A sinkable trash screen and method of use

Abstract

This invention discloses a sinkable debris barrier net and its usage method. The debris barrier net is arranged between two guide piers and includes several debris barrier units and ring buckles connecting adjacent debris barrier units. The ring buckles are slidably fitted onto vertically arranged guide posts, the bottom of which are buried inside the riverbed. A net body is set in the middle of each debris barrier unit, and buoys and anchor blocks are detachably connected to the top and bottom of each unit, respectively. In use, the buoys are installed to intercept debris on the water surface; when the buoys are removed, the net body sinks under its own weight to avoid navigation and maintenance; the net body can be quickly deployed vertically by pulling the limit ball and rope. This invention does not require a winch lifting device, has low operation and maintenance costs, the net is not prone to biological adhesion and has less clogging, and the riverbed guiding structure can achieve full-section interception.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of debris barrier technology, and in particular to a sinkable debris barrier and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] At the water intakes of water conservancy gates, hydropower stations, and nuclear power plants, it is usually necessary to install debris screens to intercept floating branches, garbage, algae, jellyfish, and other pollutants to protect downstream core equipment such as water pumps and generator sets, and prevent equipment blockage, wear, or malfunction.

[0003] Existing pollution barrier technology has the following significant drawbacks: 1. Most of them adopt a fixed structure anchored on both banks, or require complex winches and hydraulic lifting equipment, which makes maintenance and navigation operations very complicated, and the equipment purchase and maintenance costs are high.

[0004] 2. Mainstream nylon mesh has poor durability and generally needs to be replaced every 3-4 years. It is also very easy for aquatic organisms to adhere to it, causing the mesh to become clogged and reducing its water passage capacity. This requires frequent underwater manual cleaning, which is inefficient and carries a high risk of operation.

[0005] 3. Water flow impact can easily cause the net to deform or shift, making it impossible to guarantee full-section interception, and there is a risk that dirt will enter from the bottom or sides. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that existing debris-blocking nets have high operation and maintenance costs, are prone to clogging, and have poor debris-blocking effect.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a sinkable debris barrier net arranged between two guide piers, including several debris barrier units and ring buckles connecting adjacent debris barrier units. The ring buckles are slidably fitted onto vertically set guide columns. The bottom of the guide columns is buried inside the riverbed. A net body is set in the middle of the debris barrier unit. The top and bottom of the debris barrier unit are detachably connected to a buoy and an anchor block, respectively.

[0008] Preferably, the guide column includes a pile foundation and a column fixed on top of the pile foundation. The pile foundation and the column are arranged parallel to each other, and the pile foundation is embedded in the riverbed soil or bedrock.

[0009] Preferably, the columns are divided into two types: one type is a stainless steel cylinder with a mechanically polished outer wall and a roughness Ra≤1.6μm; the other type is a cast-in-place reinforced concrete cylinder with a fixed steel mold, and the outer wall is finely finished with cement mortar, with a flatness deviation of ≤3mm / 2m when measured with a 2m straightedge.

[0010] Preferably, a loop is fixed at the top of the column, and a pull rope is connected to the uppermost ring buckle. The total length of the pull rope is not less than the length of the column. The pull rope passes through the loop, and a limit ball is fixed at the end of the pull rope. The outer diameter of the limit ball is larger than the inner diameter of the loop.

[0011] Preferably, the top height of the guide column is greater than the maximum design water level plus the wave height, the guide columns are arranged in rows, and the spacing between the guide columns is determined comprehensively based on the width of the navigation hole and the structural stress requirements.

[0012] Preferably, the debris-blocking unit includes a top-side tension steel wire rope, a vertical tension steel wire rope, and a bottom-side tension steel wire rope, which together form a rectangular frame; pontoons are equidistantly mounted on the top-side tension steel wire rope, ring buckles are equidistantly connected to the vertical tension steel wire rope, and anchor blocks are equidistantly installed on the bottom-side tension steel wire rope.

