Rotary Drum Algae Filtration With Low-Shear Micron Mesh

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filtration devices for microalgae often fail to adequately filter and dehydrate algae, leading to product damage due to high pressure and shear force, and require additional processing.

Innovation Solution

A rotary drum filtering machine with a horizontally rotatable filtration basket and micron-sized mesh netting, operated using low pressure and low shear force, capable of filtering micron-sized algae particles efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high pressure is used for filtration, then filtration efficiency is improved, but algae cells are ruptured leading to product damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidcell rupture and product damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pressure parameter from high to low, achieving effective filtration through a horizontally rotating drum design that uses centrifugal force generated by rotation rather than applied pressure. This maintains filtration efficiency while preventing cell rupture and product damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional high-pressure mechanical filtration system with a rotational mechanical system. The horizontal drum rotation creates centrifugal force that drives filtration, substituting pressure-based mechanics with rotation-based mechanics to achieve the same separation effect without damaging the algae cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional filtering is applied to achieve sufficient dehydration, then filtration quality is improved, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration qualityVSAvoidnumber of filtering stages

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The horizontally rotating drum filtration device performs multiple functions in a single unit: it filters algae cells from liquid, dehydrates the filtered algae, and collects the concentrated biomass. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate filtering and dehydration stages, reducing device complexity while maintaining high filtration quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the filtration and dehydration functions into a single integrated horizontal drum system. The drum simultaneously performs separation and concentration of algae biomass, combining what would traditionally require multiple sequential filtering stages into one unified process, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

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 machine achieves high-volume, high-separation efficiency filtration of microalgae without damaging cellular integrity, allowing for continuous or batch processing and monitoring of filtration parameters.

Implementation Method 1

a permeable medium retains the algae biomass while allowing the liquid to pass through

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

This technique requires a pressure difference across the filter which can be driven by vacuum, pressure or gravity, such as by using a high-pressure centrifugal pump to provide centrifugal pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS12544693B2Rotary drum filtering machine for algae filtration

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 ALGAECORE TECH LTD

AI summary

Rotary drum filtering machine and method for filtration of harvested algae. A filtering drum, axially rotatable horizontally, includes a filtration basket with thermally coupled mesh netting for retaining algae and passing through liquid when filtering drum is rotated. Feeding liquid containing algae is fed into filtering drum via inlet pipe. Filtered algae retained on internal surface of filtration basket is scraped and collected, and removed through outlet pipe. Filtration basket is axially embedded and releasably secured to a support frame. Mesh netting is thermally pressed into filtration basket such that filtration basket polymer material penetrates through mesh netting apertures, and polymeric rod thermally pressed onto mesh netting fuses to filtration basket polymer material with mesh netting contained therebetween. Mesh netting includes wired mesh with wire diameter less than 1,000 pm and micron sized apertures having aperture diameter of 1 pm-500 pm to enable filtration of micron sized algae.