Air Jet Cascade Stabilization for Granular Mixture Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating granular mixtures in a flowing medium face issues such as instability in air jet formation, contamination from dust and volatile impurities, limited versatility, and inability to handle changes in conditions, leading to poor separation quality and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
The method involves stabilizing the air jet cascade, recycling the air stream, and incorporating a cyclone for dust removal, along with an adjustable hopper and rotary shutters to manage kinetic energy and external factors, while allowing for visual control and modular device design for easy maintenance and relocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If alternating and free mode of expiration of cascade air jets is used, then separation accuracy is improved, but instability in pressure zones and reverse currents occur leading to mixing of separated material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through self-oscillatory motion of air jets at a specific frequency (first harmonic), creating regular alternating pressure zones that systematically move particles through separation zones without causing harmful reverse currents, thus maintaining both separation accuracy and flow stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the frequency of air jet oscillations to match the first harmonic resonance frequency, which stabilizes the pressure distribution pattern and prevents random opening of jets that would cause mixing, while maintaining the beneficial alternating impact for separation
2Device complexity
If open flowing supply system is used, then separation process is simple, but dust and volatile impurities contaminate the environment and create safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by continuously removing dust and volatile impurities from the air stream through a filter, and then recycling the cleaned air back into the system, thus eliminating harmful emissions while maintaining system simplicity and reducing the need for continuous fresh air supply
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a controlled environment by filtering and recycling air to maintain a cleaner, more stable atmosphere within the separation chamber, reducing contamination from external sources and preventing the release of harmful particles to the surrounding environment
3Ease of operation
If air stream is not stabilized, then device operation is simple, but separation quality deteriorates due to random jet opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the actual state of air jets and automatically adjusting their activation to prevent random opening, ensuring consistent separation quality while maintaining simple automated operation through closed-loop control
4Device complexity
If fixed hopper position is used, then device structure is simple, but inability to regulate kinetic energy of falling granular mixture reduces separation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the hopper position adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the kinetic energy of falling granular mixture to be regulated by changing the hopper-to-separation-zone distance, thus optimizing separation effectiveness for different materials while maintaining relatively simple device structure
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
This approach stabilizes the separation process, improves separation quality, and expands the device's capabilities to handle various granular materials and conditions, ensuring high-quality separation and drying while reducing environmental pollution and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
separation of granular mixture into individual fractions occurs due to the difference in the ratio of their weight and the force of aerodynamic drag
Implementation Method 2
aerodynamic monotonically increasing impact on them at an acute angle to the vertical by the cascade of flat air jets
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a cyclone for dust removal
Implementation Method 4
a hopper with a vibrating flat chute
Implementation Method 5
gravitational supply of the mixture particles into a separation zone
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention is used in various branches of industry, in particular in agriculture for preparing seeds for sowing and for selection purposes. The method for separating a granular mixture in a flowing medium consists in a gravitational supply of particles, with an aerodynamic, monotonously increasing action thereon with a cascade of flat jets, said cascade being stabilized in terms of pressure and discharge. Large impurities are removed from the granular mixture beforehand, and stable parameters are maintained in the separation chamber. The device comprises a vibrating screen, an adjustable hopper with an agitator and a vibrating chute, a generator of a cascade of flat jets, which is connected to a drive for supplying air under pressure, a fraction collector and a separation chamber. The output of the separation chamber is covered with a filtering element in the form of a rotating drum with a calibrating sifter on the surface, said sifter being connected to a cyclone. The rotating drum is connected via an air conduit to the drive for supplying air to the generator of a cascade of flat jets. A separator of fractions which cannot pass through the sifter is in the form of a slotted confuser, a fan and a cyclone with a waste hopper, which are arranged consecutively. The claimed invention makes it possible to increase the quality of processing a granular mixture in a flowing medium, and also to use the device for separating and drying the granular mixture. The invention makes it possible to increase the quality of processing a granular mixture in a flowing medium, and also to use the device for separating and drying the granular mixture.