Micro algae harvesting methods and devices
AssigneeUniversiteit Antwerpen
InventorsSerge Martin Fernand Tavernier, Boris Marie Gabriel Artemieff
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a particulate material separation assembly. It comprises a filtration membrane and an antifouling device. The antifouling device comprises one or more magnets and a plurality of magnetisable particles. The one or more magnets cause the plurality of magnetisable particles to self-assemble into dynamic bristles, thereby forming a brush. The particulate material separation assembly is particularly useful in the context of micro algae harvesting.
Claims19
A particulate material separation assembly (1) comprising:
- a filter comprising a filtration membrane (2);
- and
- an antifouling device (11) comprising a magnetic brush comprising one or more magnets (21) and a plurality of magnetisable particles,
- wherein the plurality of magnetisable particles are arranged in a plurality of dynamic bristles (6), said plurality of dynamic bristles being the bristles of said magnetic brush;
- and
- wherein the filter and at least a part of the antifouling device (11) are arranged to be moveable with respect to each other such that the dynamic bristles (6) are capable of brushing against the filtration membrane (2).
The particulate material separation assembly according to claim wherein said one or more magnets (21) are a plurality of magnets that are circumferentially aligned around a central axis, wherein the magnetic dipole moment of one magnet of said plurality of magnets has a radial orientation opposite to that of other magnets circumferentially adjacent to said one magnet.
The particulate material separation assembly according to claim wherein the one or more magnets (21) are a plurality of magnets that are circumferentially aligned around a central axis, wherein the magnetic dipole moment of one magnet of said plurality of magnets has a radial orientation identical to that of other magnets circumferentially adjacent to said one magnet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.