[0013] Preferably, the ring buckle comprises a stainless steel ring skeleton, the surface of which is fixedly covered with a polyethylene bushing.

[0014] Preferably, the mesh is a pre-rolled corrugated multi-element copper alloy mesh, and the alloy components include copper, zinc, tin, nickel, and antimony.

[0015] Preferably, the anchor block is a reinforced concrete counterweight block, the pontoon is an anti-aging sealed polyethylene pontoon, and the pontoon and anchor block are connected to the debris interception unit by quick-release buckles.

[0016] A method for using a sinkable debris barrier net, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Attach the pontoon to the top tension steel wire rope. The pontoon will use buoyancy to drive the debris-blocking unit to float up and unfold along the guide post. The anchor block will use gravity to straighten the debris-blocking unit into a vertical state. The net will form a full-section debris-blocking barrier to intercept floating debris. Step 2: Remove all the pontoons. The debris-blocking unit sinks to the riverbed along the guide post by its own weight, making way for the navigation section. At the same time, it moves the pull rope connected to the ring buckle downward. The limit ball at the end of the pull rope is locked on the ring to prevent the pull rope from falling off. Step 3: Pull the limit ball upwards to lift the rope, pulling the entire debris-blocking unit to the surface of the water, and reinstall the float to restore the debris-blocking state.

[0017] This invention provides a sinkable debris barrier and its usage method, which has the following beneficial effects.

[0018] 1. Abandoning traditional bank-anchoring and complex electromechanical lifting equipment, a fixed circular column is installed outside the water intake as a guide. The trash net frame is attached to the column via ring-shaped buckles with polyethylene bushings, allowing it to slide freely up and down. By installing and removing pontoons on the top steel wire rope, the net can autonomously rise and sink using the conversion of buoyancy and its own weight, without requiring any special power equipment.

[0019] 2. The mesh is woven from a multi-element copper alloy material, utilizing its slow-release heavy metal ions to inhibit the attachment of aquatic organisms, thereby significantly extending the cleaning cycle and service life of the mesh. To address the issues of high bending stiffness and easy deformation of metal mesh, this invention employs a pre-rolled corrugated weaving process, where the metal wires are pressed into a continuous corrugated shape before weaving. This structure allows the corrugations to absorb and buffer stress when the mesh is bent by external forces. Even with repeated bending, it can recover its flatness through its own elasticity, preventing permanent plastic deformation. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: Figure 1 This is a top view of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a structural front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] In the picture: 1. Columns; 2. Pile foundation; 3-1. Top edge tension wire rope; 3-2. Vertical tension wire rope; 3-3. Bottom edge tension wire rope; 4. Ring buckle; 5. Net structure; 6. Anchor block; 7. Floats; 8. Diversion piers; 9. Pull the rope. Detailed Implementation

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this invention discloses a sinkable debris barrier, which is arranged between two sets of guide piers 8. It is mainly used at the front end of the water intake of hydropower stations, nuclear power plants, and water conservancy intake gates. It is used to intercept various floating debris such as tree branches, domestic waste, filamentous algae, jellyfish, and aquatic plants on the water surface across the entire cross section, so as to prevent debris from entering the water intake pipeline with the water flow and wearing down the water pump and clogging the unit cooling channel, thus ensuring the stable operation of the water intake system.

[0024] The sinkable debris barrier net includes several debris barrier units. Adjacent debris barrier units are linked and raised and lowered synchronously through ring buckles 4 on their sides. The ring buckles 4 are slidably fitted onto the outside of vertically arranged guide columns. The guide columns are vertically arranged in rows and buried inside the riverbed of the water intake. They are evenly distributed horizontally along the guide pier. The guide columns form a horizontal limit and vertical sliding guide for the entire debris barrier net, preventing the net from shifting or overturning under the impact of water flow, and preventing debris from entering the water intake channel from the gaps on both sides and bottom of the debris barrier net.

