US 6,383,422 B1 · Porous member with penetrating channels for fluid flow therethrough and a method of producing the member

Abstract

According to the present invention, a porous member made of temperature-resistant material for filtering and/or mixing fluids comprises first channels (132) and second channels (138) respectively extending therethrough. The channels extend under an acute angle to the flow direction (D). Fluids flowing through the porous member (101) flow through the channels (132, 138), on the one hand, and, on the other hand, through the porous material between the channels so that a good mixing of the fluids is obtained and a fluid, homogenized over the cross section, exits from an outlet surface (103). The invention further refers to methods of making the porous member (101), wherein, according to the present invention, a foamed plastic material member is formed with channels, the foamed material member is wetted with wetting material and is afterwards removed by evaporation during the curing.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A member for filtering or mixing fluids comprising a body of temperature-resistant porous ceramic foam material, said porous body having a planar inlet surface (102) and an opposite planar outlet surface (103), a plurality of channels (132, 138) extending between said inlet and outlet surfaces (102, 103, respectively) through which fluid is adapted to flow in a flow direction (D) from said inlet surface (102) to said outlet surface (103), said plurality of channels (132, 138) including a first plurality of channels (132) and a second plurality of channels (138), and said first plurality and second plurality of channels (132, 138, respectively) being located in immediately adjacent alternating substantially parallel planes and in crossing relationship to each other from plane-to-plane as viewed normal to said planes.

A method of manufacturing a porous member of temperature resistant material for filtering or mixing fluids comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a member made of porous flexible foamed plastic material including opposite outer surfaces disposed in a first position relative to each other,
(b) applying a first shear force to the porous member causing relative spacial displacement of the outer surfaces from the first relative position in a first direction substantially parallel to the direction of shear force application to a second relative position,
(c) forming a first plurality of spaced openings through the porous member while the first and second outer surfaces are in the second relative position thereof,
(d) restoring the porous member to its presheared condition,
(e) applying a second shear force to the porous member causing relative spacial displacement of the outer surfaces from the first direction and substantially parallel to the direction of shear force application to a relative position,
(f) forming a second plurality of spaced openings through the porous member while the first and second outer surfaces are in the third relative position thereof,
(g) restoring the porous member to its presheared condition at which the first and second plurality of openings are in crossing relationship to each other,
(h) wetting the porous member with a temperature resistant material, and
(i) curing the temperature resistant material to form a porous member of temperature resistant material for filtering or mixing fluids.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Porous member with penetrating channels for fluid flow therethrough and a method of producing the member

Life of this patent

Porous member with penetrating channels for fluid flow therethrough and a method of producing the member

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33