Filter Substrate Testing for Hydrocarbon Fluid–Water Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for hydrocarbon fluid filtration, such as diesel fuel, fail to accurately predict the ability of materials to remove water due to reliance on surface properties measured in air rather than the hydrocarbon fluid environment, leading to inefficient water separation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the roll off angle and contact angle of a water droplet on a substrate immersed in toluene to identify materials suitable for hydrocarbon fluid-water separation, using UV treatment and hydrophilic group-containing polymers to enhance the substrate's properties, resulting in a high contact angle and roll off angle combination for improved water droplet coalescence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surface properties are measured in air to evaluate water removal ability, then measurement is simple, but prediction accuracy for hydrocarbon fluid environment is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces toluene as an intermediary substance to simulate the hydrocarbon fluid environment during contact angle measurement. By measuring the contact angle of water droplets on substrate surfaces while immersed in toluene, the measurement accurately reflects the substrate's water removal performance in hydrocarbon fluids without requiring complex testing setups. This intermediary approach bridges the gap between simple laboratory measurements and real-world application conditions.
2Productivity
If substrate surface is made more hydrophobic to improve water droplet coalescence, then water separation efficiency improves, but contact angle measurement in air becomes less predictive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from contact angle in air to contact angle in toluene. This parameter change ensures that the measurement conditions match the operational conditions, allowing accurate prediction of water separation efficiency. The toluene-immersed contact angle measurement becomes the key parameter for evaluating and optimizing substrate performance for water droplet coalescence and removal in hydrocarbon fluid environments.
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 allows for more efficient water separation from hydrocarbon fluids by enabling larger droplet coalescence and retention, enhancing the filtration process without significantly impacting the contact angle, thus improving overall filtration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the roll off angle of the water droplet on a hydrophobic surface of the substrate (that is, a surface having a contact angle of at least 90 degrees) when the surface is immersed in toluene
Implementation Method 2
the roll off angle (that is, the adhesion) of a water droplet on a hydrophobic surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 3
The surface is a UV-treated surface including, for example, a UV-oxygen treated surface
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A substrate for use in a filter media including, for example, in a hydrocarbon fluid-water separation filter; methods of identifying the substrate; methods of making the substrate; methods of using the substrate; and methods of improving the roll off angle of the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate includes a hydrophilic group-containing polymer or a hydrophilic group-containing polymer coating.