Flow control device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fluid flow control device comprising a flow guide (130) upstream of downstream devices (110, 300). The flow guide (130) is configured to adjust the trajectory of the fluid passing through the flow guide (130) so that the fluid flows toward the downstream devices (110, 300) in a desired trajectory, which varies depending on the different flow rates of the fluid passing through the flow guide. The configuration of the flow guide (130) relative to the downstream devices (110, 300) is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-reference This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023 / 900727, filed on March 16, 2023, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The disclosure herein relates to flow control devices and associated methods, and more particularly to flow control devices for screening devices that separate solids from liquids, and associated methods.

Background Art

[0003] There are various known screening devices and methods for separating solids from liquids, such as for thickening slurries or removing solids from effluents such as sewage. Some such devices and methods involve passing a liquid through a drum screen. An internal supply type in which a liquid carrying a solid material is supplied inside a drum screen and then passes through openings in the screen to separate the solid material from the liquid, or Various types of drum screen devices are known, including an external supply type in which a liquid carrying a solid material is supplied outside a drum screen and then passes through openings in the screen to separate the solid material from the liquid. In either case, the screen is A stationary screen or a rotating screen, where the screen can rotate in the same direction as the direction in which the liquid flows over the screen or in the opposite direction to the direction in which the liquid flows over the screen, and / or Can be a horizontal screen or an inclined screen.

[0004] In an internal feed drum screen system, the influent can be pumped or supplied by gravity into a tank located inside the drum screen. The tank is designed to reduce turbulence in the influent. The influent exits the tank through a weir and falls from the weir onto the inner surface of the drum screen. As the influent passes through the screen opening, solids are removed from the influent and accumulate inside the screen.

[0005] For optimal screening performance, the influent is introduced substantially tangentially to the inner surface of the drum screen. However, this is problematic in known weir configurations, especially when there are considerable fluctuations in the influent flow rate. When the inflow rate is lower, the inflow liquid can be introduced substantially tangentially to the inner surface of the drum screen, but when the inflow rate is higher, it can be introduced more radially to the inner surface of the drum screen, When the inflow rate is higher, this may be difficult to achieve if choking of the inflow between the weir and the inner surface of the drum screen occurs.

[0006] Any consideration of documents, actions, materials, devices, articles, etc., contained herein should not be deemed to indicate that any or all of these matters constitute part of the foundation of the prior art or were common knowledge in the art relevant to this disclosure, existing prior to the respective priority dates of the appended claims. [Overview of the project]

[0007] Disclosed herein is a flow control device, The downstream device is equipped with an upstream flow guide, the flow guide being configured to adjust the trajectory of the fluid passing through the flow guide so that the fluid flows toward the downstream device in a desired trajectory, and the desired trajectory differs depending on the different flow rates of the fluid passing through the flow guide. This is a flow control device in which the configuration of the flow guide for a downstream device is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0008] The adjustable configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device may include the adjustable distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device, and / or the adjustable orientation of at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide relative to the downstream device. For example, the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device may increase in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, and / or at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide may be reoriented in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, from closer to a line perpendicular to the surface of the downstream device to closer to a line parallel to the surface of the downstream device. The flow guide may be adjustable between a configuration in which the flow guide is substantially planar and a configuration in which the flow guide is smoothly curved.

[0009] The flow guide may be elastically deformable to facilitate the adjustment of the flow guide's configuration relative to downstream devices. The bending stiffness of the flow guide may vary across its width (i.e., between its upstream and downstream ends). Differences in the bending stiffness of the flow guide across its width can be provided, for example, by varying the thickness of the flow guide across its width and / or by reinforcing portions of the flow guide at different widths to varying degrees. The flow guide may be configured to adopt a configuration similar to that of an OG weir in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. The flow guide may be formed from synthetic or natural rubber, such as polymers including nitrile rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, EPDM rubber, neoprene rubber, or silicone rubber, polypropylene, or fluoroelastomers. The polymer may be a fiber-reinforced polymer.

[0010] Alternatively or additionally, a spring may be connected to the flow guide to facilitate the adjustment of the flow guide configuration relative to downstream devices.

[0011] The configuration of the flow guide for downstream devices may be adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide by responding to the force exerted on the flow guide by the fluid.

[0012] The flow guide may take the form of a flap. In some embodiments, the flap may have a thickness of up to about 10 mm, or up to about 5 mm, or about 2 mm to about 5 mm, or about 3 mm. In other embodiments, the flap may be tubular and may be generally triangular in cross-section. Internal reinforcing elements may extend longitudinally within the tubular flap. The flap may taper in thickness between its upstream and downstream ends.

