Patent ID: 11958020
Assignee: RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. A method of assessing a membrane, comprising the steps of:
calculating fluid dynamic characteristics of at least one of a membrane and a material to be passed through the membrane from an inlet end of the membrane to an outlet end of the membrane, where the material comprises particles;
obtaining characteristic of at least one force acting on the particles of the material to be passed through the membrane due to the interaction between the particles and the membrane, the at least one force being an intermolecular force;
combining the calculated fluid dynamic characteristic and the obtained characteristics to assess the flow of the material through the membrane; and
optimizing at least one characteristics of the membrane in relation to the material;
wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of teardrop structures arranged in the plurality of rows; and
wherein the teardrop structures in each row are arranged such that a bulbous end of each teardrop structure is oriented toward the outlet end of the membrane.