Backwashable Planar Filtration Element Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar filter elements face issues with durability under high backwash pressures and viscous drag, leading to membrane damage and reduced filtration efficiency, particularly in large-sized modules with high solids concentration sludge.
Innovation Solution
A planar filtration element with a rigid support structure featuring spaced outer surface layers and through-openings that anchor the filtration layer with undercut-type protuberances, allowing for secure attachment and enhanced resistance to backwash pressures and viscous drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the filtration layer is loosely stacked on the support structure, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the membrane damage occurs under backwash pressure and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration layer is pre-formed with engagement protrusions that will later engage with receptacles in the support structure. This preliminary preparation of the membrane structure with anchoring features allows for simple assembly while ensuring reliable attachment under backwash pressure, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Engagement protrusions and receptacles act as intermediary anchoring structures between the filtration layer and support structure. These intermediaries provide secure mechanical attachment without requiring complex bonding processes, enabling both easy manufacture and high reliability under pressure differential operations including backwashing.
2Device complexity
If the filtration layer is secured only at peripheral edges, then the device complexity is reduced, but the membrane damage occurs under viscous drag and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented with multiple distributed receptacles across its surface, and the filtration layer is segmented with corresponding engagement protrusions. This segmentation distributes the mechanical load from viscous drag across multiple attachment points rather than concentrating stress at peripheral edges only, improving reliability while maintaining simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure provides localized anchoring quality at multiple distributed points through receptacles, rather than uniform edge-only attachment. This local quality enhancement at critical stress points prevents membrane damage under viscous drag while keeping the overall device complexity low.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid planar support structure is used, then the structural stability is improved, but the membrane damage occurs under high backwash pressure and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration layer is pre-formed with engagement protrusions that will engage with receptacles in the rigid support structure. This preliminary preparation ensures that when high backwash pressure is applied, the membrane is already anchored at multiple points, preventing damage while maintaining the structural stability provided by the rigid support.
Solution Approach 2:
Engagement protrusions and receptacles serve as intermediary anchoring elements between the filtration layer and rigid support structure. These intermediaries distribute the high backwash pressure loads across multiple attachment points, preventing membrane damage while allowing the rigid support structure to maintain its structural stability.
4Productivity
If the filtration layer is made thin for high flow rate, then the productivity is improved, but the membrane damage occurs under pressure differential and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thin filtration layer is pre-formed with engagement protrusions that provide mechanical anchoring. This preliminary preparation allows the membrane to be made thin for high flow rate productivity while the pre-formed anchoring features ensure reliability under pressure differential by securing the thin membrane to the support structure at multiple points.
Solution Approach 2:
Engagement protrusions and receptacles act as intermediary anchoring structures that enable the use of thin filtration layers. The intermediaries provide the mechanical strength needed for reliability while allowing the filtration layer itself to remain thin for high productivity and flow rate.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Planar filtration element, comprising a planar support structure (11) and at least one filtration layer (12, 13) made of a membrane material, wherein the planar support structure has first and second opposite outer surfaces (111, 112) spaced apart and secured by spacing members (113) to define a drainage compartment (114) between said first and second outer surfaces,wherein at least one of said first and second outer surfaces comprises through-openings (115) for fluid connection with the drainage compartment (114), and wherein the outer surfaces (111, 112), when one disregards the through-openings, are formed of a material extending continuously throughout the outer surfaces, characterised in that the filtration layer (12, 13) coats the outer surface such that the membrane material penetrates the through-openings (115) so as to anchor the filtration layer (12, 13) to the support structure (11).