Filtration Apparatus with Flow-through Layer for Low Shear Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current membrane filtration technologies, such as rolled and hollow fiber membranes, face issues with high energy consumption, leakage, and damage to sensitive substances due to shear forces, while plate membranes struggle with scalability and efficiency due to structural characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a filtration layer and a flow-through layer, where the flow-through layer includes a support member defining flow channels that guide the liquid over the filtration membrane, reducing shear forces and maintaining a stable flow path, combined with a liquid-dispensing component for uniform distribution and collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rolled membrane or hollow fiber membrane is used, then cell damage is reduced, but energy consumption increases and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is divided into multiple hollow fiber membrane bundles arranged in parallel, with each bundle processing a portion of the feed stream. This segmentation allows lower flow rates per bundle (reducing energy consumption and leakage) while maintaining overall filtration capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-bundle configuration to multi-bundle parallel arrangement, adding spatial dimensionality to the system. This enables distribution of flow across multiple pathways, reducing the flow rate and energy consumption per bundle while maintaining total filtration performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hollow fiber membrane is used, then cell damage is minimized, but industrial scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple hollow fiber membrane bundles that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each bundle operates as an independent module, allowing incremental scaling by adding more bundles in parallel to meet industrial production requirements while preserving the low-shear benefits of hollow fiber membranes.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow fiber membrane bundles are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized configurations, enabling them to function as interchangeable modules. This universality facilitates easy scaling from laboratory to industrial scale by simply replicating and assembling additional bundles without redesigning the entire system.
3Productivity
If plate membrane is used, then industrial scalability is improved, but shear forces increase causing cell damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs hollow fiber membranes with flexible porous structures that allow feed flow along the outer surface of each fiber. This flexible thin-film configuration creates gentle flow patterns with low shear forces, protecting cells while maintaining the scalability benefits of membrane module design.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the filtration area into multiple hollow fiber bundles instead of using a single large plate membrane, the system achieves industrial scalability through modular assembly while each individual fiber maintains low shear stress conditions beneficial for cell integrity.
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 configuration enhances filtration efficiency, reduces damage to sensitive substances, and improves scalability by minimizing shear forces and maintaining a stable flow, leading to improved cell activity and filtration performance.
Implementation Method 1
When a liquid is injected into the first flow channel, the liquid flows along an extension direction of the first flow channel, and then is filtered through a tangential flow along a surface of the filtration membrane
Implementation Method 2
the liquid flows into a filtration layer, and then is filtered through the filtration layer
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for filtration. The apparatus for filtration may include at least one filtration layer and at least one flow-through layer disposed along a filtration direction of the filtration layer. One of the at least one flow-through layer may include at least one first support member and at least one first flow channel. The at least one first flow channel may be configured for a liquid to flow, and the at least one first support member may define the at least one first flow channel.