Modular Filter System for Street Drains Passes Stress Test

Formula 1-tested Modular Filter System for Street Drains Passes Stress Test

2026-09-07 Source: TU Berlin | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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How can tire and brake debris be captured directly at the source without blocking water runoff during heavy rain? A project team at TU Berlin (Germany) has developed a modular filtration system for this purpose. The prototypes were recently put to the test under extreme conditions at the Formula 1 race in Zandvoort.

At the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix in late August, two filtration systems developed by TU Berlin were used in top-level motorsports for the first time.(Source: Audi Revolut F1 Team) — At the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix in late August, two filtration systems developed by TU Berlin were used in top-level motorsports for the first time.
(Source: Audi Revolut F1 Team)

When it rains on streets and racetracks, a highly complex mixture of tire abrasion, brake dust, microplastics, and road debris is washed away. To avoid having to filter these particles out of the sewer system, the Technical University of Berlin (Department of Water Resources Engineering) has developed a concept as part of the Urbanfilter project that traps the debris directly in the street drains. On August 22 and 23, 2026, the system was put through its paces in collaboration with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Zandvoort, the Netherlands.

The Design Challenge: Filter Efficiency vs. Airflow

The "Urbanfilter" concept, developed at the Technical University of Berlin, filters out contaminants such as tire wear, brake dust, microplastics, and other pollutants that accumulate on the road surface.(Source: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)) — The "Urbanfilter" concept, developed at the Technical University of Berlin, filters out contaminants such as tire wear, brake dust, microplastics, and other pollutants that accumulate on the road surface.
(Source: Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA))

The central challenge in developing such a system is the classic trade-off in fluid technology: A filter must reliably trap fine particles, but must not block the flow of runoff water during heavy rainfall—otherwise, there is a risk of hydroplaning. In addition, the stresses caused by traffic volume, road layout, and precipitation levels vary greatly depending on the location.
The developers therefore opted for a modular design that can be flexibly configured. The system consists of various filtration stages—ranging from coarse retention systems to fine filtration in the lower section of the shaft. This multi-stage principle, combined with intelligent bypass solutions, ensures that rainwater can continue to drain reliably even during extreme weather events. In laboratory and field tests to date, retention rates of up to 99 percent have been achieved, depending on the configuration.

Prototype Development in Record Time

For use in top-level motorsports, the engineers had to precisely tailor the filter specifications to the conditions at the racetrack. Well in advance, the researchers took samples at Circuit Zandvoort to analyze the particle size distribution under motorsport conditions. Based on this data, two specific filter systems were designed and manufactured in just over a year.
The two prototypes were installed in the track’s drainage system and together collected rainwater from an area of approximately 3,300 square meters in the pit lane and first turn (Tarzanbocht).“From a scientific perspective, the collaboration with the FIA offers us a unique opportunity to investigate particle emissions in motorsports under real-world conditions and, at the same time, to see how our Urbanfilter concept performs during a Formula 1 race,” explains Dr. Johannes Neupert, project manager at TU Berlin.

Analysis of Operational Data for Series Production Development

The foundations for Urbanfilter were developed at TU Berlin with support from the Audi Foundation for the Environment and industry partners, such as the filtration technology specialist GKD.
Following the race weekend, the developers are now analyzing the collected particles as well as the operational data from the prototypes. These findings regarding performance and ease of maintenance under highly variable loads will be directly incorporated into the further optimization of the filter modules, with the goal of enabling widespread use of the system in municipal street drainage systems in the future.

Of course, it's a special motorsport tire. But conclusions for series development can definitely be drawn from the tread design and wear behavior. (Image: Rosenow – VCG)

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