Heat-Set Plastic Screen Fabric Laundry Bag for Microfiber Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wastewater filters and laundry methods fail to effectively retain plastic fibers washed out of synthetic textiles, leading to significant pollution in rivers and oceans, as these fibers are too small to be caught and often pass through treatment systems.
Innovation Solution
A laundry bag made of heat-set plastic screen fabric with a defined mesh size between 5 μm and 200 μm, equipped with a zipper for closure, which acts as a filter to retain plastic fibers of lengths up to 100 μm, utilizing water pressure to prevent clogging and maintain filter efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wastewater filters are used, then the filter structure is simple, but the retention of plastic fibers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple layers with different mesh sizes (first layer: 10-50 μm, second layer: 50-200 μm) to segment the filtration process. This segmentation allows each layer to target specific fiber size ranges, improving overall retention efficiency while maintaining a manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses porous screen fabrics with specifically controlled mesh sizes to create a filtration system that retains plastic fibers through physical porosity. The porous structure allows water to pass through while blocking fibers, achieving high retention without complex mechanical components
2Reliability
If mesh size is reduced to retain smaller fibers, then fiber retention improves, but filter clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into two layers with progressively finer mesh sizes. The coarser second layer (50-200 μm) catches larger fibers first, preventing them from clogging the finer first layer (10-50 μm). This segmentation maintains high fiber retention while preventing filter clogging that would reduce washing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mesh size parameter across different layers of the filter, creating a gradient from coarser to finer mesh. This parameter variation allows the system to retain small fibers effectively while the coarser layer prevents clogging, maintaining productivity
3Reliability
If laundry bag material is made denser to filter fibers, then fiber retention improves, but water flow and washing effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The laundry bag uses porous screen fabric with controlled mesh sizes rather than dense non-porous material. This porous structure allows water and washing agents to flow freely through the fabric while retaining plastic fibers, maintaining washing effectiveness without sacrificing fiber retention
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed with different mesh sizes in different layers to provide local quality variations. The first layer has finer mesh (10-50 μm) for high-retention areas, while the second layer has coarser mesh (50-200 μm) for water flow areas, optimizing both retention and washing effectiveness in different locations
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 achieves nearly 100% retention of plastic fibers during washing, ensuring a good washing result while reducing environmental pollution, with the specific mesh size and material selection preventing fiber entanglement and maintaining filter performance.
Implementation Method 1
the laundry bag being made of a heat-set plastic screen fabric with an average mesh size in the range between 5 μm and 200 μm
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5c
AI summary
The invention relates to a retaining means for retaining plastic fibers washed out of textiles (3) during a washing process. According to the invention, the retaining means is designed as a laundry bag (1) that holds at least one textile (3) to be washed during a washing process and that can be closed in a suitable manner. The laundry bag (1) is produced of a heat-set plastic woven screening fabric having an average mesh width in the range between 5 µm and 200 µm.