Annular Cutting Head Liquid Delivery for Polymer Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material processing machines, such as Comitrol®, face challenges in efficiently controlling the relative amounts of solid and liquid materials during dispersion and dissolving processes, particularly in applications like polymer-water suspensions for enhanced oil recovery, where optimal water content is crucial and knife build-up occurs.
Innovation Solution
A material processing machine with an annular-shaped cutting head and impeller, featuring a support member with passages for additional liquid delivery, allowing the liquid to cascade around knives, eliminating the need for external nozzles and high-pressure water, and enabling efficient mixing and dissolving of solid materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If external nozzles and high-pressure water lines are used to deliver additional liquid, then liquid delivery capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the liquid delivery system directly into the cutting head structure by incorporating passages through the support member. This merges the liquid delivery function with the existing cutting head component, eliminating the need for separate external nozzles and water lines, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining liquid delivery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The support member with integrated passages serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates liquid delivery to the cutting zone. The passages act as internal channels that guide liquid from the inlet to the cutting area, replacing the need for external piping and nozzle systems
2Quantity of substance
If high-pressure water lines and external nozzles are installed, then liquid flow control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head is designed with self-service liquid delivery capability through integrated passages. The liquid flows through the support member passages directly to the cutting zone without requiring external control systems, making the system easier to operate as the liquid delivery is automatically managed through the internal passages
3Manufacturing precision
If liquid is delivered through external nozzles, then product consistency modification is improved, but fluidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid delivery function is merged with the cutting head structure through integrated passages in the support member. This allows precise control of liquid delivery to modify product consistency while maintaining a simple, unified device structure without external nozzles
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 configuration allows for efficient delivery and utilization of additional liquid to modify product consistency and prevent knife build-up, enhancing the production of polymer-water suspensions and other materials by improving fluidity and processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Centrifugal force causes material delivered to the high speed rotating impeller 24 to move radially outward into engagement with the knives 40
Implementation Method 2
The support member includes at least a first passage fluidically connected to the channel of the enclosure to receive therefrom a liquid flowing in the channel and to conduct the liquid through the support member
Data Source
AI summary
Machines and methods adapted to process, for example, to reduce the size of, disperse, or homogenize, a variety of materials and compositions. Such methods and machines are capable of reducing the size of a material and dispersing the material in a liquid by cutting the material with knives located along a perimeter of an annular-shaped cutting head, causing the cut material to flow radially outward from the cutting head through gaps between the knives, and flowing a liquid through passages in the cutting head that cause the liquid to cascade around the knives of the cutting head in an axial direction of the cutting head.