Ultrasonic Liquid Filtration With Resonant Membrane Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing membrane filtration processes face inefficiencies due to membrane clogging and structural alterations, requiring costly and disruptive cleaning methods that interrupt operations and are not suitable for continuous industrial use.

Innovation Solution

A liquid filtration device comprising a filtration module and an ultrasound emission module fixed remotely by a fixing means, with the ultrasound module coaxially or perpendicularly equipped with weights, allowing resonance and enhanced vibration propagation to maintain filtration efficiency without disrupting the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If membranes are cleaned by removing them from the filtration device and placing them in an ultrasonic bath, then membrane cleaning effectiveness is improved, but filtration operation continuity deteriorates and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemembrane cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidfiltration operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

An ultrasonic emission module is introduced as an intermediary component that transmits ultrasonic vibrations through the filtration device housing to the membranes during operation. This mediator enables cleaning action without requiring removal of membranes from the filtration system, thus maintaining operational continuity while achieving effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filtration device is designed to clean its own membranes during normal operation through integrated ultrasonic emission. The membranes remain in place and are cleaned in situ by ultrasonic vibrations transmitted through the device structure, eliminating the need for external ultrasonic bath cleaning and manual handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If membranes are cleaned by dismantling the filtration device and handling membranes, then membrane cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and handling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemembrane cleaning effectivenessVSAvoiddismantling and handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasonic emission module serves as an intermediary that delivers cleaning energy through the device housing without requiring disassembly. The vibrations are transmitted through the structural components (housing, support elements) directly to the membranes, eliminating the need for dismantling and manual handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical cleaning operations (dismantling, handling, bath immersion) are replaced by an ultrasonic vibration field that acts on the membranes through the device structure. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical manipulation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If ultrasonic power is increased for industrial filtration, then filtration intensity is improved, but ultrasound attenuation increases and device size must increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration intensityVSAvoidultrasound attenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing ultrasonic power in a single dimension (which would require larger transducers and increase attenuation), the solution distributes ultrasonic emission through multiple points or surfaces of the device housing. This spatial distribution maintains effective vibration transmission while reducing the power burden on individual transducers and minimizing attenuation losses.

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

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 device achieves superior filtration performance, reduces membrane surface area, and lowers production costs while maintaining consistent efficiency, making it suitable for continuous industrial use.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid filtration device (D) comprising a filtration module (F) and an ultrasound emission module (US)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasound: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

the filtration module and the ultrasound module provided with its weight entering into resonance via the fixing means when the ultrasound emission module emits ultrasound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 3

the ultrasound emission module is coaxially provided with a weight (P), the filtration module and the ultrasound module provided with its weight entering into resonance via the fixing means when the ultrasound emission module emits ultrasound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4065256B1Liquid filtration apparatus with an ultrasonic modul
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES
  • EP4065256B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4065256B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4065256B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (D) for filtering liquids, comprising a filtration module (F) and an ultrasound emission module (US), characterized in that the ultrasound emission module (US) is fixed distant from the filtration module (F) using a fixing means (MF), and the ultrasound emission module (US) is equipped coaxially along its axis (A2) with a weight (P) or is equipped perpendicular to its axis (A2) with at least one weight (P1, P2), the filtration module and the ultrasound module equipped with its at least one weight (P - P1, P2) going into resonance via the fixing means (MF) when the ultrasound emission module emits ultrasound. The present invention finds an application in particular in fields of industry involving filtering liquids.