[0025] The net body 5 is set in the middle of the debris interception unit as the core debris interception structure. Connection points are reserved at the top and bottom of the debris interception unit. Each reserved point is equipped with a quick-release buckle. The float 7 and the anchor block 6 can be disassembled and assembled through the buckle. No additional tools are required for disassembly and assembly. A single person can easily complete the disassembly and assembly of the float on the water, thereby switching between two working conditions: floating debris interception and sinking to avoid debris.

[0026] like Figure 2 As shown, each guide column includes a pile foundation 2 buried in the underwater riverbed and a column 1 vertically fixed on top of the pile foundation 2. The pile foundation 2 and the column 1 are set parallel to each other and aligned vertically. During construction, the pile foundation 2 is first embedded into the original soil layer or hard bedrock of the riverbed by a pile driving device. The bottom is completely fixed by the lateral pressure of the soil and the interlocking with the bedrock, which prevents the guide column from tilting or falling due to water erosion. The column 1 is a cast-in-place reinforced concrete cylinder connected to the pile foundation, or a connector is pre-embedded on the top of the pile foundation. The stainless steel column 1 is firmly installed on the top of the pile foundation to ensure that the column is vertical and without deviation throughout, providing a straight track for the ring buckle to slide up and down.

[0027] As two preferred embodiments of the present invention, the column 1 is divided into two types: stainless steel cylindrical column and cast-in-place reinforced concrete cylindrical column. The choice can be flexibly made according to the water quality of the water intake, the water flow rate, and the project investment budget. The first type is an integral stainless steel cylindrical column, which is formed in one piece in the factory. After forming, the outer wall of the column is mechanically polished and finished throughout the process to control the micro-roughness Ra≤1.6μm of the outer wall. The column is corrosion resistant underwater and has a smooth surface without protruding burrs, which greatly reduces the friction loss when the ring buckle slides back and forth. The second type is a reinforced concrete cylindrical column cast in one piece by one in a pre-formed steel mold on site. After casting, the steel mold is removed and the outer wall is finely polished by hand with cement mortar. During the construction and acceptance stage, a 2m standard straightedge is used to check the column section by section along the axial direction to control the flatness deviation of the outer wall surface of the column to ≤3mm / 2m, eliminating the uneven joints caused by casting, reducing the bushing wear caused by long-term underwater sliding friction, and extending the service life of the ring buckle.

[0028] like Figure 2As shown, each column 1 has a metal loop fixed at its top. The ring buckle 4 at the top of the entire debris barrier is individually connected to a dedicated pull rope 9. The total length of the pull rope 9 is not less than the overall vertical height of the column 1. The pull rope 9 passes through the loop at the top of the column from bottom to top. A limit ball is fixed to the end of the pull rope 9, with an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the loop. When the debris barrier sinks, the pull rope 9 moves down synchronously with the net, and the limit ball is locked on the outside of the loop, preventing the pull rope 9 from falling off and sinking to the bottom with the net. When the debris barrier needs to be restored, the operator only needs to lift the limit ball exposed above the water surface, and the entire debris barrier unit can be pulled upwards along the column by the pull rope 9. No underwater lifting equipment is required for recovery, making the operation convenient and safe.

[0029] All guide posts are arranged in a uniform row. The total design height of each guide post is greater than the wave rise height calculated by superimposing the highest design water level at the intake. Even if the water level rises during the flood season and waves form on the water surface, the ring buckle 4 will not slip off the top of the post 1, preventing the entire set of debris net from being washed away and lost by the water flow. Considering the navigation requirements of vessels at the intake, the spacing of the guide posts in the central area is set according to navigation requirements, while the spacing of the guide posts in other areas is determined by comprehensively considering the water flow load and the diameter of the guide posts.

