Particulate Filter and Methods for Removing Particulates from a Particulate Filter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021086123-A1
Application number	US-202016847605-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 13, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2019
Publication date	Mar 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an example, a particulate filter includes a porous filter substrate including a first surface and a second surface. The porous filter substrate is configured to filter gas flowing through the porous filter substrate between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of conductors are coupled to the porous filter substrate. The plurality of conductors are approximately parallel to each other along the porous filter substrate. The particulate filter also includes a plurality of input nodes in signal communication with the plurality of conductors and configured to receive a voltage signal from an input signal source. The plurality of conductors are configured to generate an electric field on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the porous filter substrate in response to the plurality of input nodes receiving the voltage signal from the input signal source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A particulate filter, comprising:
a porous filter substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the porous filter substrate is configured to filter gas flowing through the porous filter substrate between the first surface and the second surface; a plurality of conductors coupled to the porous filter substrate, wherein the plurality of conductors are approximately parallel to each other along the porous filter substrate; and a plurality of input nodes in signal communication with the plurality of conductors and configured to receive a voltage signal from an input signal source, wherein the plurality of conductors are configured to generate an electric field on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the porous filter substrate in response to the plurality of input nodes receiving the voltage signal from the input signal source.

2 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors are coupled to the first surface of the porous filter substrate and the second surface of the porous filter substrate.

3 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a plurality of conductive fibers woven into the porous filter substrate.

4 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a conductive material printed on at least one of the first surface of the porous filter substrate or the second surface of the porous filter substrate.

5 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors extend in a first direction along the porous filter substrate, and
wherein the particulate filter further comprises the input signal source configured to generate the voltage signal such that the electric field forms a traveling wave, which travels along the at least one of the first surface or the second surface in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

6 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , further comprising the input signal source configured to generate the voltage signal such that the electric field forms a standing wave on the at least one of the first surface or the second surface.

7 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to measure an amount of particulates on the porous filter substrate; and a controller in communication with the sensor and the input signal source, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive, from the sensor, a sensor signal indicative of the amount of particulates on the porous filter substrate,
determine, based on the amount of particulates indicated by the sensor signal, a value for an electrical parameter of the voltage signal, and
cause the input signal source to supply, to the plurality of input nodes, the voltage signal with the electrical parameter having the value.

8 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , further comprising a particulate collection receptacle at a periphery of the porous filter substrate and configured to collect particulates removed from the porous filter substrate by the electric field.

9 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous filter substrate has a plurality of accordion-folded pleats comprising a plurality of panels and a plurality of fold lines between respective ones of the plurality of panels, and
wherein each conductor extends along a respective fold line of the plurality of fold lines.

10 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , wherein the porous filter substrate has a plurality of accordion-folded pleats comprising a plurality of panels and a plurality of fold lines between respective ones of the plurality of panels, and
wherein the plurality of conductors extend across the plurality of panels and the plurality of fold lines.

11 . The particulate filter of claim 1 , further comprising a frame coupled to and supporting the porous filter substrate,
wherein the porous filter substrate comprises a plurality of filter media arranged in parallel planes between the first surface and the second surface, and wherein the plurality of conductors are coupled to a filter medium of the plurality of filter media, which defines the first surface of the porous filter substrate.

12 . A method of removing particulates from a particulate filter, comprising:
receiving a voltage signal from an input signal source at a plurality of input nodes of a particulate filter, wherein the particulate filter comprises a porous filter substrate and a plurality of conductors coupled to the porous filter substrate, wherein the porous filter substrate is configured to filter a gas flowing between a first surface of the porous filter substrate and a second surface of the porous filter substrate, wherein the plurality of conductors are approximately parallel to each other along the porous filter substrate, wherein the plurality of input nodes are in signal communication with the plurality of conductors; generating, using the voltage signal on the plurality of conductors, an electric field on at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the porous filter substrate; and removing, using the electric field, particulates from the at least one of the first surface or the second surface.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of conductors extend in a first direction along the porous filter substrate, and
wherein generating, using the voltage signal on the plurality of conductors, the electric field comprises forming a traveling wave, which travels along the at least one of the first surface or the second surface in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein removing, using the electric field, the particulates from the at least one of the first surface or the second surface comprises:
moving, using the electric field, the particulates in the second direction toward a particulate collection receptacle; and containing the particulates in the particulate collection receptacle.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein generating, using the voltage signal on the plurality of conductors, the electric field comprises:
forming, by the electric field, a standing wave at a first time to separate the particulates from the at least one of the first surface or the second surface; and after forming the standing wave, forming the traveling wave at a second time to move the particulates in the second direction.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the voltage signal from the input signal source at the plurality of input nodes comprises:
receiving a first voltage signal at the first time; and receiving a second voltage signal at the second time, wherein an electrical parameter of the first voltage signal has a value that is different than a value of the electrical parameter of the second voltage signal.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
measuring, by a sensor, an amount of particulates on the porous filter substrate; deciding, using a controller and based on the amount of particulates measured by the sensor, to remove the particulates from the porous filter substrate; and responsive to deciding to remove the particulates from the porous filter substrate, supplying the voltage signal from the input signal source the plurality of input nodes.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
measuring, by a sensor, an amount of particulates on the porous filter substrate; receiving, by a controller from the sensor, a sensor signal indicative of the amount o

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Peltz Leora
• Manyapu Kavya K

Classifications

• B01D46/58

  connected in parallel · CPC title

• B01D46/785 Primary

  by electrical means, e.g. for the generation of electrostatic forces in order to reject particles · CPC title

• B01D46/521

  using folded, pleated material · CPC title

• B01D46/4245

  Means for power supply or devices using electrical power in filters or filter elements · CPC title

• B01D46/10 Primary

  Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces · CPC title