Superhydrophobic Filter for Hydrocarbon Aquifer Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies are inadequate for efficiently separating hydrocarbon-free phases from contaminated aquifers in phreatimeter wells without generating aqueous effluents on the surface, particularly in the oil industry where hydrocarbon contamination is a significant environmental concern.
Innovation Solution
A compact, portable device comprising a support module, a filter module with a superhydrophobic metal mesh, an elastic module, and a reservoir module, which allows passive or active collection of hydrocarbons by utilizing a floating filter mechanism and centering skids to maintain alignment within the well, ensuring efficient separation and storage without aqueous effluent generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional filtration materials are used in phreatimeter wells, then oil removal capability is provided, but aqueous effluents are generated on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the filtration material by applying a superhydrophobic coating with specific contact angle characteristics (>100 degrees). This parameter change enables the material to selectively repel water while allowing hydrocarbon passage, eliminating aqueous effluent generation while maintaining hydrocarbon recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining a porous base material (such as polyethylene terephthalate) with a superhydrophobic coating layer. This composite structure provides both mechanical support and the specialized water-repelling functionality, achieving selective separation without effluent generation.
2Productivity
If a floating filter mechanism is used for phase separation, then hydrocarbon separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating filter mechanism is designed to be self-regulating, where the filter element automatically rises and falls with the hydrocarbon-water interface based on buoyancy forces. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external actuators or complex control systems, maintaining high separation efficiency while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by allowing the filter element to float freely in the liquid phase, using buoyancy and pressure differential forces to automatically position the filter at the optimal separation point. This hydraulic self-positioning approach simplifies the mechanical structure while maintaining efficient phase separation.
3Ease of operation
If a compact portable device is designed for phreatimeter wells, then ease of operation is improved, but filtration capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film filtration materials with high surface area to volume ratios, such as porous polyethylene terephthalate membranes. These thin films provide extensive filtration surface area within a compact form factor, maintaining high filtration capacity while enabling portability and ease of installation in phreatimeter wells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials with optimized pore size distributions that maximize surface area and filtration efficiency within compact dimensions. The porous structure provides high capacity for hydrocarbon capture while maintaining a compact device size suitable for portable operation and well installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A phase-separating device for hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifers comprising a support module comprising a central axis, a filter module operatively attached to the lower end of the central axis of the support module, an elastic module operatively attached to the filter module; and a reservoir module.