Bottom Ash Purification Using Saturated Scouring Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for purifying contaminated bottom ash are inefficient and costly, requiring large quantities of scouring water and subsequent treatment to remove salts and heavy metals, leading to environmental pollution risks due to inadequate insulation or treatment failures.

Innovation Solution

A method using a salt section with saturated scouring water to rinse and separate undissolved salt particles from contaminated bottom ash, allowing for continuous recycling of the scouring water and subsequent desalting to achieve low salt content, combined with separation means to remove undesirable fractions, thereby reducing environmental risks and treatment costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional scouring water is used to leach out salts from bottom ash, then salts are removed from the bottom ash, but large quantities of scouring water are required and subsequent treatment is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalt content in bottom ashVSAvoidscouring water consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameter of the scouring water by adjusting its pH to alkaline conditions (pH 9-12) and adding specific salts (calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, or calcium carbonate). This parameter change transforms the scouring water into a saturated solution that prevents further salt dissolution, thereby reducing water consumption and eliminating the need for extensive follow-up treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements continuous recycling of the scouring water. The used scouring water is fed back to the salt section where it continues to function as a saturated solution, preventing salt dissolution and maintaining purification efficiency indefinitely without requiring fresh water input or extensive treatment output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Quantity of substance

If large quantities of scouring water are used for salt removal, then thorough purification is achieved, but treatment costs and environmental risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalt content in bottom ashVSAvoidtreatment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the chemical parameters of the scouring water (pH adjustment to 9-12 and addition of specific salts), the invention creates a saturated solution that stops salt dissolution. This eliminates the need for large water quantities and extensive treatment processes, significantly reducing treatment costs while achieving thorough purification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous recycling of scouring water allows the system to maintain purification effectiveness indefinitely without requiring additional treatment steps. The recycled water continues to function as a saturated solution, preventing salt dissolution and eliminating the need for repeated treatment cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Quantity of substance

If conventional washing methods are used, then contaminants are removed, but the scouring water requires follow-up treatment to extract contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant content in bottom ashVSAvoidfollow-up treatment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the scouring water by adjusting pH to alkaline conditions and adding specific salts. These parameter changes prevent contaminant dissolution in the first place, eliminating the need for complex follow-up treatment systems while achieving effective contaminant removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous recycling of the modified scouring water maintains its saturated state indefinitely, preventing contaminant dissolution throughout the process. This eliminates the need for separate treatment systems for follow-up processing, simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If bottom ash is insulated to prevent leaching, then environmental pollution is reduced, but insulation failures create significant pollution risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollution from leachingVSAvoidinsulation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes salts and contaminants from the bottom ash through controlled washing with modified scouring water. By removing the harmful substances before disposal, the need for insulation is eliminated, and the bottom ash can be safely used in construction applications without pollution risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful leaching process into a beneficial controlled washing process. By using alkaline scouring water with added salts, the system transforms what would be harmful dissolved contaminants into easily separable precipitates, turning a pollution risk into an effective purification method.

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

The method significantly reduces the volume of scouring water needed, enables continuous recycling, and achieves low salt content in the bottom ash, making it suitable for construction materials without additional costly treatments, thereby minimizing environmental pollution.

Implementation Method 1

rinsing the contaminated bottom ash with scouring water that is saturated with salt dissolved therein, wherein the salt present in the contaminated bottom ash is rinsed out as undissolved salt particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution equilibrium: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

The undissolved salt particles that have washed along can subsequently be separated easily from the salty scouring water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical separation: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2709766B1Method for purifying contaminated bottom ash
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 BAGGER BOSKALIS
  • EP2709766B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2709766B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2709766B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for in a device purifying contaminated bottom ash, wherein the contaminants in the bottom ash comprise at least a component of salt, wherein the device is provided with a salt section, wherein the method comprises the introduction of the contaminated bottom ash in the salt section, rinsing the contaminated bottom ash with salty scouring water that is substantially saturated with salt dissolved therein, wherein the salt present in the contaminated bottom ash is rinsed out as undissolved salt particles by the substantially saturated salty scouring water.