[0013] The flow guide may extend from a fixed component of the apparatus located upstream of the downstream device. The upstream end of the flow guide may be fixedly connected to the fixed component. The flow guide may be cantilevered from the fixed component. The downstream end of the flow guide may be a free end. The flow guide may be removably connected to the fixed component by mechanical fasteners, such as threaded fasteners.

[0014] The downstream device may be a screen having an array of openings inside for screening solids from a liquid carrying solids, the opposing sides of the screen defining an upstream surface for receiving the liquid and a downstream surface from which the liquid is discharged, the openings extending between the upstream and downstream surfaces, and a flow guide configured to direct the flow of liquid to the upstream surface of the screen, the configuration of the flow guide relative to the screen being adjustable in response to the flow rate of liquid passing through the flow guide. In a first family of such embodiments, the screen may be a screening drum in a drum screening device. The drum screen device may be of an internal supply type having a tank located inside the screening drum to hold liquid, the tank having an outlet weir through which the liquid overflows onto the screen, and the flow guide connected to and extending from the weir. In a second family of such embodiments, the screen may be a belt screen in a continuous belt screen device.

[0015] The secondary flow control component may extend parallel to the flow guide and spaced above the flow guide. The secondary flow control component may include a flap which may be formed from the same or similar material as the flow guide. The secondary flow control component may be configured to move or bend in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. For example, in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, the secondary flow control component may move or bend to increase the liquid flow space defined between the flow guide and the secondary flow control component.

[0016] This specification also discloses a method for controlling a flow rate for a flow rate control device as defined in paragraph

[0007] above, wherein the flow rate control device optionally includes one or more of the features described in paragraphs

[0008] to

[0015] above, and the method is This includes adjusting the configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0017] The method may include adjusting the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device, and / or the orientation of at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device, in response to a change in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. The distance may be increased in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, and / or at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide may be reoriented in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, from closer to a line perpendicular to the surface of the downstream device to closer to a line parallel to the surface of the downstream device. The method may include adjusting the flow guide between a configuration in which the flow guide is substantially planar and a configuration in which the flow guide is smoothly curved.

[0018] The method may include elastically deforming, elastically moving, or elastically reorienting the flow guide in order to adjust its configuration relative to a downstream device.

[0019] The configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device may be adjusted in response to the force exerted on the flow guide by the liquid.

[0020] Apparatus or methods comprising any and all novel combinations of steps, features, integers, compositions, and / or compounds disclosed or shown in the specification of this application are also disclosed, regardless of whether those steps, features, integers, compositions, and / or compounds are disclosed or shown in connection with embodiments that also include additional steps, features, integers, compositions, and / or compounds.

[0021] Throughout this specification, the terms "comprise", "include", "have" and their variations such as "comprises", "includes", "has", "comprising", "including" and "having" are to be understood to mean that they include the stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but do not exclude any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Here, one or more embodiments of devices and methods embodying the principles disclosed herein will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a solid-liquid screening device, with a part of the device cut away to reveal internal components, and the large arrows indicating the liquid flow paths through the device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the flow control device of the device of FIG. 1, showing the flow control device in a low-flow configuration. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the flow control device of the device of FIG. 1, showing the flow control device in a high-flow configuration. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a part of the device of FIG. 1, but with an alternative flow guide being used. [Figure 6-8] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a liquid flow control device for directing a liquid flow towards a machine.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a solid-liquid screening apparatus in the form of an internal feed drum screen apparatus 100 is shown. The apparatus 100 comprises a screen in the form of a screening drum 110 and a liquid holding tank 120 located inside the screening drum. The tank 120 has an outlet weir 122 through which liquid from the tank overflows into the screening drum 110.

[0024] The screening drum 110 has an array of openings inside for screening solids from a liquid received from the tank 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the screening drum 110 includes a cylindrical arrangement of wedge wires, the gaps between the wedge wires defining the openings. Opposite sides 114, 116 of the screening drum 110 define an upstream surface for receiving liquid from the tank 120 and a downstream surface from which the liquid is discharged, respectively, and the openings of the screening drum 110 extend between the upstream and downstream surfaces. Solids screened from the liquid by the screening drum 110 are retained within the screening drum. In some embodiments, the screening drum 110 has a screw flight formation 118 on its upstream surface to rotate and transport the solids accumulating within the screening drum toward the end of the screening drum 110.

[0025] The flow guide 130 extends from the weir 122 and is configured to direct the liquid overflowing from the weir 122 towards the upstream surface of the screening drum 110. The upstream end 132 of the flow guide is removably and permanently connected to the weir 122 by mechanical fasteners, such as threaded fasteners 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow guide 130 is cantilevered from the weir 122, and the downstream end 136 of the flow guide 130 is a free end.

