Mesofluidic Separator Assembly for High-Flow Particle Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filtration technologies face limitations in process intensification due to faster cake and depth fouling at higher concentrations and flow rates, leading to increased costs and maintenance, while also requiring significant footprints.
Innovation Solution
Mesofluidic separator assemblies with aligned members that facilitate linear flow for small particles and non-linear flow for large particles, allowing for high flow rates and efficient separation within a compact footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher flow rates and higher concentrations are used for process intensification, then productivity and profit margins improve, but filtration performance deteriorates due to faster cake and depth fouling
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is divided into multiple filtration elements arranged in parallel, where each element handles a portion of the total flow. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity while each individual element operates at lower stress, reducing fouling rates and maintaining reliable filtration performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional planar filtration to a three-dimensional structure with members extending between supports, creating multiple flow paths through the slurry. This dimensional change increases the effective filtration area and distributes flow more evenly, enabling high flow rates without compromising filtration reliability.
2Productivity
If filter banks increase cross-sectional area to match flow rate requirements, then productivity improves, but device footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system utilizes the third dimension by extending members vertically between supports, creating a three-dimensional flow path structure. This allows the system to achieve high flow rates through increased effective area in the vertical dimension rather than expanding the horizontal footprint, thus maintaining productivity while minimizing device area.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple filtration elements are nested within a compact housing structure, with members arranged in a space-efficient configuration between supports. This nesting approach allows maximum filtration area to be packed into a minimal footprint, enabling high productivity in a compact form factor.
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
Achieves high flow rates up to 90 gpm with minimal pressure drop and reduced maintenance, enabling efficient particle separation in industrial applications such as nuclear waste processing and hydraulic fracturing.
Implementation Method 1
arranging the members to direct the smaller of the two sized particles through the plurality of members while maintaining a substantially linear path and to direct the larger of the two sized particles through the plurality of members in a substantially non-linear path
Data Source
AI summary
Mesofluidic separator assemblies are provided that can include at least a pair of supports configured to extend within a pressure differential axis, and at least one level of a plurality of members extending between the pair of supports. Individual members of the plurality can define a plurality of levels extending from a first level configured to have initial contact with the fluid to be separated and a last level configured to have final contact with the fluid to be separated. Sets of members can be aligned along one axis that is neither parallel nor normal to the pressure differential axis. Conduits configured to facilitate the flow of fluid along the pressure differential axis can define at least one cross sectional area that is open. Methods for size separating particles within a fluid are also provided.