Filter Element Nanofiber Layer Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Filter elements with nanofiber layers suffer from instability at high fluid flow rates, leading to damage from dirt particles and contamination, and existing production methods are not cost-effective.

Innovation Solution

A filter element design where a nanofiber layer is applied to a side of the filter body with lower porosity, providing better support and stability, allowing the nanofiber layer to withstand higher flow rates and contamination, and enabling improved application and increased service life through targeted filtration and backwashing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a nanofiber layer is applied to a filter body, then the filter properties are improved, but the stability at high flow rates deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter propertiesVSAvoidstability at high flow rates
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The filter body is designed with non-uniform porosity: a first side has lower porosity (higher density) to provide stable support for the nanofiber layer, while a second side has higher porosity to maintain good filtration properties. This local differentiation allows the nanofiber layer to be applied stably on the denser first side without compromising the overall filter performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the filter body has high porosity, then the filtration efficiency is improved, but the support properties for the nanofiber layer deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidsupport properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The filter body exhibits spatially varying porosity: the first side has lower porosity (0.8-1.5 mm average pore size) to provide mechanical support and stable nanofiber layer application, while the second side has higher porosity (1.5-2.5 mm average pore size) to ensure effective filtration of particles from the fluid stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the nanofiber layer is applied to the less dense side, then the application conditions are improved, but the stability under flow and contamination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication conditionsVSAvoidstability under flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter body is engineered with asymmetric porosity distribution where the first side has lower porosity and higher density, providing a stable substrate for nanofiber layer application. This denser side better withstands high flow rates and contamination impulses, while the second side maintains higher porosity for effective filtration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design enhances the stability and application of the nanofiber layer, allowing it to withstand higher flow velocities and contamination, improving the filter's efficiency and service life by predominantly filtering impurities on the denser side before they can damage the nanofiber layer.

Implementation Method 1

the filter element has a filter body which, due to its structural design or physical and/or chemical properties, allows the fluid to be filtered. The filter body can be formed from at least one filter material or can have at least one such filter material which has in particular said structural, physical and/or chemical properties. It is also conceivable in principle to provide the filter body or the filter material with pores or to select a filter body having pores in order to allow the fluid to flow through the filter body and to screen out or filter impurities or dirt particles from the fluid.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

It is also conceivable to provide the filter element with a nanofiber layer in order to improve the filter properties of the filter element in particular.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNanofiber filtration: Nanoporous Material

Data Source

PatentEP2892629B1Filter element
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 MAHLE INT GMBH
  • EP2892629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2892629B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2892629B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter element (2) for a filter device (1), said filter element (2) having a filter body (10), for filtering a fluid, which comprises at least one filter material (11). An improved filter effect and/or increased filter element (2) stability is achieved if the filter body (10) has a lower porosity on a first side (12) than on a second side (13) which faces away from said first side (12), a nano-fibre layer (15) being applied to at least some sections of the first side (12).