Filter Arrangement with Slider Valve for Particle Concentration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical particle filters face inefficiencies in removing particles for analysis, particularly bacteria, as they require excessive fluid volumes and can become barriers to air after wetting, hindering suction efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A filter arrangement with dual inlets for elution and vacuum, utilizing check valves and modified channels to minimize fluid volume and maintain suction efficiency, incorporating a dual-stage filtering process with tangential rinsing and foam extraction to dislodge particles effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If backwashing process is used to remove particles from filter, then particles are removed from filter, but excessive fluid volume is required and process efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using backwashing to remove particles from the filter membrane, the invention inverts the approach by using vacuum suction to draw particles directly through the membrane from the upstream side. This reversal of the traditional particle removal method eliminates the need for excessive backwashing fluid while significantly improving process efficiency and particle recovery speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts particles directly from the filter membrane surface by applying vacuum suction to the downstream side, pulling particles through the membrane pores into the collection chamber. This extraction method bypasses the inefficient backwashing process and achieves rapid particle removal with minimal fluid volume.
2Productivity
If hydrophilic membrane with small pore size is used and suction is provided on downstream side, then particles are drawn through filter, but membrane becomes barrier to air after wetting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different functional properties to different parts of the system: the filter membrane maintains its hydrophilic wet state for particle filtration on the upstream side, while the downstream collection chamber and vacuum pathway are designed to handle air flow separately. This local differentiation allows the membrane to remain wet for effective particle capture while air can still pass through the system via dedicated pathways around or through the membrane support structure.
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 significantly reduces fluid volume associated with filtered particles, enhancing analysis ease and maintaining suction efficiency by effectively isolating and concentrating particles in a minimal fluid volume, while allowing air passage through hydrophobic membranes.
Implementation Method 1
allowing air passage through hydrophobic membranes
Implementation Method 2
when suction is provided on the downstream side of the filter to draw fluid and undersized particles
Data Source
AI summary
A filter arrangement with a top element and a bottom element and a filter element therebetween captures oversized particles on the upper surface of the filter element and tangentially rinses these particles using an elution fluid to provide a concentration of particles in a relatively low volume of fluid for further analysis. A configuration using a slider valve may also be utilized. Additionally, an arrangement of supply and receiving containers may be used to minimize the number of containers required. A mass flow meter may be incorporated to measure the flow of elution fluid. Finally, a wash stage of the filtering process may be used to introduce stain onto the particles for further analysis, such as that associated with Gram staining and these stained particles may be further analyzed.