Circular Screen Plate with Ring Support for Sludge Dewatering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sieve plates for dewatering sludge are prone to instability due to small openings, which reduces throughput and increases manufacturing costs, and often require additional mesh coverings that complicate production and reduce service life.

Innovation Solution

A sieve plate with a support structure featuring ring sections and radial sections provides stability and rigidity, eliminating the need for additional mesh coverings and enhancing throughput, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the screen plate has small openings for dewatering, then the dewatering efficiency is improved, but the screen plate becomes unstable and requires additional mesh coverings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedewatering efficiencyVSAvoidscreen plate stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The screen plate is segmented into multiple functional zones with different opening sizes. The outer region has larger openings for structural stability, while the inner region has smaller openings for efficient dewatering. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without compromising overall performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the screen plate are assigned different local qualities - the outer region prioritizes mechanical strength with larger openings, while the inner region prioritizes dewatering efficiency with smaller openings. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each area to optimize for its primary function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If additional mesh coverings are added to stabilize the screen plate, then stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen plate stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function previously requiring separate mesh coverings is merged into the screen plate itself through the annular reinforcement structure. This integration eliminates additional components and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding symmetric mesh coverings across the entire screen plate, the invention uses an asymmetric annular reinforcement structure only where needed - in the outer region where mechanical stress is highest. This targeted approach reduces manufacturing complexity compared to universal mesh coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Stability of the object's composition

If the screen plate has fine mesh size for stability, then structural integrity is improved, but throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen plate opening pattern is segmented into two distinct zones: an outer region with larger openings for high throughput and an inner region with smaller openings for fine filtration. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high throughput and fine filtration capabilities simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention resolves the throughput-filtration contradiction by adding a spatial dimension to the opening size parameter. Instead of using uniform fine mesh throughout, the opening size varies radially across the screen plate, creating a gradient structure that optimizes both throughput and filtration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 support structure ensures high stability and throughput, reducing manufacturing costs and extending the sieve plate's service life by maintaining rigidity and preventing deflection, thus improving the efficiency of sludge dewatering processes.

Implementation Method 1

the support structure ensures high stability and throughput, reducing manufacturing costs and extending the sieve plate's service life by maintaining rigidity and preventing deflection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical support and rigidity:

Implementation Method 2

natural gravity can be utilized to dewater the sludge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4438153A1Screen plate, device for dewatering sludge and use of a screen plate
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 HUBER SE
  • EP4438153A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4438153A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4438153A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a sieve plate (1) for a device (2) for dewatering sludge (17), comprising a sieve plate (3) having a plurality of openings (4) for the passage of liquid (18) and being substantially circular. According to the invention, the sieve plate (1) has a support structure (5) for supporting and/or stiffening the sieve plate (3), wherein the support structure (5) comprises at least one ring section (6). The invention further relates to a device (2) for dewatering sludge (17) and to the use of a sieve plate (1).