Centrifugal Separator Radial Leak Flow Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal separators face challenges with leakage between inlet and outlet channels, leading to reduced efficiency and increased maintenance costs, particularly due to complex sealing requirements caused by the pivoting of the spindle and centrifuge rotor during operation.

Innovation Solution

The inlet and outlet channels are arranged adjacent and concentrically to each other, with forcing means generating a leak flow from the outlet channel to the inlet channel to prevent leakage, allowing for a compact design with most sealing and bearings on one side of the centrifuge rotor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex sealing means are used to prevent leakage between inlet and outlet channels, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidsealing means complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to block leakage from inlet to outlet channel using complex sealing means, the invention inverts the approach by creating a controlled leak flow from outlet to inlet channel that actively counteracts the harmful leakage. The forcing means generates this reverse flow to neutralize the sealing problem rather than relying on complex prevention mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful leakage flow into a beneficial controlled flow by using forcing means to create a reverse flow from outlet to inlet channel. This controlled leak flow acts as a protective mechanism that prevents product contamination, effectively turning the potential harm of leakage into a useful sealing function.

Inventive Principle:

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

2Volume of moving object

If all bearings and drive motor are positioned on the spindle side, then device compactness is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to spindle pivoting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional approach to sealing by not relying on complex sealing means to prevent leakage in the traditional sense. Instead, it uses the reverse flow mechanism to actively counteract leakage, which simplifies the sealing arrangement and allows for more compact positioning of components while maintaining sealing effectiveness despite spindle pivoting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If forcing means are used to generate leak flow from outlet to inlet channel, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidforcing means complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The forcing means is designed to be driven by the product flow itself through the outlet channel, creating a self-service system where the outlet flow automatically generates the counteracting leak flow. This eliminates the need for separate complex driving mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 arrangement effectively prevents product leakage into the separated product, achieving high separation efficiency with low maintenance and cost, while simplifying the design and construction of the centrifugal separator.

Implementation Method 1

forcing means are provided to generate a leak flow through one of the sealing means in a first direction from the outlet channel to the inlet channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

forcing means are provided to generate a leak flow through one of the sealing means in a first direction from the outlet channel to the inlet channel and thus to counteract, or prevent, leakage in the opposite direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a centrifuge rotor enclosing a separation space... configured to feed a product to be separated into the separation space and the outlet channel is configured to discharge a separated primary phase of the product from the separation space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS9931646B2Centrifugal separator having a forcing device to create a radial leak flow

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 ALFA LAVAL CORP AB

AI summary

A centrifugal separator includes a frame and a rotating part including a spindle and a centrifuge rotor enclosing a separation space. An inlet channel provides fluid communication into the separation space and includes a rotary channel part, a frame channel part, and a first seal at the interface between the rotary and frame channel parts. An outlet channel provides fluid communication out from the separation space and includes a rotary channel part, a frame channel part, and a second seal at the interface between the rotary and frame channel parts. The inlet and outlet channels are arranged concentrically with each other. A forcing device is provided to generate a leak flow through one of the first and second seals in a first direction from the outlet channel to the inlet channel and to counteract leakage in the opposite direction.