Two-Chamber Aerosol Distributor for Filter Leakage Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol distributors for filter leakage detection in gas filtration systems fail to achieve even aerosol distribution close to the filter surface while maintaining a low pressure drop, leading to increased space requirements and energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A two-chamber aerosol distributor design with a primary chamber and secondary chambers, where the dimensions of the inlet, passages, and outlet holes are selected to maintain higher pressure in the primary chamber than in the secondary chambers, ensuring even aerosol distribution across the filter area with reduced pressure drop.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the test aerosol is injected into the gas stream via a single injection point positioned far upstream of the filter, then the aerosol particles can become evenly distributed before reaching the filter surface, but the space requirements of the filter testing system are drastically increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol distribution uniformityVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The single injection point is segmented into multiple injection points arranged in a specific pattern. This allows the aerosol to be introduced at multiple locations simultaneously, achieving even distribution across the filter surface without requiring a long upstream distance for natural dispersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The injection system transitions from a one-dimensional single-point injection to a multi-dimensional array of injection points. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions enables comprehensive coverage and uniform distribution of aerosol particles across the entire filter surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If baffles or other mixing elements are disposed between the aerosol injection point and the filter to provide adequate mixing over a shorter length, then the space requirements are reduced, but the airflow resistance is significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requirementsVSAvoidairflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The baffles and mixing elements are extracted from the system and replaced by the multi-point injection arrangement. This removes the harmful airflow resistance caused by physical barriers while maintaining the beneficial aerosol distribution effect through direct multi-location introduction of particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If multiple filters are employed in series, then the filtration capacity is increased, but the space requirements and material costs are multiplied since the filters must be separated by a distance sufficient to allow proper particle distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration capacityVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The aerosol distribution system is segmented into multiple injection points that can serve multiple filters simultaneously. This allows each filter in the series to receive properly distributed aerosol without requiring large separation distances between filters, thereby reducing overall space requirements while maintaining high filtration capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 two-chamber design reduces aerosol distribution deviation by up to 50% compared to single-chamber distributors, allowing the aerosol distributor to be placed closer to the filter surface, thereby reducing the system's size and energy consumption without increasing pressure drop.

Implementation Method 1

the dimensions of the inlet, the primary chamber, the passages, the secondary chambers and the outlet holes are selected such that during operation, the pressure of the test aerosol in the primary chamber will be higher than the pressure of the test aerosol in the secondary chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3708258B1Aerosol distribution in filter testing systems
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 CAMFIL AB
  • EP3708258B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3708258B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3708258B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

An aerosol distributor and an arrangement for filter leakage detection in a gas filtration system comprising such aerosol distributor, the aerosol distributor being configured to be positioned in a gas stream upstream of the filter, said aerosol distributor comprising: a housing comprising a primary chamber in fluid connection with two or more secondary chambers; the housing having an inlet for admitting a test aerosol from an aerosol source into the primary chamber and passages for releasing the test aerosol from the primary chamber into each of the secondary chambers; said secondary chambers being elongated and provided with a plurality of outlet holes along the length thereof for releasing the test aerosol from the secondary chambers into a gas stream surrounding the aerosol distributor; characterized in that the dimensions of the inlet, the primary chamber, the passages, the secondary chambers and the outlet holes are selected such that during operation, the pressure of the test aerosol in the primary chamber will be higher than the pressure of the test aerosol in the secondary chambers.