Cone Screen Drum with Opposing Screw for Starch Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional starch slurry and residue separation screens consume large amounts of clean water and generate significant wastewater due to inefficient water utilization and blockage issues, requiring frequent maintenance and high energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A high-efficiency water-saving separation screen featuring a horizontal screen drum with a cone-shaped mesh, a screw propelling extrusion rod, and a flushing spray pipe, where the screen mesh and screw rod rotate in opposite directions, aided by a mechanical brush for propelling slurry and residue, and a flushing system for repeated washing, reducing water usage and starch loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional curved mesh separation screen is used, then starch slurry and residue can be separated, but large amount of clean water is consumed and water utilization rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a water circulation system where washing water that falls to the bottom of the screening tank is collected and reused for continuous washing of the screen mesh. This creates a continuous useful action loop that maintains separation efficiency while dramatically reducing fresh water consumption. The system ensures water is continuously reused rather than discharged after single use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using water flow to facilitate starch granule passage through the screen mesh while simultaneously using the same water flow for washing the screen surface. The water serves dual hydraulic functions: separation medium and cleaning agent, optimizing water utilization through fluid dynamics.
2Productivity
If high-speed centrifugal cone screen is used, then screening efficiency is improved and water usage is reduced, but high centrifugal force causes screen mesh blockage requiring frequent back flushing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-speed centrifugal force with mechanical vibration generated by an eccentric rotating weight system. This vibration gently agitates the screen mesh surface, preventing starch residue accumulation and blockage without subjecting the screen to high centrifugal forces. The vibration frequency and amplitude are controlled to maintain screening efficiency while avoiding mesh clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including the rotating screen mesh and eccentric vibration mechanism that adapt to varying operating conditions. The screen mesh rotation speed and vibration intensity can be adjusted to optimize performance for different starch types and feed rates, maintaining reliability across varying production requirements.
3Ease of operation
If conical steel screen is used, then screening function is achieved, but device weight is large and maintenance is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the screening system into separable modules: the screen mesh is made as a removable component that can be independently taken out for cleaning or replacement without dismantling the entire device. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and service the screen mesh easily, improving maintenance convenience while reducing the weight of the movable screening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible or semi-flexible screen mesh structure that can be easily removed and reinstalled. This thin-film approach replaces heavy rigid steel screens with lighter mesh materials that maintain screening functionality while significantly reducing weight and simplifying maintenance operations.
4Productivity
If high-speed rotation is used, then screening efficiency is improved, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces high-energy rotational centrifugal force with lower-energy mechanical vibration. The eccentric rotating weight generates vibration at much lower power consumption compared to high-speed centrifugal rotation, while still achieving effective screen mesh cleaning and starch-residue separation. This vibration-based approach maintains productivity with significantly reduced energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from high-speed rotation to controlled vibration frequency and amplitude. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves effective screening and self-cleaning functions at lower energy levels, transforming the energy consumption profile from high-power rotational motion to low-power oscillatory motion.
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 significantly reduces clean water consumption and starch wastewater generation, increasing starch extraction efficiency by lowering the moisture content of potato residue and enhancing starch yield, while simplifying maintenance and reducing energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
a screw propelling extrusion rod... The screw propelling extrusion rod includes a screw propelling extrusion rod shaft and a screw blade
Implementation Method 2
the flushing spray pipe is used for flushing slurry and residue on the screen drum
Implementation Method 3
The difference in particle size between starch granules and starch residue is the principle basis for the separation of starch and starch residue through a screen mesh
Implementation Method 4
designing a low-speed rotating screening equipment with a mechanical brush disturbing screen mesh
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of food equipment design and processing, and provides a high-efficiency water-saving separation screen for starch slurry and residue which includes a horizontal screen drum, a screen mesh, a screw propelling extrusion rod, a rotation drive unit and a flushing spray pipe; one side of the horizontal screen drum is provided with a feeding inlet, and the other side of the horizontal screen drum is provided with a slurry outlet and a residue outlet; the screen mesh is in a cone shape, and the cross-sectional diameter of the screen mesh gradually decreases from the feeding inlet to the residue outlet; the screw propelling extrusion rod is arranged in the screen mesh and includes a screw propelling extrusion rod shaft and a screw blade; the rotation drive unit drives the screen mesh and the screw propelling extrusion rod to rotate in opposite directions; and the flushing spray pipe is used for flushing slurry and residue on the screen drum. The present disclosure further provides a separation method adopting the aforementioned separation screen. The synergistic effects of mechanical disturbance and hydraulic overflow washing and screening are simultaneously exerted by the screen, compared with traditional curved surface screens and high-speed centrifugal screens, the usage amount of clean water and the generation amount of wastewater can be reduced, and the concentration of obtained starch slurry is increased; and the moisture content of potato residue extruded and separated out by the screen is low, and thus subsequent utilization is facilitated.