Partially Laminated Filter Media for Fog Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional filter media in power generating systems face efficiency drops and increased pressure loss in fog and high-humidity conditions, and require frequent cleaning due to particulate build-up, which affects turbo-machine performance and requires costly maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A partially-laminated filter media with a base media and membranes covering less than the total area on one or both sides, allowing for effective dust removal while minimizing pressure loss and enabling pulse-jet cleaning, maintaining efficiency under varying environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If material layers (nanofiber layers) are added to the base media to increase dust removal efficiency, then dust removal efficiency is improved, but filter pressure loss increases under fog and high-humidity conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidfilter pressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial lamination by covering only a portion (e.g., 20-80%) of the base media surface with nanofiber material layers, rather than fully covering the entire surface. This partial coverage maintains dust removal efficiency in the covered regions while allowing fog and moisture to pass through the uncovered regions with minimal pressure loss, thus resolving the contradiction between dust removal efficiency and pressure loss under foggy conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If filter media is used to capture particulates, then particulate removal is improved, but particulate build-up impedes air flow and increases pressure drop over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate removalVSAvoidair flow
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter media is segmented into distinct functional zones: covered regions that capture particulates and uncovered regions that serve as pressure relief pathways. This segmentation allows the filter to maintain particulate removal capability while providing dedicated channels for air flow that are not blocked by particulate build-up, thus resolving the contradiction between particulate removal and air flow maintenance over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If complete lamination with material layers is applied to maximize dust removal, then dust removal efficiency is improved, but cleaning effectiveness is reduced due to reduced permeability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By applying material layers to only a portion of the base media surface rather than complete lamination, the patent maintains sufficient permeability in the uncovered regions to allow effective pulse-jet cleaning. The covered regions provide dust removal efficiency while the uncovered regions allow cleaning media to penetrate and effectively remove accumulated particulates, thus resolving the contradiction between dust removal efficiency and cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 filter media maintains performance in fog conditions, reduces pressure loss spikes, and extends the life of the filter device by allowing effective pulse-jet cleaning, ensuring continuous operation and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

The filter element is composed of a combination of a principal filter element made of a pleated media extending the entire height of the cartridge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the cleaning procedure injects pressurized air (or other fluid) into one end of the filter device to dislodge the particulates from the outer side of the filter media

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse-jet cleaning: Pulse Jet

Data Source

PatentEP2692410B1Filter media and filter device comprised thereof
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 BHA ALTAIR LLC
  • EP2692410B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2692410B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2692410B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This disclosure describes examples of a filter media for use in filter devices, e.g., pulse filter cartridges found in power generating systems. Embodiments of the filter media include a base media (202) and a membrane (218), which partially covers one or both sides (204) of the base media. In one embodiment, the membrane (218) covers a membrane area (220) of at least one side of the base media (202), wherein the membrane area (220) is less than a total area of the side on which the membrane (218) is disposed.