Annular Degassing Chamber for Clarifier Footprint Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clarifier designs suffer from inefficient use of settling area, prolonged residence time, and air re-entrainment in the clarified liquid due to turbulent eddies and recirculation, leading to poor quality of clarified liquids in sugar juice processing.
Innovation Solution
A novel degassing chamber with an annular shape is integrated with a sedimentation tank, providing a high surface-area-to-volume ratio for efficient degasification, reducing air re-entrainment, and featuring a turbulence reduction system to minimize turbulence and promote uniform liquid distribution, thus enhancing the efficiency of the clarification process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional clarifier design is used, then the settling area is provided, but turbulent eddies cause inefficient use of settling area and prolonged residence time
Solution Approach 1:
The clarifier is divided into multiple settling zones with different flow characteristics. The annular settling zone is segmented into radial flow regions that guide liquid from the center outward, creating controlled flow paths that reduce turbulence and improve settling efficiency while maintaining appropriate residence time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to flow control by creating a downward flow path from the feedwell through the annular settling zone to the conical bottom. This multi-dimensional flow pattern (radial outward at top, downward at sides, inward at bottom) eliminates turbulent eddies and improves settling efficiency without extending horizontal footprint.
2Reliability
If recirculation is promoted by entrained air, then flotation occurs, but air re-entrainment reduces clarified liquid quality
Solution Approach 1:
Air is extracted and removed from the system through dedicated air outlets positioned in the annular settling zone and conical bottom region. This prevents air accumulation that would otherwise cause recirculation and re-entrainment, ensuring high clarified liquid quality while eliminating the harmful recirculation effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedwell design pre-separates air from liquid before entry into the settling zone. The feedwell acts as a preliminary degassing chamber where air rises to the top and is removed, preventing air from entering the settling zone and causing subsequent recirculation and re-entrainment problems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a Type A flash tank is used, then vapor velocities are low enough to avoid juice droplet entrainment, but the tank occupies more space and requires periodic cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The flash tank function is merged with the clarifier structure. The annular settling zone serves dual purposes as both a degassing chamber and a settling zone, eliminating the need for a separate flash tank. This integration maintains low vapor velocities to prevent droplet entrainment while reducing overall system complexity and eliminating periodic cleaning requirements.
4Reliability
If the liquid level in the flash tank is maintained just below the splash plate, then air is not re-entrained into the juice, but the tank is not clean-draining and requires periodic cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining liquid level below a splash plate to prevent air re-entrainment, the invention uses a conical bottom with air outlets that actively remove air from the liquid. This inverted approach allows the liquid level to be higher for better drainage while still preventing air re-entrainment through active air removal, and the conical design enables complete draining without periodic cleaning.
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 combined clarification station achieves efficient degasification with a smaller footprint, reducing residence time and maintenance costs, while maintaining juice quality and eliminating the need for a separate flash tank, as demonstrated by prototype testing.
Implementation Method 1
a flash tank is often employed for degassing, by heating the juice slightly above the boiling point, removing air from the juice
Implementation Method 2
A typical clarifier comprises a cylindrical tank with a sloped base... The clarified liquid is typically withdrawn through overflow launders on the periphery of the cylindrical tank
Data Source
AI summary
A degassing chamber is disclosed, adapted for the efficient removal of entrained gases from liquids. In a preferred embodiment the degassing chamber is combined with and works in conjunction with a sedimentation tank to provide an efficient clarification station. The combined clarification station can have a “footprint” the same size as, or only slightly larger than, the footprint of the sedimentation tank alone. The degassing chamber is well-suited for retrofitting, and can easily be combined with most types of solid-liquid sedimentation tanks that are currently used in the industry.