[0030] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a single debris-blocking unit is formed by a closed rectangular frame consisting of a top edge tension steel wire rope 3-1, two side vertical tension steel wire ropes 3-2, and a bottom edge tension steel wire rope 3-3. The four steel wire ropes share the impact force of the water flow, and the force is evenly distributed, making it less prone to localized cracking or frame deformation. Floating cylinders 7 are evenly and equidistantly assembled along the top edge tension steel wire rope 3-1. Multiple sets of floating cylinders 7 provide buoyancy simultaneously, floating on the water surface. These floating cylinders 7 evenly support the top of the net body 5, ensuring that the net body 5 floats straight and upright. Ring buckles 4 are equidistantly fixed to the vertical tension steel wire ropes 3-2, enabling multi-point sliding cooperation between the debris-blocking unit and the guide column, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted lifting. Reinforced concrete anchor blocks 6 are equidistantly arranged on the bottom edge tension steel wire ropes 3-3, using their own counterweight to straighten and tighten the bottom of the net body, preventing the bottom from floating and forming a channel for debris escape. The ring buckle 4 adopts a composite structure. The internal high-strength stainless steel ring frame bears all the tensile force, and the outer surface of the frame is completely covered with a polyethylene bushing. The polyethylene material has the characteristics of self-lubrication, resistance to seawater and freshwater corrosion, and difficulty in adhering to aquatic organisms. It will not rust or get stuck after long-term underwater sliding, and the maintenance cycle is longer.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mesh body 5 is made of pre-rolled corrugated woven multi-element copper alloy mesh, which contains antibacterial metal elements such as copper, zinc, tin, nickel, and antimony. The metal wires are pre-rolled into a continuous corrugated structure before weaving. The corrugated sections can buffer the deformation stress caused by the impact of water flow. After repeated floating and sinking and water flow impact, no permanent plastic deformation will occur, and the mesh will remain flat for a long time. The multi-element copper alloy can continuously release trace amounts of antibacterial metal ions to inhibit the attachment of aquatic organisms such as algae, shells, and mollusks to the mesh, solving the problem that traditional nylon mesh is prone to clogging and requires frequent underwater manual cleaning, thus greatly reducing operation and maintenance risks and labor costs.

[0032] The float 7 is made of high-density, anti-aging, sealed polyethylene. The entire body is sealed and has no water inlet channel. It will not crack or fail to leak water even after long-term immersion in sewage or exposure to sunlight.

[0033] This invention also provides a method for using a sinkable debris barrier, which is implemented based on the aforementioned debris barrier structure. The complete operation steps are as follows: Step 1: Routine debris interception operation. The float 7 is fixed to the top tension steel wire rope 3-1 by quick-release buckles. Multiple floats generate buoyancy simultaneously, evenly supporting the rectangular frame and driving the entire debris interception unit to slide upward along the vertical column 1 to the designed debris interception height on the water surface. The bottom anchor block 6 pulls the net body 5 tight by its own weight. The continuously set net body 5 forms a continuous and complete full-section debris interception barrier between the two guide piers, comprehensively intercepting floating debris in the water body and protecting the downstream water intake equipment. Step 2: During navigation, all the top pontoons 7 are removed in sequence. The debris barrier unit loses its buoyancy support and slides smoothly downward along the column 1 under its own weight. The whole unit sinks completely to the bottom of the riverbed, completely clearing the water intake's full cross-section to meet the navigation requirements of ships. During the sinking process of the debris barrier unit, the traction rope 9 moves downward simultaneously. The limiting ball at the end of the traction rope 9 is blocked by the ring and always floats on the water surface, and will not sink to the bottom of the water with the net. Step 3: Resume the debris interception operation. The staff directly lifts the limit ball exposed above the water surface, and the rope pulls the top ring buckle 4 upwards in sync, causing the entire debris interception unit to float up at a constant speed along the column 1 to the standard debris interception height on the water surface. The float 7 is then assembled to the top tension steel wire rope 3-1 through the buckle. The buoyancy of the float maintains the net in an unfolded state, completing the reset of the debris interception net and resuming routine water body debris interception work.

