System for fluid separation, methods of making and using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid separation technologies face challenges such as high energy consumption, complex mechanisms, high maintenance costs, and environmental concerns, particularly in addressing indoor air quality issues by selectively removing contaminants without diluting indoor air with outdoor air.
Innovation Solution
A monoblock system with porous, selectively permeable channel walls impregnated with high boiling point liquids, which separates fluid species by creating a pressure differential across the channel walls, allowing for efficient and continuous processing of gases without the need for outdoor air introduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fluid separation technologies are used, then separation of contaminants can be achieved, but energy consumption is high and the system becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous channel walls made of materials such as porous metal, ceramic, or polymer that allow selective permeation of fluid species. The porous structure provides high surface area for separation while maintaining low pressure drop, enabling effective contaminant removal without requiring high energy input. The pore size and distribution are controlled to achieve selective separation based on molecular size and affinity.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel walls are constructed as composite materials combining a porous substrate with impregnated high boiling point liquids. This composite structure integrates the mechanical strength of the porous substrate with the selective separation properties of the liquid phase, creating a material that achieves both structural integrity and high separation efficiency with minimal energy consumption.
2Reliability
If traditional fluid separation technologies are used, then separation can be performed, but the mechanism becomes complex and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separation mechanisms into a single integrated monoblock device. The porous channel walls combine adsorption, absorption, and selective permeation functions in one structure, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing system complexity. The high boiling point liquids are impregnated directly into the porous walls, creating a unified separation medium that simplifies both device design and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The high boiling point liquids impregnated in the porous channel walls provide self-regulating separation properties. The liquids automatically adjust to varying contaminant concentrations and flow rates without requiring external control systems. The system maintains separation effectiveness through inherent material properties rather than complex active control mechanisms, reducing both device complexity and maintenance requirements.
3Reliability
If outdoor air is introduced to control indoor air quality, then pollutant concentrations can be reduced, but indoor air is diluted and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes specific contaminant species from indoor air using the porous channel walls impregnated with high boiling point liquids. Rather than diluting indoor air with outdoor air, the system selectively extracts pollutants such as CO2, VOCs, and other contaminants through the channel walls, maintaining indoor air composition while improving quality. This extraction approach preserves energy efficiency by avoiding the heating or cooling of large volumes of outdoor air.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality enhancement by targeting specific pollutant species for removal rather than treating all air components uniformly. The porous channel walls are impregnated with liquids having specific affinities for different contaminants, enabling selective removal of harmful substances while preserving beneficial components of indoor air. This localized approach to air quality improvement maintains energy efficiency by focusing treatment only where needed.
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 system effectively reduces the concentration of indoor air pollutants to compliant levels, reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs while being environmentally friendly and scalable for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
separates fluid species by creating a pressure differential across the channel walls
Implementation Method 2
porous, selectively permeable channel walls
Implementation Method 3
channel walls are impregnated with one or more high boiling point liquids
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separation of fluid species is disclosed. The device comprises at least one header connected to a monoblock. The header transitions one or more fluid streams between bulk flow and multi-channel flow patterns using a transition element. The header is attached to a monoblock, which conditions an untreated process fluid stream by adjusting the temperature of, and/or separating at least a portion of one or more fluid species from, the untreated process fluid stream. Fluid separation is accomplished by the use of high boiling point liquids infused into the pore structure of the monoblock with the outputs being a conditioned process fluid stream and an exhaust fluid stream. Methods of making the device and methods of using the device to separate at least a portion of fluid species from a process fluid stream are also disclosed.