Water Sampling Immersion Probe Segmented Filtration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stationary water sampling immersion probes for wastewater treatment are prone to clogging due to substances like oil and grease adhering to the filter membranes, which cannot be effectively removed by air bubbles.
Innovation Solution
A water sampling immersion probe featuring a pair of cooperating filters, including a distal coarse filter with a porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a proximal fine filter with a porosity of less than 5.0 μm, arranged at a distance to prevent clogging, along with a venting chamber that generates air bubbles for mechanical cleaning of the filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single filter membrane is used for wastewater filtration, then the filtration area is maximized, but the filter becomes clogged with oil and grease substances
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is segmented into two separate filter membranes: a distal coarse filter with porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a proximal fine filter with porosity of less than 5.0 μm. This segmentation allows each filter to handle different particle sizes, preventing clogging of the fine filter while maintaining high filtration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The coarse filter acts as an intermediary element between the wastewater and the fine filter. It intercepts and removes larger particles, oil, and grease substances before they can reach the fine filter, thereby protecting the fine filter from clogging and extending its operational reliability.
2Ease of operation
If air bubbles are used to clean the filter surface, then mechanical cleaning is achieved, but oil and grease substances remain adhered to the membrane
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the filtration system into coarse and fine filters, the cleaning function is also segmented. The coarse filter's larger pores allow air bubbles to pass through and reach the fine filter surface, enabling effective mechanical cleaning of the fine filter while the coarse filter continuously intercepts oil and grease substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous filtration through both filters simultaneously. The coarse filter continuously removes larger particles and substances, while air bubbles continuously rise through the venting chamber to mechanically clean the fine filter surface, ensuring uninterrupted and effective filtration operation.
3Device complexity
If the fine filter is placed close to the coarse filter, then the device compactness is improved, but the fine filter contacts and becomes clogged with withheld substances
Solution Approach 1:
The venting chamber serves as an intermediary space between the coarse and fine filters. It allows air bubbles to rise and clean the fine filter surface while preventing direct contact between the coarse filter's withheld substances and the fine filter, maintaining both compact arrangement and filter protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The filters are arranged in a vertical sequence with the coarse filter at the distal end and the fine filter at the proximal end, utilizing the vertical dimension to prevent contact between filters while maintaining compactness. The venting chamber provides horizontal separation space, allowing air bubble circulation without direct filter contact.
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 effectively prevents clogging of the fine filter by isolating it from coarse particles and substances, ensuring reliable filtration and mechanical cleaning of both filters, thereby maintaining continuous and efficient water sampling.
Implementation Method 1
The venting of the venting chamber generates air bubbles which rise up along the distal surface of the fine filter
Implementation Method 2
The rising air bubbles generates a localized turbulence at the fine filter surface so that small particles adhering to the distal coarse filter surface are carried away from the filter surface
Implementation Method 3
a distal coarse filter with a porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm
Implementation Method 4
The coarse filter has a porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm
Implementation Method 5
a proximal fine filter downstream of the coarse filter. The fine filter has a porosity of less than 5.0 μm
Implementation Method 6
The fine filter has a porosity of less than 5.0 μm
Implementation Method 7
The air streaming through the pores of the coarse filter removes and/or takes away the adhering particles, such as oil and/or grease, from the coarse filter surface back into the wastewater
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a water sampling immersion probe (50) for continuously filtering a water sample from wastewater (14). The water sampling immersion probe (50) includes a distal coarse filter (60) with a porosity of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, a proximal fine filter (70) arranged downstream of the coarse filter (60) and having a porosity of less than 5.0 μm, and a sample suction opening (74) arranged downstream of the fine filter (70). The coarse filter (60) is arranged to not contact the fine filter (70).