Oil Purification via Sedimentation and Depth Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying contaminated oils, such as mineral oil and industrial oils, are inefficient in removing small impurity particles and require improvement to enhance oil reuse and resource conservation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves adding a separation aid to the oil, allowing sedimentation, and then filtering the oil phase through a depth filter to remove impurities, with the option of reusing the separation aid and using cellulose fiber powder to build a depth filter for effective particle removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If only sedimentation is used for oil purification, then the process is simple, but small impurity particles cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The purification process is divided into two distinct stages: sedimentation for removing large impurities and a depth filter for removing small particles. This segmentation allows each stage to specialize in removing particles of different sizes, achieving high overall purification efficiency while keeping each individual stage relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
A depth filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the sedimentation tank and the final oil product. This depth filter acts as a mediator that captures small impurity particles that passed through the sedimentation stage, thereby enhancing overall purification without requiring complete redesign of the entire system.
2Manufacturing precision
If a depth filter is added to remove small particles, then purification efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A depth filter made of porous material is employed to remove small impurity particles from the oil. The porous structure of the filter medium provides extensive surface area and internal pathways that trap particles throughout the filter depth, achieving high particle removal efficiency without requiring a complex multi-stage filtration system.
3Quantity of substance
If separation aid is used to capture impurities, then impurity removal improves, but remaining separation aid in oil reduces purity
Solution Approach 1:
The depth filter serves as an intermediary that not only removes small particles but also captures remaining separation aid molecules that were not incorporated into the sludge phase. This dual function ensures that both impurities and excess separation aid are removed from the purified oil, maintaining high oil purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates and discards the sludge phase containing captured impurities and separation aid from the purified oil phase. By carefully controlling the separation process and using the depth filter to remove residual separation aid, the system maximizes impurity removal while minimizing loss of valuable oil and separation aid.
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 effectively filters out small impurity particles and improves the efficiency of oil purification, allowing for continuous reuse and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
waiting for allowing a sludge phase to sediment to a bottom part of the sedimentation tank
Implementation Method 2
filtering said oil phase through a depth filter for removing any possible remaining separation aid and impurities
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for purification of oil, said method comprising the steps of: -providing separation aid and oil to be purified to at least one sedimentation tank; -waiting for allowing a sludge phase to sediment to a bottom part of the sedimentation tank, said sludge phase comprising the separation aid together with impurities from the oil; -removing an oil phase not comprising said sludge phase from the at least one sedimentation tank; and -filtering said oil phase through a depth filter for removing any possible remaining separation aid and impurities.