Water Filter Screen With Flow Vanes To Reduce Head Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filters and screens for abstracting water from natural sources become clogged over time, with the filter medium, and the filter medium closest to the outlet accumulates particulates faster, leading to increased head loss and non-compliance with water velocity parameters, especially in habitats for living creatures.

Innovation Solution

A filter design with vanes and a flow guide that directs water flow towards a discharge port, maintaining a constant cross-sectional area and velocity, and an outer housing that ensures a consistent velocity component parallel to the filter medium, thereby maintaining even flow rates and reducing head loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter media is used to remove particles from water, then particle removal efficiency is improved, but the filter media accumulates particulates faster and head loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal efficiencyVSAvoidhead loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different flow conditions at different locations of the filter media. The approach velocity is controlled to be substantially uniform across the entire filter media surface, while the discharge velocity varies along the length of the filter media. This localized optimization ensures consistent particle capture efficiency across all areas while preventing excessive particulate accumulation in any single region, thereby reducing overall head loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the filter media accumulates particulates, then particle removal continues, but the surface area available for water flow decreases and velocity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous particle removalVSAvoidwater velocity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by actively controlling the approach velocity to remain substantially uniform across the filter media surface despite particulate accumulation. By maintaining constant approach velocity as a controlled parameter, the system compensates for decreasing surface area from clogging, preventing velocity increases that would otherwise occur and maintain stable filtration performance over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the velocity perpendicular to filter media is reduced to protect wildlife, then fish protection is improved, but flow rate through the filter decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefish protectionVSAvoidflow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different velocity conditions at different locations. The approach velocity perpendicular to the filter media is controlled to be low and substantially uniform to protect fish, while the discharge velocity parallel to the filter media varies along the length to maintain adequate flow rate. This localized velocity differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of fish protection and sufficient productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the filter media is cleaned periodically, then particle removal efficiency is restored, but the filter is offline and not filtering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal efficiencyVSAvoidfilter offline time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by designing a cleaning system that operates continuously or semi-continuously rather than requiring periodic complete shutdowns. The uniform approach velocity distribution prevents severe clogging in any single area, allowing the filter to maintain operational status during cleaning operations or enabling more frequent, shorter cleaning cycles that minimize total offline time while maintaining particle removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 filter design achieves consistent flow rates and reduced head loss, ensuring compliance with water velocity parameters, even when the filter medium is partially blocked, and reduces the need for additional cleaning mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of vanes are provided to the second side of the filter media and are configured to direct the flow of water from the filter media towards the discharge port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

a cross-sectional area of the interior volume decreases with increasing distance from the discharge port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 3

a filter or intake screen ('filter') for removing particles from a fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4265314B1Water filter/screen
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 DAMA MFG LTD
  • EP4265314B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP4265314B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4265314B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A filter or intake screen 100 ("filter") for removing particles from a fluid has a filter media 110 having a first side 120 and an opposite second side 130, wherein the fluid flows, in use, from the first side 120 to the second side 130. The filter 100 further comprises a discharge port 160 provided at a first end of the filter media 110 on the second side 130 of the filter media 110. A plurality of vanes 140 are provided to the second side 130 of the filter media and are configured to direct the flow of water from the filter media 110 towards the discharge port 160. The flow of water from the vanes 140 discharges into an interior volume 150 which is in fluid communication with the discharge port 160, wherein a cross-sectional area of the interior volume 150 decreases with increasing distance from the discharge port 160.