FINAL SEPARATOR

Abstract

A separator for a separator device, for example a final separator for a final separator device for separating water from a liquid such as oil and/or fuel, may include a filter body including at least one filter material through which the liquid can flow. The filter body may have a first side and a second side. A nanofibre layer may be disposed on the first side in at least one region. The nanofibre layer may be configured hydrophobic. According to an implementation, the nanofibre layer is treated to produce the hydrophobic property. The filter body may have a porosity on the first side that is smaller than on the second side.

Claims

1. A water separator for a separator device, comprising; a filter body for filtering a liquid, the filter body including at least one filter material; the filter body having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side; nanofibre layer disposed on the first side in at least one region; wherein the nanofibre layer is configured hydrophobic via a hydrophobic activating treatment; and, a porosity of the filter body on the first side is smaller than on the second side.

2. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the filter body has an average size of body pores on the first side that is smaller than the average size of the body pores on the second side.

3. The separator according to claim, wherein the porosity of the filter body increases from the first side towards the second side in a stepped transition at least in one region.

4. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filter material includes a fibrous filter material.

5. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the filter material includes a cellulose-containing filter material.

6. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the nanofibre layer has a lower porosity than that of the first side of the filter body.

7. The separator according to claim 6, wherein the nanofibre layer has pores that are smaller than pores of the filter body.

8. The separator according to claim 3, wherein a number of fibre ends on the first side is smaller than on the second side.

9. The separator according to claim 8, wherein the first side is composed of a different filter material than on the second side.

10. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filter material on the first side includes a filament material.

11. The separator according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic activating treatment of the nanofibre layer is a plasma treatment to configure the nanofibre layer with a hydrophobic property.

12. The separator according to claim 1, further comprising a fluting.

13. (canceled)

14. A separator device for separating water from a liquid, comprising: a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and a final separator arranged in the housing and separating a raw side of the housing connected to the fluid inlet from a clean side of the housing connected to the fluid outlet, the final separator including: a filter body for filtering the liquid, the filter body including at least one filter material, the filter body having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side; a nanofibre layer disposed on the first side in at least one region; wherein the nanofibre layer is configured hydrophobic via a hydrophobic activating treatment; and wherein the filter body has a porosity on the first side that is smaller than on the second side.

15. A method for producing a final separator for a final separator device, comprising: providing a filter body including at least one filter material, the filter body having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side; applying a nanofibre layer of nanofibres to the first side at least in one region; treating the nanofibre layer to produce a hydrophobic property; wherein providing the filter body includes forming a lower porosity on the first side than on the second side.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein treating the nanofibre layer includes activating the nanofibres of the nanofibre layer via a plasma treatment.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein forming a lower porosity on the first side of the filter body than on the second side includes increasing the porosity of the filter body from the first side towards the second side in a stepped transition.

18. The separator device according to claim 14, wherein the filter body has an average size of body pores on the first side that is smaller than that on the second side.

19. The separator device according to claim 14, wherein the nanofibre layer has a lower porosity than the porosity of the filter body on the first side.

20. The separator device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one filter material of the filter body includes at least one of a fibrous filter material and a cellulose-containing filter material.

21. The separator device according to claim 14, wherein the first side of the filter body is composed of a different filter material than the second side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] In the figures, in each case schematically

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a section through a final separator device with a final separator,

