Curved Deflection and Guide Surface Granular Separator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cyclone separators are limited in their use due to space constraints, particularly in systems with limited overall height, leading to inefficient separation of granular material from conveying air flows and increased grain breakage and air discharge.

Innovation Solution

A device with a downwardly curved deflection surface and an oppositely curved guide surface ensures reliable separation by utilizing mass inertia and laminar flow diversion, minimizing space requirements and allowing for adaptable design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cyclone separator is used to separate granular material from conveying air flow, then separation effectiveness is improved, but the overall height and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved deflection surfaces instead of conventional cyclone separator geometries. The conveying air flow is deflected along a curved deflection surface and then guided through an oppositely curved guide surface, creating a compact separation path that achieves effective separation without the height requirements of traditional cyclone separators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from the conventional vertical cyclone separator configuration to a horizontal flow deflection arrangement. By changing the primary direction of flow deflection from vertical to horizontal, the patent achieves separation effectiveness while dramatically reducing the overall height requirement of the separator.

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

2Length of stationary object

If deflector plates are used to reduce overall height, then space requirements are reduced, but grain breakage and air discharge with grain increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall heightVSAvoidgrain breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a streamlined deflection surface design that guides the conveying air flow smoothly through curvature changes rather than using sharp-edged deflector plates. This pneumatic flow guidance approach maintains laminar flow conditions, reducing turbulence and preventing grain breakage while achieving compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the flow regime parameters by creating a laminar flow pattern through the oppositely curved guide surface. This controlled flow parameter change ensures that grains are separated through inertial effects in a smooth flow field, minimizing grain breakage compared to turbulent flow conditions created by conventional deflector plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the conveying air flow is deflected in opposite directions to separate grains, then separation effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the deflection surface and guide surface into an integrated housing structure. The oppositely curved surfaces are merged into a single compact unit where the housing itself forms the flow path, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall structural complexity despite the sophisticated flow pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the deflection surface, provides the guide surface, supports the inlet and outlet connections, and collects separated material. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration effectively separates granular material from conveying air flows with reduced grain breakage and air discharge, enabling efficient operation in space-constrained environments while allowing for flexible design adaptations.

Implementation Method 1

due to the mass inertia, the grains of material deflected along the deflection surface with the conveying air flow no longer follow an immediate subsequent deflection of the air flow in the opposite direction and are therefore separated from the conveying air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMass inertia: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

particularly favorable separation conditions result if the deflection surface is curved downwards in the direction of flow according to the invention, because in this case gravity supports the separation of the good grains from the conveying air flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

the deflection surface is connected in the direction of flow in a guide surface curved in the opposite direction for largely laminar flow diversion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaminar flow: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentEP3096894B1Apparatus for separating a granular material from a conveying air stream
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 WINTERSTEIGER GMBH
  • EP3096894B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

Described is an apparatus for separating a granular material from a conveying air stream (5), comprising a substantially tangentially impinged deflection surface (2) for the loaded conveying air stream (5). In order to create advantageous separation conditions, the deflection surface (2) is followed, in the direction of flow, by a guiding surface (3) which is curved in the opposite direction in order to enable a largely laminar discharge of the air stream.