Claims

1. A sinkable debris barrier, arranged between two guide piers (8), characterized in that: It includes several debris-blocking units and ring buckles (4) connecting adjacent debris-blocking units. The ring buckles (4) are slidably fitted onto vertically set guide columns. The bottom of the guide columns is buried inside the riverbed. A net body (5) is set in the middle of the debris-blocking unit. The top and bottom of the debris-blocking unit are respectively detachably connected to a buoy (7) and an anchor block (6).

2. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The guide column includes a pile foundation (2) and a column (1) fixed on top of the pile foundation (2). The pile foundation (2) is fixed to the column (1), and the pile foundation (2) is embedded in the riverbed soil or riverbed bedrock.

3. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The columns (1) are divided into two categories: one is a stainless steel column with mechanical polishing of the outer wall and a roughness Ra≤1.6μm; the other is a cast-in-place reinforced concrete column with a fixed steel mold, with fine finishing of cement mortar on the outer wall and a flatness deviation of ≤3mm / 2m when tested with a 2m straightedge.

4. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The top of the column (1) is fixed with a loop, and the uppermost ring buckle (4) is connected to a pull rope (9). The total length of the pull rope is not less than the length of the column (1). The pull rope (9) passes through the loop, and the end of the pull rope is fixed with a limiting ball. The outer diameter of the limiting ball is greater than the inner diameter of the loop.

5. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The top height of the guide columns is greater than the maximum design water level plus the wave height. The guide columns are arranged in rows, and the spacing between the guide columns is determined comprehensively based on the width of the navigation hole and the structural stress requirements.

6. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The debris-blocking unit includes a top-side tension steel wire rope (3-1), a vertical tension steel wire rope (3-2), and a bottom-side tension steel wire rope (3-3). The top-side tension steel wire rope (3-1), the vertical tension steel wire rope (3-2), and the bottom-side tension steel wire rope (3-3) together form a rectangular frame. The floats (7) are equidistantly mounted on the top-side tension steel wire rope (3-1), the ring buckles (4) are equidistantly connected to the vertical tension steel wire rope (3-2), and the anchor blocks (6) are equidistantly installed on the bottom-side tension steel wire rope (3-3).

7. A sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1 or 6, characterized in that: The ring buckle (4) includes a stainless steel ring frame, and the surface of the frame is fixedly covered with a polyethylene bushing to reduce the friction between the ring buckle (4) and the column (1).

8. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh (5) is a pre-rolled corrugated multi-element copper alloy mesh, and the alloy components include copper, zinc, tin, nickel and antimony.

9. The sinkable debris barrier as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The anchor block (6) is a reinforced concrete counterweight block, and the pontoon (7) is an anti-aging sealed polyethylene pontoon. The pontoon (7) and the anchor block (6) are connected to the debris interception unit by quick-release buckles.

10. A method for using a sinkable debris barrier, characterized in that, The application of the debris-blocking net as described in any one of claims 1-8 includes the following steps: Step 1: Connect the pontoon (7) to the top tension steel wire rope (3-1). The pontoon (7) drives the debris-blocking unit to float up and unfold along the guide column through buoyancy. The anchor block (6) straightens the debris-blocking unit into a vertical state through gravity. The net body (5) forms a full-section debris-blocking barrier to intercept floating debris. Step 2: Remove all the pontoons (7). The debris-blocking unit sinks to the riverbed along the guide post by its own weight, making room for navigation. At the same time, it drives the pull rope (9) connected to the ring buckle (4) to move downward. The limiting ball at the end of the pull rope (9) is stuck on the ring to prevent the pull rope (9) from falling off. Step 3: Pull the limit ball upwards to pull the rope (9) and pull the entire debris-blocking unit to the water surface. Reinstall the float (7) to restore the debris-blocking state.

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