[0061] FIGS. 2-5 each show a section through a final separator in various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a section through a final separator device 1 which in the example can be configured at the same time as a liquid filter for filtering fuel or oil or another operating liquid, preferably of a motor vehicle. The final separator device 1 is used in this case for separating water which is entrained in the respective operating liquid, i.e. for example in the oil or fuel. For separation of the water or filtering the respective fluid, the final separator device 1 has a final separator 2 which is arranged in a housing 3 of the final separator device 1. The final separator device 1 further has a fluid inlet 4 and a fluid outlet 5 which are formed on opposite sides of the housing 3. The liquid to be filtered or dewatered flows, as indicated by the arrows 6, through the fluid inlet 4 into the housing 3 and impinges upon the final separator 2 where it is filtered and freed from water components and then passes via the fluid outlet 5 out from the final separator device 1. Thus, the final separator device 1 or the housing 3 is divided by means of the final separator 2 into two regions: the region adjacent to the fluid outlet 4 forms a raw side 7 whilst the region adjacent to the fluid outlet 5 forms the clean side 8. The final separator 2 is held or fixed in the housing 3 with the aid of retaining means 9, wherein the retaining means 9 are configured to be fluid-tight so that the fluid to be purified can only pass through the final separator 2 from the raw side 7 to the clean side 8. The final separator 2 comprises a filter body 10 which is formed from at least one filter material 11 or comprises this filter material 11. In addition, a first side 12 of the final separator 2 or the filter body 3 is disposed on the raw side 7 or corresponds to this, whereas a second side 13 facing away from the first side 13 is disposed on the clean side 8 or corresponds to this. That is that the fluid to be filtered flows into the final separator 2 or into the filter body 10 on the first side 12 and flows out from the final separator 2 or the filter body 10 on the second side 13, wherein the first side 12 and the second side 13 of the filter body 10 correspond to the first side 12 or the second side 13 of the corresponding filter material 11.

[0063] FIGS. 2 to 4 each show a section through such a final separator 2, wherein different embodiments of the final separator 2 are shown in the respective figures. In this case, in these figures the first side 12 and the second side 13 are shown in a section. Here it should be observed that the filter body 10 or the filter material 11 comprises voids or pores which are hereinafter designated as body pores 14, wherein purely exemplary circular body pores 14 are shown in the figures. The filter body 10 or the filter material 11 therefore has a porosity which gives the ratio of the void fraction or body pore fraction to the total fraction of the filter body 10 or the filter material 11. For this purpose, it should be observed that the porosity on the first side 12 is smaller than that on the second side 13.

[0064] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the lower porosity on the first side 12 compared to the second side 13 is achieved whereby the size of the body pores 14 for the same number increases continuously or in steps from the first side 12 to the second side 13, which leads to a continuous or stepped increase in the porosity from the first side 12 towards the second side 13.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the respective body pores 14 are configured to be the same size whereas the number of body pores 14 increases continuously or in steps from the first side 12 towards the second side 13. Thus, the porosity therefore increases continuously or in steps from the first side 12 to the second side 13.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the filter body 10 comprises two different-sized types of body pores 14. In this case, the smaller body pores 14 are disposed in the region of the first side 12 whereas the larger body pores 14 are disposed in the region of the second side 13. This can be caused by the fact, for example, that the filter body 10 in the region of the first side 12 is made from a different filter material 11′ compared to that in the region of the second side 13 which is made from another filter material 11″. Thus, the filter material 11′ present in the region of the first side 12 has smaller body pores 14 whereas the other filter material 11″ which is disposed in the region of the second side 13 has larger body pores 14. Thus, the porosity here also on the first side 12 is lower than that on the second side 13.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment in which different filter materials 11′, 11″ are used on the first side 12 and on the second side 13. Both filter materials 11′, 11″ here comprise fibres 18 wherein the fibre material 11′ on the first side 12 has fewer free ends 19 that the fibre material 11″ on the second side 13. This also has the result that the porosity or the number of body pores 14 on the first side 12 is smaller than on the second side 13.

[0068] The lower porosity of the filter body 10 on the first side 12 compared to the second side 13 overall has the result that the first side 12 is configured to be smoother or flatter or more stable than the second side 13. In other words, the surface of the first side 12 is smoother or flatter and more stable than the surface of the second side 13.

[0069] Furthermore, a nanofibre layer 15 is applied to the first side 12, at least in some regions. This has the advantage that the nanofibre layer 15 on the first side 12, which has the lower porosity, finds a smoother or flatter surface so that it can be applied more easily to the first side 12. In addition, the nanofibre layer 15 is better supported on the first side 12 so that it can withstand greater loads. That is, the nanofibre layer 15 can withstand higher flow rates of the fluid to be filtered. Thus, the nanofibre layer 15 can also withstand higher mechanical loads so that the impurities or dirt particles of the fluid to be cleaned can impinge upon the nanofibre layer 15 with higher momenta without damaging or destroying this.

