Micro Flow Filtration System With External Reservoir Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial-scale tangential flow filtration systems face challenges in achieving high concentration factors with small fluid sample volumes while minimizing clogging and fouling, and the large internal reservoirs increase the minimal working volume and risk of unwanted reactions.
Innovation Solution
A micro flow filtration system with a small internal reservoir integrated into the circuitry and a significantly larger external reservoir, connected via a unidirectional conduit to prevent backflow, allowing for controlled fluid flow and maintaining constant concentration in the external reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large internal reservoir is integrated into the filtration circuitry, then the system can handle larger fluid volumes, but the minimal working volume increases and the risk of clogging and fouling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is divided into two separate components: a large external reservoir (first reservoir) for bulk fluid storage and a small internal reservoir (second reservoir) integrated into the circuitry for active filtration. This segmentation allows the system to handle large fluid volumes while maintaining a small minimal working volume in the circuitry, thereby reducing the risk of clogging and fouling.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a large internal reservoir is integrated into the circuitry, then the system can maintain stable operation, but the minimal recirculation volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bulk of the reservoir volume is extracted from the circuitry and placed in an external first reservoir. Only a small second reservoir is retained within the circuitry to maintain the necessary minimal recirculation volume for stable operation. This extraction reduces the minimal recirculation volume while preserving operational stability through the external reservoir connection.
3Quantity of substance
If the external reservoir is connected bidirectionally to the circuitry, then fluid can be replenished, but backflow into the external reservoir occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing bidirectional flow between the external reservoir and circuitry, the system uses a unidirectional connection where fluid flows only from the external first reservoir to the internal second reservoir. This inversion of the flow direction prevents backflow into the external reservoir, maintaining concentration constancy while still enabling fluid replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
A unidirectional valve or check valve is introduced as an intermediary element in the connection between the external first reservoir and the internal second reservoir. This intermediary ensures that fluid can flow from the external to the internal reservoir but prevents backflow, thereby maintaining concentration stability in the external reservoir while enabling replenishment.
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 configuration delays the exponential concentration phase, reduces the risk of clogging and fouling, and maintains a low minimal working volume, enabling high concentration factors with small fluid volumes and minimizing the influence of the external reservoir on the system's minimal recirculation volume.
Implementation Method 1
a micro tangential flow filtration module having a semipermeable membrane capable of separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream containing the compound in the fluid and a permeate stream containing the fluid without the compound
Implementation Method 2
a pump and a plurality of conduits connecting the elements to the circuitry
Implementation Method 3
connected via a unidirectional conduit to prevent backflow
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A micro flow filtration system comprises a fluid circuitry (3) and a first reservoir (1) outside the circuitry (3) suitable for containing a fluid. The fluid circuitry (3) comprises a tangential flow filtration module (10) capable of separating the fluid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of the fluid sample into the tangential flow filtration module (10) through an inlet feed (18). The fluid circuitry (3) further comprises a second reservoir (2) integrated in the fluid circuitry (3), a pump (5) for creating and driving a fluid flow, optionally at least one pressure sensor (6, 7 or 8) for acquiring and detecting data about the fluid sample, optionally a pressure regulator (9) for regulating the flow in the fluid circuitry (3) and a plurality of conduits (22) forming the fluid circuitry (3) together with the second reservoir (2), the TFF-module (10), the pump (5), the pressure sensor (6, 7 or 8) (if present) and the pressure regulator (9) (if present). The volume of the first reservoir (1) outside the circuitry (3) is significantly larger than the volume of the second reservoir (2). The first reservoir (1) outside the fluid circuitry (3) is connected to the circuitry (3) via a connection conduit (31) such that the fluid flows unidirectionally into the circuitry (3) until the first reservoir (1) is empty so that a continuous fluid flow from the first reservoir (1) to the circuitry (3) is established.