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
Engineering 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
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.
2Reliability
If the filter media accumulates particulates, then particle removal continues, but the surface area available for water flow decreases and velocity increases
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.
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
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.
4Reliability
If the filter media is cleaned periodically, then particle removal efficiency is restored, but the filter is offline and not filtering
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.
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
Implementation Method 2
a cross-sectional area of the interior volume decreases with increasing distance from the discharge port
Implementation Method 3
a filter or intake screen ('filter') for removing particles from a fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~1a
Figure 2~3
Figure 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.