[0070] The nanofibre layer 15 and the filter material 11 are used for dewatering and here at the same time for filtering the fluid to be cleaned. In the arrangement of the filter body 10 of the final separator device 1 shown, as a result of the arrangement of the nanofibre layer 15 or the lower porosity of the first side 12, the dewatering or filtering of the fluid takes place predominantly in the region of the first side 12 so that the dirt particles of the fluid or the impurities of the fluid are separated predominantly in the region of the first side 12. In the arrangement of the filter body 10 shown, the final separator 2 can therefore also be designated as surface filter. In this case, it is possible to clean the final separator 2 by cleaning the final separator 2 with a cleaning fluid which flows through the final separator 2 in a direction 16 opposite to the flow direction 6. It is thus possible to flush the first particles or impurities of the fluid to be cleaned, which are separated in the region of the first side 12, out from the final separator 2. This increases the lifetime of the final separator 2 and/or improves the filter effect or efficiency of the final separator 2. At the same time, the separating effect can thereby also be permanently maintained or improved.

[0071] The nanofibre layer 15 comprises nanofibres which usually have diameters of several hundred nanometres or less. Here the first side 12 is covered with the nanofibre layer 15 at least in some regions. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows a variant in which such a nanofibre layer 15 is applied in the section shown which has a coverage of filter material 11 over the entire surface. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, on the other hand two such nanofibre layers 15 are shown which are applied to the first side in a spaced-apart manner and cover the surface of the filter body 10 or the filter material 11 in a segment manner. FIG. 4 also shows such a nanofibre layer 15 which only covers the surface of the filter body 10 in a partial region, wherein the edge region of the filter body 10 is not covered by the nanofibre layer 15.

[0072] The respective nanofibre layer 15 also has a porosity which is caused by the pores 17 arranged in the nanofibre layer 15 which are hereinafter designated as nanofibre pores 17. Here in the embodiments shown purely as an example, the respective nanofibre layer 15 has a constant porosity, in which case nanofibre layers 15 having varying porosities can also be used. It should further be observed that the nanofibre pores 17 of the respective nanofibre layer 15 are smaller than the body pores 14 of the filter body 10. Thus, the respective nanofibres layer 15 have a lower porosity than the relevant filter bodies 10. Thus, it is in particular possible to separate smaller dirt particles from the fluid to be filtered with the aid of the nanofibre layer 15 than with the filter body 10.

[0073] The respective nanofibre layer 15 can be made of any material. The respective filter body 10 can also be made of any filter material 11 or any different filter materials 11. The filter body 10 can in particular be made of a fibrous filter material 11. Examples for this are cellulose-containing filter materials 11 and/or a fibre mixture of cellulose and synthetic fibres 18 and/or glass fibres.

[0074] According to the invention, one of filter material 11 and nanofibre layer 15 is now configured to be hydrophobic whereas the respectively other is configured to be less hydrophobic. Preferably the first side 12, which in the state of the final separator 2 arranged in the final separator device 1 corresponds to the raw side 7 at which the fluid to be filtered flows in, is configured to be hydrophobic. In the examples shown, the nanofibre layer 15, which in the installed state forms the raw side 7 of the filter body 10, is therefore configured to be hydrophobic. The filter material 11 is configured to be less hydrophobic.

[0075] The hydrophobic configuration of the nanofibre layer 15 can be implemented by a corresponding chemical pre-treatment of the nanofibres or the nanofibre layer 15 or can be produced according to FIGS. 2 to 5 by means of a hydrophobic coating 20 of the nanofibre layer 15. The hydrophobic configuration of the nanofibre layer 15 can alternatively or additionally be implemented by a plasma treatment of the nanofibre layer 15. The hydrophobic configuration of the filter material 11 can be implemented by a corresponding chemical pre-treatment of the filter material 11 or the fibres 28 from which the filter material 11 is made or according to FIGS. 2 to 5 can be produced by means of a hydrophobic coating 21 of the filter material 11.