Flexuous Channel Filtration Membrane for Clogging Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cross-flow filtration membranes face issues with clogging and reduced throughput due to concentration polarization and pore blockage, leading to increased energy consumption and the need for larger installation surfaces and additional cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

The development of cross-flow separation elements with flexuous channel shapes and an additive manufacturing technique to create porous supports with varying channel geometries, enhancing fluid flow and reducing energy consumption by promoting turbulence and preventing clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional rectilinear channels are used in filtration membranes, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but clogging and concentration polarization occur leading to reduced throughput and increased energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltrate throughputVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by transforming rectilinear channels into flexuous (curved/wavy) channels within the membrane structure. This curvature promotes turbulent flow patterns that reduce concentration polarization and prevent clogging, thereby maintaining higher filtrate throughput and reducing energy consumption compared to conventional straight channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If conventional rectilinear channels are used, then manufacturing is simple, but clogging occurs requiring additional cleaning processes and reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to cloggingVSAvoidchannel geometry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexuous channel geometry with its curved paths creates flow disturbances that prevent particle deposition and clogging, enhancing the membrane's reliability. While the channel shape is more complex than rectilinear designs, the manufacturing process remains relatively simple through conventional membrane fabrication techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If larger installation surfaces are used to compensate for clogging, then throughput is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltrate throughputVSAvoidmembrane surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing flexuous channels that promote turbulent flow, the patent maintains high filtrate throughput without requiring increased membrane surface area. The curved channel geometry prevents clogging and concentration polarization, allowing smaller membrane areas to achieve the same productivity compared to conventional rectilinear channel designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Duration of action of moving object

If conventional filtration membranes are used, then the structure is simple, but frequent cleaning processes are required increasing loss of time and operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational time between cleaningsVSAvoidtime for cleaning processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flexuous channel design creates flow patterns that continuously disrupt concentration boundary layers and prevent particle accumulation, significantly extending the operational time between cleaning cycles. This reduces the frequency and total time of cleaning processes compared to conventional rectilinear channel membranes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 flexuous channel design increases filtrate flow and reduces energy consumption by minimizing clogging and concentration polarization, thereby improving the efficiency and economic attractiveness of filtration processes.

Implementation Method 1

enhancing fluid flow and reducing energy consumption by promoting turbulence and preventing clogging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

Components pass or are stopped as the result of their size relative to the size of the pores in the membrane, which then behaves as a filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSize exclusion filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

membranes are built up on a porous support that provides the membrane with mechanical strength and, by defining the number and the morphology of channels, that determines the total filter surface area of the membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPorous structure: Porosity

Data Source

PatentUS11697095B2Tangential flow separation element incorporating flexuous channels

Publication Date: 2023.07.11 TECHNOLOGIES AVANCEES ET MEMBRANES INDUSTRIELLES SA

AI summary

The invention provides a cross-flow separation element comprising a single-piece rigid porous support (2) having within its volume at least one channel (41) for passing a flow of the fluid medium for treatment, which channel presents a flexuous flow volume (V1) defined by sweeping a generator section along a curvilinear path around a reference axis, and in that the reference axis does not intersect said generator section and is contained within the volume of the porous support.