Particulate Filter With Conductive Electric Field Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Particulate filters face inefficiencies due to accumulated particulates, requiring manual cleaning or replacement, which is labor-intensive, costly, and challenging in space-constrained environments like spacecraft.

Innovation Solution

A particulate filter with a porous substrate and coupled conductors that generate an electric field to repel and remove particulates, reducing the need for manual intervention and enabling efficient, frequent cleaning without replacing the substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning or replacement of particulate filters is performed, then particulate removal efficiency is maintained, but labor intensity and operational cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticulate removal efficiencyVSAvoidmanual cleaning requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter substrate performs self-cleaning through piezoelectric actuators that generate ultrasonic vibrations. The actuators are integrated directly into the filter substrate structure, enabling automatic removal of accumulated particulates without external manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-maintaining while preserving high particulate removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Piezoelectric actuators generate ultrasonic mechanical vibrations that propagate through the filter substrate. These vibrations create acoustic streaming and cavitation effects that dislodge and remove accumulated particulates from the filter surface. This mechanical vibration mechanism enables automatic cleaning, eliminating manual labor while maintaining filter efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Reliability

If frequent filter replacement is performed, then filtration performance is maintained, but storage space and logistical complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidstorage space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated piezoelectric actuator system enables the filter substrate to clean itself continuously or periodically, extending its service life without sacrificing filtration performance. This eliminates the need for frequent replacements and reduces storage space requirements for backup filters, particularly beneficial in space-constrained applications like spacecraft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the entire filter substrate when it becomes contaminated, the system recovers its functionality by using piezoelectric actuators to remove accumulated particulates. This allows the filter substrate to be reused multiple times, reducing the quantity of replacement filters needed and minimizing storage space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If mechanical filtration alone is used, then device complexity is minimized, but cleaning efficiency and frequency of operation decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration system structureVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric actuators are integrated directly into the filter substrate structure, merging the cleaning function with the filtration structure. This integration adds minimal complexity while dramatically improving cleaning efficiency, as the actuators are already positioned optimally within the substrate and share the same housing and power supply infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 electric field effectively cleans the filter substrate, maintaining efficiency and reducing storage and logistical challenges associated with frequent replacements.

Implementation Method 1

One type of particulate filter uses mechanical filtration to capture and separate the particulates from the gas as the gas flows through the particulate filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical filtration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The plurality of conductors are configured to generate an electric field on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the porous filter substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11465092B2Particulate filter and methods for removing particulates from a particulate filter

Publication Date: 2022.10.11 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

In an example, a particulate filter includes a porous filter substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The porous filter substrate is configured to filter gas flowing through the porous filter substrate between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of conductors are coupled to the porous filter substrate. The plurality of conductors are approximately parallel to each other along the porous filter substrate. The particulate filter also includes a plurality of input nodes in signal communication with the plurality of conductors and configured to receive a voltage signal from an input signal source. The plurality of conductors are configured to generate an electric field on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the porous filter substrate in response to the plurality of input nodes receiving the voltage signal from the input signal source.