform heating and bending prevention.
4Device complexity
If the heating channel is connected to the filter chamber via filtrate channels, then no additional measures are required and the system uses existing structures, but the heating channel must be filled through the filtration system
Solution Approach 1:
The heating channel system is merged with the existing filtrate channel network, combining the filtration and heating functions into a unified structure. This integration allows the same fluid pathways to serve dual purposes, reducing the number of separate systems needed while accepting that operational procedures must account for the combined functionality.
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 solution ensures that both sides of the filter element are heated uniformly, significantly reducing or eliminating bending issues during high-temperature filtration processes, maintaining structural integrity and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Heat conduction of the usual materials, such as polypropylene, a strong temperature gradient occurs under. The additional heating of the other side of the frame with the help of the heating duct results in a significantly more homogeneous heating
Implementation Method 2
the heating channel can be filled with a heating medium such as filtrate liquid, hot water, thermal oil or the like
Implementation Method 3
Since the two sides of the filter element then expand differently, this leads to the observed bending in the manner of the bimetal effect
Data Source
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AI summary
The filter element has filter chambers (2) which are provided with a frame (1). The heating duct (3) is provided in the circumferential direction of frame. The heating duct is filled with a heating medium. The heating duct is connected with the filter chambers over the filtrate channel (4). The supporting element (6) is provided with the filter chambers.