Filter System With Low Friction Surface Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current filter systems for removing suspended particles from liquids often clog due to particle attachment, requiring frequent maintenance and increased energy usage, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A filter system with synthetic low friction surface layers having specific pore sizes, treated with thermal or plasma treatment, to prevent suspended particles from attaching, allowing them to sediment and be removed separately, while smaller particles pass through, utilizing a hydrophobic layer upstream and hydrophilic layer downstream for enhanced filtration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If filter devices with high absorptive capacity are used to remove particles and pollutants, then the filtering effectiveness is improved, but the hydraulic conductivity decreases resulting in low fluid flow rate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectivenessVSAvoidhydraulic conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter device is divided into multiple filter elements arranged in parallel within the housing. Each filter element handles a portion of the fluid flow, allowing the system to maintain high filtering effectiveness while preserving hydraulic conductivity through distributed parallel processing of the fluid stream

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter elements utilize porous synthetic material with specific pore size distribution to achieve effective particle and pollutant removal while maintaining adequate fluid flow. The porous structure provides large surface area for filtration without creating excessive flow resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Productivity

If filter devices with macro and micro pores are used to increase fluid flow rate, then the hydraulic conductivity is improved, but the filter devices become clogged requiring constant maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow rateVSAvoidclogging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter elements utilize synthetic material with specific pore size parameters (macro pores greater than 10 micrometers) that prevent particle attachment and clogging while maintaining high fluid flow rates. The parameter optimization of pore size distribution prevents both particle capture and flow restriction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional filter devices are used to remove suspended particles, then particles are trapped on the filter surface, but the filter device becomes clogged and requires frequent maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing filters that capture and hold particles on their surface, the invention uses filter elements that allow particles to pass through while preventing attachment. The filter elements are designed to be easily removable and replaceable, inverting the maintenance approach from cleaning reusable filters to simple replacement of consumable elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 system reduces maintenance needs by preventing clogging, allowing for efficient filtration and sedimentation of larger particles, while maintaining hydraulic conductivity and removing pollutants effectively.

Implementation Method 1

said first synthetic low friction surface layer prevents a majority of the suspended particles of a size larger than said pore size to attach to said first filter device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLow friction surface: Friction

Implementation Method 2

said synthetic low friction surface layer of said second filter device in said filter system comprises a hydrophobic layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic layer: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

said synthetic low friction layer of said first filter device comprises a hydrophilic layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilic layer: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 4

wherein said first synthetic low friction surface layer has been subject to thermal treatment, plasma treatment, or silicon based plasma treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal treatment: Heat Treatment

Implementation Method 5

wherein said first synthetic low friction surface layer has been subject to thermal treatment, plasma treatment, or silicon based plasma treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma treatment: Plasma

Implementation Method 6

the suspended particles may sediment inside a containment, e.g. a drain

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 7

the suspended particles may sediment inside a containment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2988847B1Filter system
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 C C WATERTECH
  • EP2988847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2988847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2988847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present inventive concept relates to a filter system for filtering suspended particles from a liquid, the filter system comprising a housing having an inlet for receiving liquid, and an outlet for enabling liquid to leave said housing, and a filter device arranged within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The filter device comprises a synthetic low friction surface layer having a plurality of pores with a pore size allowing suspended particles of a size smaller than the pore size to pass through the synthetic low friction surface layer together with the liquid. The low friction surface layer prevents a majority of the suspended particles of a size larger than the pore size to attach to the filter device.