Filter Assembly Conditioning via Vacuum Purging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter assemblies in industries like microelectronics and pharmaceuticals face contamination issues due to trapped gases and contaminants within the filter medium, which can disrupt chemical processes and product quality, necessitating effective conditioning methods to ensure purity.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for conditioning filter assemblies involve filling the filter medium with a purging liquid, followed by applying a vacuum to remove contaminants, ensuring thorough flushing and removal of gases and impurities, and safely containing and disposing of the purging liquid waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a purging liquid is flushed through the filter assembly to remove contaminants, then the filter assembly is cleaned of contaminants and gases, but the filter assembly may retain trapped gas in pores and voids that standard flushing cannot remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminants and gasesVSAvoidpurity of filtered chemical

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by applying vacuum to the filter assembly before the purging liquid is introduced. This pre-vacuuming step removes trapped gas from pores and voids in advance, preventing gas entrapment during the subsequent liquid flushing process and ensuring more effective contaminant removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the pressure parameter by applying vacuum (reducing pressure) to the filter assembly during the conditioning process. This pressure change enables the removal of trapped gases that would otherwise remain at atmospheric pressure, significantly improving the effectiveness of contaminant removal from the filter medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the filter assembly is flushed with purging liquid to remove contaminants, then contaminants are carried away, but gas trapped in pores and voids of the filter medium remains and can be re-introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecontaminantsVSAvoidtrapped gas

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a vacuum environment (inert environment) during the conditioning process to prevent atmospheric gas from entering the filter assembly. By maintaining vacuum conditions during liquid introduction and flushing, the system prevents re-introduction of air and other atmospheric gases into the pores and voids of the filter medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Productivity

If the inlet is closed and vacuum is applied to remove remaining contaminants, then trapped gas is quickly removed, but the process requires precise control of valve timing and vacuum application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of contaminant removalVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback control where the controller monitors the state of valves and vacuum device, and adjusts their operation based on process conditions. The controller coordinates the timing of valve closure/opening and vacuum application to optimize contaminant removal while maintaining simple operational procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller serves multiple functions: it manages valve operation, coordinates vacuum application, and sequences the entire conditioning process. This multi-functionality consolidates complex control logic into a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise control over the contaminant removal process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

This approach effectively removes contaminants and gases from the filter assemblies, ensuring they are largely free of impurities before use, thereby maintaining the purity of chemicals and ensuring safe disposal of waste.

Implementation Method 1

applying a vacuum to an open outlet while the inlet is closed to condition the filter assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

the purging liquid may displace any gas within the filter assembly and carry away any gas and other contaminants contained in the filter assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDisplacement: Displacement

Data Source

PatentUS9421498B2Systems and methods for conditioning a filter assembly

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 PALL CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods condition a filter assembly. Purging liquid is passed through the filter assembly to remove contaminants from the pores and voids of the filter medium and from the upstream and downstream sides of the filter medium.