[0026] The configuration of the flow guide 130 relative to the screening drum 110 is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. In the illustrated embodiments, this adjustability includes the fact that the distance between the downstream end 136 of the flow guide 130 and the screening drum 110 is adjustable by adjusting the orientation of the downstream end portion of the flow guide relative to the screening drum. More specifically, the distance between the downstream end 136 of the flow guide 130 and the screening drum 110 increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide, due to the reorientation of the downstream end portion of the flow guide from closer to a perpendicular to the screening drum, as shown in Figure 3, to closer to a parallel to the screen, as shown in Figure 4. When the flow rate is zero or low, the flow guide 130 is substantially flat, as shown in Figure 3, while when the flow rate is higher, the flow guide 130 is smoothly curved, as shown in Figure 4. In some embodiments, the flow guide 130 adopts a configuration close to that of an OG weir in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0027] The flow guide 130 is elastically deformable from a planar configuration shown in Figure 3 to a smoothly curved configuration shown in Figure 4 in response to an increase in flow rate from zero or low to high. The flow guide 130 may be formed from synthetic or natural rubber, such as nitrile rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, EPDM rubber, neoprene rubber, or silicone rubber, polypropylene, or a polymer such as a fluoroelastomer. The polymer may be a fiber-reinforced polymer. The selection of the polymer for the flow guide 130 may be based on factors such as the properties of the liquid being screened, including the solids carried by the liquid. For example, depending on the properties of the liquid being screened, it may be recommended to select a polymer that has good resistance to one or more of the following: abrasion, chemicals such as detergents, and high-temperature environments. In embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, configured for a maximum flow rate of 4000 L / min per meter of length of weir 122, the flow guide 130 takes the form of a nitrile rubber flap having a thickness of about 3 mm and a width of about 100 mm (i.e., the distance from its upstream end 132 to its downstream end 136), as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or a polypropylene rubber flap having a width of about 100 mm and configured as shown in Figure 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the flow guide 130 comprises a generally triangularly formed tubular flap having an internal reinforcing element extending longitudinally within the tubular flap. In some embodiments, the flow guide 130 may be configured such that its bending stiffness varies along its width to adopt a desired curvature in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing over it. For example, the bending stiffness of the flow guide 130 may be higher near its upstream end 132 and lower near its downstream end 136. The variation in bending stiffness across the width of the flow guide 130 can be provided, for example, by varying the thickness of the flow guide 130 across its width, and / or by reinforcing different widths of the flow guide 130 to varying degrees.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the flow guide 130 may be hinged to the weir 122 and formed from a rigid material, and a spring may be connected to the flow guide 130 to facilitate automatic adjustment of the configuration of the flow guide 130 relative to the screening drum 110.

[0029] As can be understood, a change in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide 130 causes a corresponding change in the force exerted on the flow guide by the liquid. This force is determined primarily by the weight of the liquid acting on the flow guide 130 at any given time, and to a lesser extent by the frictional force exerted on the flow guide by the liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, and in embodiments where the flow guide 130 is connected to a spring, these changes in the force exerted on the flow guide 130 cause an automatic, elastic reconfiguration of the flow guide 130 as the flow rate increases, so as the flow rate increases, the space between the downstream end of the flow guide 130 and the screening drum 110 increases. A subsequent decrease in flow rate results in a decrease in the force exerted on the flow guide 130, thereby causing the flow guide 130 to elastically return to a configuration in which the downstream end of the flow guide 130 is closer to the screening drum 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow guide 130 elastically reconfigures between a substantially planar configuration shown in Figure 3 when the flow rate is zero or low, and a smoothly curved configuration shown in Figure 4 when the flow rate is higher. More specifically, an increase in flow rate results in an increase in the force applied to the flow guide 130, thereby biasing the flow guide 130 toward the curved configuration shown in Figure 4. A subsequent decrease in flow rate results in a decrease in the force applied to the flow guide 130, thereby causing the flow guide 130 to reflexively return toward the planar configuration shown in Figure 3. However, in other embodiments, a mechanical actuator controlled by an electronic controller may be connected to the flow guide 130 and configured to reconfigure the flow guide relative to the screening drum 110 in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the screening drum.

[0030] In some embodiments, the secondary flow control component may extend along the weir 122 parallel to and spaced above the flow guide 130. The secondary flow control component may also be in the form of a flap, which may be formed from the same or similar material as the flow guide 130. The secondary flow control component is configured to move or bend in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide 130. For example, in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide 130, the secondary flow control component may move or bend to increase the liquid flow space defined between the flow guide 130 and the secondary flow control component. The action of the secondary flow control component may contribute to the flow guide 130 responding to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through it in a desired manner.

[0031] Except for the addition of a flow guide 130 and optionally a secondary flow control component, the apparatus 100 is substantially the same as any embodiment of the apparatus described in column 3, line 23 to column 6, line 11 of U.S. Patent No. 4,236,999 with reference to Figures 1 to 6, Figure 10, and Figure 11, and this portion of the disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 4,236,999 is incorporated herein by reference. The screening drum 110 may rotate in the same direction as or opposite to the direction in which the liquid from the tank 120 is supplied to the screening drum 110, or may remain stationary.

