Adjustable Cyclone Outlet for Fine Sand-Manure Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The presence of sand in manure handling systems causes severe wear on plant components, and existing sand-manure liquid separation plants struggle to efficiently separate and reuse high-quality sand for animal bedding, particularly fine sand, which is more comfortable for animals.

Innovation Solution

A sand-manure liquid separation plant equipped with a cyclone pre-separator and a flow restriction portion made of resilient material, adjustable by a clamping body, allows for controlled output flow and high separation efficiency, ensuring at least 95% of sand is reusable with minimal organic matter, using a control unit to adjust the cross-section of the through-going passage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sand is used as bedding material in stables, then bacterial growth is reduced, but severe wear occurs on plant components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial growth controlVSAvoidwear on plant components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cyclone pre-separator extracts sand particles from the manure liquid stream before it enters the main separation plant. By removing sand early in the process, the harmful abrasive effect on subsequent plant components is eliminated while maintaining the benefits of sand bedding in terms of bacterial growth control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If conventional separation methods are used, then sand separation occurs, but fine sand cannot be efficiently separated and reused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesand separation efficiencyVSAvoidfine sand separation quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flow restriction portion is made of resilient material and is adjustable via a clamping body, allowing dynamic adjustment of the outlet cross-section. This enables optimization of the flow conditions within the cyclone to enhance separation efficiency for fine sand particles, allowing them to be effectively separated and reused as bedding material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By adjusting the cross-section of the flow restriction portion, the flow parameters (velocity, pressure) within the cyclone can be optimized. This parameter adjustment enables efficient separation of fine sand particles that conventional fixed designs cannot handle effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the outlet flow from cyclone is not controlled, then simple operation is maintained, but separation quality and sand reuseability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesand separation qualityVSAvoidflow control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable clamping body provides dynamic control over the outlet flow cross-section. This relatively simple mechanical adjustment mechanism enables precise control of separation quality without requiring complex automated control systems, maintaining ease of operation while improving sand reuseability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively separates sand from manure, allowing at least 95% of the sand to be reused as bedding material with low organic matter content, enhancing animal welfare and reducing wear on plant components.

Implementation Method 1

a pre-separator for a raw stream of sand mixed with manure liquid, said pre-separator including a cyclone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

a tubular outlet portion of said cyclone at a bottom part of the cyclone being arranged at said top portion of said tank for said mixture leaving said cyclone to be processed in said tank to flow into said tank by gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

flow into said tank by gravity via said mixture inlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4628218A1A sand-manure liquid separation plant comprising a pre-separator including a cyclone, a cyclone and use of the cyclone in a sand-manure liquid separation plant and a method of operating the plant
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 STJERNHOLM
  • EP4628218A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4628218A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4628218A1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d

AI summary

The invention concern a sand-manure liquid separation plant comprising a tank for processing a mixture of sand and manure liquid; said tank comprising, a top portion including a mixture inlet for introducing said mixture to be processed into said tank, a bottom portion including a sand discharge, wherein said plant further comprises a pre-separator for a raw stream of sand mixed with manure liquid, said pre-separator including a cyclone, a tubular outlet portion of said cyclone at a bottom part of the cyclone being arranged at said top portion of said tank for said mixture leaving said cyclone to be processed in said tank to flow into said tank by gravity via said mixture inlet, said outlet portion of said cyclone including a flow restriction portion being of a resilient material and having a through-going passage for said mixture, said plant including a control unit to control an output flow from said cyclone of said mixture to be introduced into said tank via said through-going passage, a first clamping body engaging an outer periphery of said flow restriction portion, said first clamping body being adjustable to vary the cross-section of said through-going passage of said flow restriction portion, said first clamping body optionally being removable from said outlet portion and replaceable. The invention also concerns a cyclone comprising a tubular outlet portion, where said outlet portion including a flow restriction portion being of a resilient material having a through-going passage, a first clamping body engaging an outer periphery of said flow restriction portion, said first clamping body being adjustable to vary the cross section of said through-going passage of said flow restriction portion, said first clamping body optionally being removable from said outlet portion and replaceable and use of the cyclone in a sand-manure liquid separation plant and a method of operating the plant.