Parallel Flow Filter Housing with Wave-Shaped Dividers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter assemblies face challenges in maximizing filter media area within a given volume while maintaining efficient performance and flexibility in package geometry, particularly in achieving efficient fluid filtration through multiple parallel flow passages.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with internal dividing walls and multiple parallel flow passages, each with independent filter elements, allowing fluid to flow through specific filter elements while bypassing others, and utilizes a non-rectilinear wave-shaped dividing wall and spacer elements to optimize fluid flow and filter media area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple parallel flow passages with independent filter elements are used, then filtration efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is divided into multiple independent flow passages (first flow passage 18, second flow passage 22, etc.) with separate filter elements (first filter element 20, second filter element 24, etc.). Each flow passage operates independently, allowing fluid to be filtered through multiple parallel paths. This segmentation improves filtration efficiency by providing redundant filtering capacity and better flow distribution while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If more filter media area is provided in a given volume, then filtration performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with multiple flow passages stacked or arranged in parallel within the housing. The internal dividing walls create distinct volumetric zones for each flow passage, allowing filter media area to be maximized by exploiting the third dimension (depth/volume) rather than only increasing surface area. This dimensional approach enables more filter media to be packed into the same footprint volume while maintaining manufacturability through standardized housing and divider components.
Data Source
AI summary
A filter includes a housing with multiple flow passages and filter elements, including at least first and second flow passages therethrough including respective first and second filter elements in parallel. Respective internal dividing walls separate flow passages in space saving relation.