Chemical Feeder Diverter Plate Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemical feeders face variability in the dissolution rate of solid treatment chemicals, leading to inconsistent concentrations in treated liquids, which can result in undesirable pH levels and reduced performance of sanitizing agents, and require frequent replenishment of chemicals, especially when scaled up.
Innovation Solution
A chemical feeder design featuring a housing with a support plate and nozzles that distribute feed liquid horizontally, allowing controlled dissolution of solid chemicals through a diverter plate that divides the housing chamber to manage the flow of feed liquid and prevent excessive wetting of solid chemicals, ensuring a consistent and reproducible concentration of treatment chemicals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the dimensions of the chemical feeder are increased to hold a larger amount of solid treatment chemical, then the frequency of charging is reduced, but the variability in the amount of dissolved solid chemical increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing chamber is divided into a first chamber for holding solid treatment chemical and a second chamber for receiving and mixing the treated liquid, separated by a support plate with apertures. This segmentation allows the solid chemical to remain contained while controlling its dissolution through the aperture structure, maintaining consistent concentration even in larger feeders.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate apertures are specifically positioned and sized to control local flow patterns of liquid through the solid chemical bed. This creates localized dissolution zones that ensure consistent mixing and dissolution rates throughout the chamber, preventing variability in the treated liquid concentration.
2Productivity
If solid treatment chemical is exposed to excess liquid, then the dissolution rate increases, but the concentration of treatment chemical in treated liquid becomes undesirably high
Solution Approach 1:
The support plate with controlled apertures creates a feedback mechanism where liquid flow through the solid chemical is regulated. As liquid passes through the apertures and contacts the solid chemical, the dissolution rate is automatically controlled by the aperture geometry, preventing excessive concentration buildup while maintaining productive dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate apertures are designed with specific dimensions and arrangements that control the liquid flow parameters through the solid chemical bed. By adjusting aperture size, shape, and distribution, the system optimizes the balance between dissolution rate and resulting concentration, ensuring desirable treated liquid properties.
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 solution provides a controlled and reproducible level of treatment chemicals in treated liquids, reducing the frequency of chemical replenishment and maintaining performance consistency even when scaled up, by managing the dissolution rate and concentration effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of nozzles that are each independently in fluid communication with at least one inlet, each nozzle comprising a distributor head comprising a distributor head sidewall and a dome, and said distributor head sidewall comprising a plurality of distributor head apertures; and at least one outlet in said housing through which a treated liquid comprising dissolved chemical material is removed from said housing. Each distributor head, of each nozzle, extends through the support plate, each dome and each distributor head aperture is positioned above the upper surface of the support plate, and each distributor head distributes the feed liquid passing, there-through, horizontally through the distributor head apertures above the upper surface of the support plate.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a chemical feeder that includes a housing (11) having a housing chamber (20) therein, a support plate (35) within the housing chamber that includes a plurality of support plate apertures (44), and a plurality of nozzles (69, 72) that each have a distributor head (78) that extends up through the support plate. Each distributor head distributes a feed liquid horizontally above the upper surface (38) of the support plate. The chemical feeder, with some embodiments, further includes a diverter plate (122) that extends upward from the support plate at an angle (125) of less than 90°. The diverter plate divides an upper housing chamber (146) into a first upper housing chamber (152) that includes solid chemical material, and a second upper housing chamber (155) that is free of solid chemical material.