Composite Pressure Vessel Distributor Plate Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

In water treatment systems, the use of composite pressure vessels with distributor baskets leads to issues during servicing, where water treatment media settlement causes difficulties in resecuring the valve assembly, resulting in water leakage and disturbance of the media, affecting treatment performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a composite pressure vessel with a distributor plate featuring a thermoplastic polymeric disk having radial slits that promote near-fractal distribution and swirling of water, supporting water treatment media and enhancing backwashing efficiency by optimizing contact with regeneration chemicals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a distributor basket with narrow slits is used to prevent media from flowing into the dip tube, then media flow is blocked, but water treatment media settles beneath the distributor basket during servicing, making it difficult to resecure the valve assembly and causing water leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia flow blockingVSAvoidvalve assembly resecuring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor plate inverts the traditional distributor basket design by using a solid plate with openings rather than a basket with slits. This inversion prevents media settlement issues while maintaining the function of blocking media flow into the dip tube during servicing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The distributor plate is segmented with multiple openings distributed across its surface, allowing water to pass through while preventing media from settling beneath it. This segmentation maintains media flow blocking capability while eliminating the settlement problem that complicates valve assembly resecuring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If high pressure water is pumped through the dip tube to flush media away from the distributor basket, then the dip tube can be repositioned, but water flows out onto the floor creating damage and disturbing the media

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedip tube repositioningVSAvoidwater damage and media disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor plate is designed in advance to prevent media settlement beneath it during normal operation. This preliminary prevention eliminates the need for high-pressure flushing during servicing, thereby avoiding water damage and media disturbance while still allowing dip tube repositioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a thermoplastic polymeric disk with radial slits is used as a distributor plate, then near-fractal distribution and swirling of water is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater distribution efficiencyVSAvoiddistributor plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radial slits in the thermoplastic polymeric disk are designed with specific geometric parameters that create near-fractal distribution patterns and swirling flow. By optimizing slit dimensions, spacing, and orientation, the plate achieves enhanced water distribution efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution reduces backwashing flow rates, minimizes chemical and salt discharge, and extends water treatment media bed life, while preventing 'coning' and improving media distribution, leading to significant water and chemical savings over the system's lifetime.

Implementation Method 1

The radial slits are adapted to promote near-fractal distribution and swirling of water flowing through the disk from the bottom side to the top side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFractal distribution: Fractal Forms

Implementation Method 2

The fluid flow passages through the disk are adapted to swirl fluid flowing through the disk from the bottom side to the top side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwirling flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 3

supporting water treatment media and enhancing backwashing efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational settling prevention: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8382994B2Method of preparing a composite pressure vessel for use as a water treatment apparatus

Publication Date: 2013.02.26 ENPRESS GROUP CORP

AI summary

The present invention provides a composite pressure vessel containing a distributor plate. The distributor plate comprises a thermoplastic polymeric disk having a top side, a bottom side, a perimeter edge and a central opening. The disk is provided with a plurality of radial slits, which define fluid flow passages through the disk between the central opening and the perimeter edge. The fluid flow passages through the disk are adapted to swirl fluid flowing through the disk from the bottom side to the top side such that it swirls around the central opening. The perimeter edge of the distributor plate is joined to an inner side of a thermoplastic liner during or immediately after the thermoplastic liner is formed by a blow-molding process or a rotational molding process.