Multi-Stacked Blade Micro-Pulverization for Clog-Free Ballast Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ballast water treatment systems face issues with clogging due to filtering members with small pores, requiring large installation space, frequent maintenance, and inability to filter ultra microorganisms, necessitating high-concentration chemicals and additional neutralizing devices.

Innovation Solution

A blade-driven micro pulverization unit with a multi-stacked blade part that applies mechanical rotating shocks to fluid, allowing for compact design and effective removal of ultra microorganisms without clogging, reducing maintenance needs and chemical usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filtering member with small pores (50-100 μm) is used to filter microorganisms, then microorganisms can be filtered, but clogging occurs periodically requiring maintenance stops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance stop time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical filtering system with a blade-driven micro-pulverization system. Instead of using a filtering member with small pores that clogs, the invention uses rotating blades to mechanically pulverize and destroy microorganisms through high-speed rotation (800-1200 rpm), applying mechanical shock and cutting forces that effectively eliminate microorganisms without creating clogging-prone pore structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from filtration (passive pore-based separation) to mechanical pulverization (active high-speed rotation). The blade rotating body rotates at 800-1200 rpm, creating intense mechanical shear forces and shock waves that destroy microorganisms. This parameter change from static filtration to dynamic pulverization eliminates the clogging issue inherent in pore-based filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the filtering member pores are made smaller to filter ultra microorganisms, then filtering precision improves, but the device size must become greatly large to handle 500-3000 tons of ballast water per hour

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering precisionVSAvoiddevice installation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the space-intensive pore-based filtration system with a compact blade pulverization system. The rotating blades cut and pulverize microorganisms through mechanical action, achieving effective removal without requiring the large surface area needed for high-flow-rate filtration. This mechanical approach is inherently more space-efficient while maintaining the ability to handle 500-3000 tons of ballast water per hour.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic high-speed rotation (800-1200 rpm) to create intense local mechanical forces that effectively destroy microorganisms. This dynamic pulverization process is much more space-efficient than static filtration, as the high-speed rotating blades generate sufficient shear and shock forces to kill ultra microorganisms without requiring large filtering surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If conventional filtering members are used, then microorganisms can be filtered, but ultra microorganisms with sizes less than 50 μm cannot be filtered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicroorganism removalVSAvoidultra microorganism filtration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces pore-based filtration with blade-driven mechanical pulverization. The high-speed rotating blades (800-1200 rpm) apply intense mechanical shear forces and shock waves that destroy ultra microorganisms regardless of their size. This mechanical destruction approach is superior to pore filtration for ultra microorganisms, as the blade action directly impacts and fragments them before they can pass through any theoretical filter pore.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the removal mechanism from passive pore separation to active mechanical destruction. By rotating blades at 800-1200 rpm, the system creates sufficient mechanical force to shatter and eliminate ultra microorganisms with sizes less than 50 μm. This parameter change from filtration to pulverization enables effective removal of the smallest microorganisms that would be impossible to filter through conventional pore-based systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If high-concentration chemicals are used to kill ultra microorganisms, then disinfection effectiveness improves, but additional neutralizing devices are required to remove residual chemicals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidneutralizing equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical disinfection with mechanical pulverization. The high-speed rotating blades physically destroy ultra microorganisms through mechanical shock and cutting forces, eliminating the need for high-concentration chemicals. This mechanical approach achieves complete microorganism removal without introducing chemical residues that would require neutralizing equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of mechanical blade rotation into a beneficial destruction mechanism. The high-speed rotation (800-1200 rpm) that could potentially cause damage is instead harnessed to create intense mechanical shock and shear forces that selectively destroy microorganisms. This approach eliminates chemical disinfection needs while achieving complete microorganism removal, thereby removing the need for neutralizing equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Prevents clogging, minimizes maintenance costs, enables on-board repairs, and satisfies environmental regulations by efficiently killing ultra microorganisms without additional neutralizing equipment.

Implementation Method 1

consistently apply mechanical rotating shocks to the fluid by high-speed rotation so that the fluid flowing thereinto is discharged to the outside through the plurality of gaps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical shock: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

a blade rotating body rotatably disposed on the flow path formed in the pipe connecting body; and a driver for rotating the blade rotating body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4339092B1Blade-driven micro-pulverization unit
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SEO MIN SU
  • EP4339092B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4339092B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4339092B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a blade-driven micro-pulverization unit comprising: a pipe connecting body that provides a predetermined flow path to allow the inflow and discharging of fluid; a blade rotating body rotatably installed on the flow path in the pipe connecting body; and a driver for rotationally driving the blade rotating body, wherein the blade rotating body, by including a multi-stacked blade part having a plurality of gaps through which the fluid can pass, continuously adds mechanical rotating shocks to the fluid by high-speed rotation, so that the fluid flowing into the inside is discharged to the outside through the gaps, thereby effectively pulverizing and killing microbes, etc. contained in the fluid.