CN-121985985-A - Filtration system with fluid flow pressurization device

Abstract

The filtration system includes a fluid source, a drain to receive fluid from the fluid source, a filter disposed between the fluid source and the drain to filter the fluid, and a fluid flow pressurization device disposed between the fluid source and the filter. The fluid flow pressurizing device includes a reservoir to receive fluid from a fluid source at an inflow rate, a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir to expel fluid from the reservoir at an outflow rate greater than the inflow rate, and a sensor. The sensor determines an amount of fluid in the reservoir, and activates the pump such that fluid exits the reservoir at an outflow rate when the amount of fluid in the reservoir is greater than or equal to a first threshold amount.

Inventors

• J. Miller IV
• M. Vaughn
• J stevenson
• B. MAYER
• A. Menon

Assignees

• 清洁公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240826

Priority Date

20230829

Claims (20)

1. 1. A fluid flow pressurizing apparatus, comprising: a reservoir configured to receive fluid from a fluid source at an inflow flow rate; A pump fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to expel the fluid from the reservoir at an outflow rate greater than the inflow rate; A sensor configured to determine an amount of the fluid in the reservoir, and a controller in communication with the pump and the sensor, the controller configured to: when the amount of the fluid in the reservoir as determined by the sensor is greater than or equal to a first threshold amount, the pump is activated such that the fluid is expelled from the reservoir at the outflow.
2. 2. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: The pump is deactivated when the amount of the fluid in the reservoir as determined by the sensor is less than or equal to a second threshold amount.
3. 3. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to: generating a first signal when the amount of the fluid in the reservoir is greater than or equal to a first threshold amount, and A second signal is generated when the amount of the fluid in the reservoir is less than or equal to a second threshold amount.
4. 4. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to: the pump is activated in response to a first signal, and the pump is deactivated in response to a second signal.
5. 5. A fluid flow pressurizing device as recited in claim 3 wherein said sensor comprises: A first reed switch disposed adjacent a top wall of the reservoir, and And the second reed switch is arranged close to the bottom wall of the liquid storage device.
6. 6. A fluid flow pressurizing device as recited in claim 3 wherein The sensor includes a float, and The sensor is configured to: Generating a first signal when the float is positioned at a first height, and When the float is positioned at a second height, a second signal is generated.
7. 7. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 6, wherein A first height corresponding to a first position of the float near the top wall of the reservoir, and The second height corresponds to a second position of the float proximate the bottom wall of the reservoir.
8. 8. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: The pump is deactivated when the amount of fluid discharged by the pump exceeds a discharge threshold.
9. 9. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a latching relay.
10. 10. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein The fluid source includes a washing machine, and The pump is configured to drain the fluid from the reservoir to flow through a filter configured to remove particulates from the fluid.
11. 11. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the first threshold amount is adjustable.
12. 12. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 11, further comprising: a fluid conduit connecting an outlet of the pump to a filter configured to remove particulates from the fluid, and A pressure sensor configured to determine a pressure of the fluid in the fluid conduit, Wherein the controller is configured to decrease the first threshold amount when the pressure exceeds a pressure threshold.
13. 13. The fluid flow pressurizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the pump to discharge the fluid from the reservoir by: activating the pump for a first period of time during discharge of the reservoir, And disabling the pump for a second period of time between successive discharges of the reservoir.
14. 14. The fluid-flow pressurizing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the second period of time to the first period of time ranges from about 1.2 to about 5.
15. 15. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein Said inflow rate of said fluid into said reservoir varying with time, and The outflow of the fluid from the reservoir remains constant over time.
16. 16. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein The inflow has an average value ranging from about 4 Liters Per Minute (LPM) to 11 LPM, and The outflow has an average value ranging between about 14 LPM to 21 LPM.
17. 17. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine at least one of a volume or a weight of the fluid in the reservoir.
18. 18. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a load cell.
19. 19. The fluid flow pressurizing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the amount of the fluid in the reservoir by determining a level of the fluid in the reservoir.
20. 20. The fluid flow pressurizing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a differential pressure sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar level sensor, a capacitive sensor, or an inductive sensor.

Description

Filtration system with fluid flow pressurization device The present application is related to and claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 63/579,349, filed on 8/29 of 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field Embodiments discussed in the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for filtering fluids using a filter and a collection unit for a filter media (FILTER MEDIA), which may include a vortex filter and/or other types of filter media. Some embodiments may include filtration systems and methods having fluid flow pressurizing devices that may be configured to increase the flow rate (flow rate) of fluid supplied to a filter medium. The increased flow rate may help to generate a vortex (vortex) to promote the flow of solids along the flow path towards the collection unit while maintaining the solids to be filtered in suspension. Background Filtration is typically a process that involves separating one substance from another. Mechanical filtration separates a substance, such as a suspended solid or molecule, from another substance, such as a fluid (e.g., a liquid or gas). Chemical filtration separates one substance from another by chemical means, such as chemical bonding (chemical bonding) or precipitation. Mechanical filtration of solids (e.g., particulates) from a fluid may include passing or otherwise interacting with a fluid containing the solids through a filter medium (such as a mesh or membrane) that collects the filtered solids while allowing the filtered fluid to pass. In dead-end filtration (dead-end filtration), the flow of the fluid to be filtered is generally perpendicular to the filter medium, whereas in cross-flow filtration (cross-flow filtration), the flow of the fluid to be filtered is substantially parallel to the filter medium. Over time, in both filtration methods, the filter media and/or any housing shell containing the filter media tends to become clogged with filtered solids, decreasing the effectiveness of the filter, increasing the pressure drop across the filter media, resulting in a reduced flow of fluid through the filter media, and/or requiring more energy for filtration. Eventually, the filtration may no longer be effective because the filtered solids block the flow of fluid. Vortex cross-flow filtration is a filtration method involving aspects of both dead-end filtration and cross-flow filtration. However, current vortex cross-flow filtration systems still face significant performance limitations including residue build-up, lack of cleaning methods for the filter media, lack of residue collection methods, and inability to effectively filter solids and micro-solids, particularly at low flow rates of fluid through the filter media. Thus, there remains a need for improved filtration systems and methods that use both dead-end filtration and vortex cross-flow filtration. Disclosure of Invention Embodiments of the present disclosure may include technical improvements to one or more technical problems in existing filtration systems. Various embodiments described herein may provide systems and methods for improved, more efficient, or more effective filtration of solids from fluids. In some embodiments, the vortex filter provides improved vortex cross-flow filtration. In one or more of the following embodiments, the vortex filters described herein have a conical spiral (tapered-helix) configuration. According to some embodiments, the vortex filter may have a tapered configuration, such as a tapered spiral configuration. The vortex filter may comprise a conical (conical shaped) filter. In some embodiments, the vortex filter includes a conical coil having both a spiral configuration and a conical shape. In some embodiments, the vortex filter comprises a conical helical coil. In some embodiments, the fluid flow pressurizing device may provide increased flow, which may help solve one or more technical problems in existing filtration systems. According to aspects of the present disclosure, according to some embodiments, a fluid flow pressurizing device may include a reservoir configured to receive fluid from a fluid source at an inflow flow rate, a pump fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge the fluid from the reservoir at an outflow flow rate greater than the inflow flow rate, a sensor configured to determine an amount of fluid in the reservoir, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the pump. The controller may be configured to activate the pump such that fluid is expelled from the reservoir at an outflow rate when the amount of fluid in the reservoir as determined by the sensor is greater than or equal to a first threshold amount. According to some embodiments, the controller is further configured to deactivate the pump when the amount of fluid in the reservoir as determined by the sensor is less than or equal to a second threshold amount. According to some embo