[0032] Although the flow guide 130 has been described with reference to the drum screening device 100, it will be understood that the flow guide 130 can also be embodied in other types of screening devices or other types of devices to control the flow of liquid. For example, Figures 6 to 8 show a device 200 in which the flow guide 130 is used to change the trajectory of the liquid flow so that it interacts with different parts of the machine 300 depending on the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0033] Device 100 is, ● Automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide 130 to a configuration in which, in response to an increase in inflow rate, the downstream end portion of the flow guide 130 is further separated from the drum screen 110 and / or oriented closer to a line parallel to the drum screen 110, resulting in the inflow liquid continuing to be introduced substantially tangentially into the inner surface of the drum screen 110 despite the increase in flow rate. ● Automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide 130 to a configuration that reduces choking of the inflow flow between the weir 122 and the inner surface of the drum screen 110, by further separating the downstream end portion of the flow guide 130 from the drum screen 110 and / or oriented closer to a line parallel to the drum screen 110 in response to an increase in the inflow flow rate. ●The flow guide 130, which is detachably connected to the weir 122, facilitates the replacement of the flow guide when it becomes worn or when it is desirable to install a flow guide with different characteristics (for example, due to changes in the properties of the liquid being screened, including solids carried by the liquid, such as the abrasiveness of the liquid being screened, the corrosiveness of the liquid being screened, or the temperature of the liquid being screened). ●It will be understood that this offers numerous advantages, including the automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide 130 to a configuration similar to the Ossie weir in response to an increase in inflow flow.

[0034] Those skilled in the art will understand that numerous variations and / or modifications can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad general scope of this disclosure. Therefore, these embodiments should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in all respects.

Claims

1. A fluid flow control device, A flow guide is provided upstream of the downstream device, the flow guide is configured to adjust the trajectory of the fluid passing through the flow guide so that the fluid flows toward the downstream device in a desired trajectory, the desired trajectory differs depending on the different flow rates of the fluid passing through the flow guide. A fluid flow control device in which the configuration of the flow guide for the downstream device is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustability of the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device includes the adjustability of the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device, and / or the adjustability of the orientation of at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide, and / or at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide is configured to be reoriented in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide, from closer to a perpendicular to the surface of the downstream device to closer to a parallel to the surface of the downstream device.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flow guide is adjustable between a configuration in which the flow guide is substantially flat and a configuration in which the flow guide is smoothly curved.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flow guide is elastically deformable to facilitate the adjustment of the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flow guide is formed from a polymer.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a spring connected to the flow guide to facilitate the adjustment of the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide by responding to the force applied to the flow guide by the fluid.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flow guide is provided with a flap or takes the form of a flap, and the flap may have a thickness of up to about 10 mm, or up to about 5 mm, or about 2 mm to about 5 mm, or about 3 mm, and the thickness of the flap may taper between its upstream end and its downstream end.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flow guide comprises a tubular flap or takes the form of a tubular flap, the tubular flap may be generally triangular in cross-section, an internal reinforcing element may extend longitudinally within the tubular flap, and the tubular flap may taper in thickness between its upstream end and its downstream end.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the bending rigidity of the flow guide varies over its width.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the flow guide is configured to adopt a shape similar to that of an OG weir in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flow guide is connected to a fixed component of the apparatus located upstream of the downstream device and extends from the fixed component of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the flow guide is a cantilevered beam from the fixed component.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the flow guide is detachably connected to the fixed component.

16. The downstream device is a screen having an array of openings inside for screening the solid from a liquid that carries the solid, the opposing sides of the screen define an upstream surface for receiving the liquid and a downstream surface from which the liquid is discharged, and the openings extend between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The flow guide is configured to direct the flow of the liquid towards the upstream surface of the screen, The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the screen is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

17. A drum screening apparatus comprising a flow rate control device as described in claim 16, wherein the screen is a screening drum of the drum screening apparatus.

18. The drum screening apparatus according to claim 17, which is of an internal supply type having a tank located inside the screening drum for holding the liquid, the tank having an outlet weir through which the liquid overflows to the screen, and the flow guide being connected to and extending from the weir.

19. A continuous belt screen device comprising a flow control device according to claim 16, wherein the screen is the belt screen of the continuous belt screen device.

20. A method for controlling the flow rate for the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, A method comprising adjusting the configuration of the flow guide with respect to a downstream device in response to a change in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising adjusting the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device, and / or the orientation of at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device, in response to a change in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, comprising elastically deforming, elastically moving, or elastically reorienting the flow guide in order to adjust the configuration of the flow guide with respect to the downstream device.

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