Rotating Drum Cleaning via Reflector Water Jet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating drum systems for treating fibrous materials face challenges in maintaining the perforation clear of debris, requiring high water pressure and frequent cleaning to prevent clogging, which increases operational effort and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The nozzle openings in the spray pipe direct water jets onto a reflector, which reflects the jets onto the drum's outer wall, allowing for larger openings and reducing clogging risk, enabling lower water pressure and using process water with fiber content, while a flat jet is maintained by arranging nozzle openings in a row along the pipe with a reflector, such as a metal strip, to ensure comprehensive cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If small nozzle openings are used in the spray pipe, then the cleaning precision of the perforation is improved, but the risk of clogging increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflector element that redirects the water jet from the nozzle onto the outer surface of the drum at an angle. This dimensional change in the water jet trajectory allows the jet to fan out and cover a larger area of the perforation, achieving effective cleaning with larger nozzle openings that are less prone to clogging
2Manufacturing precision
If high water pressure is used to clean the perforation, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By redirecting the water jet onto the drum's outer surface using a reflector, the water jet fans out and increases its effective coverage area. This allows lower water pressure (1.5-6 bar) to achieve the same cleaning effectiveness that would require high pressure (approx. 10 bar) with conventional direct spray nozzles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the water jet by redirecting it onto a reflective surface, which alters its trajectory and dispersion pattern. This parameter change allows the system to operate at lower pressure while maintaining cleaning effectiveness, reducing energy consumption
3Stability of the object's composition
If small nozzle openings are used to maintain a flat jet, then the jet continuity is improved, but the clogging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector redirects the water jet onto the drum's outer surface, where it fans out to form a continuous flat jet pattern. This dimensional redirection allows the use of larger nozzle openings (5-9 mm) that are less prone to clogging, while still maintaining jet continuity through the fanned-out spray pattern on the drum surface
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 effectively reduces the risk of clogging and simplifies maintenance by allowing nozzle openings of 5-9 mm diameter and water pressures of 1.5-6 bar, ensuring efficient cleaning of the perforation with process water containing up to 0.2% fibers, while maintaining a continuous flat jet for thorough cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle openings each direct a water jet onto a reflector, which reflects the water jet to the perforated outer wall of the drum
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotating drum (4) for treating fibrous material (1), the axis of rotation (2) of said drum being tilted by at most 30° with respect to the horizontal, comprising a sorting zone (3), into which fibrous material (1) mixed with water is fed and in which the drum (4) is perforated, wherein a fine fraction flows through the perforation (5) and a coarse fraction is repelled by the perforation, and wherein a cleaning device arranged outside of the drum (4) is associated with the perforation (5). In this case, the expenditure for keeping clear the perforation (5) shall be reduced by virtue of the fact that the cleaning device is formed by at least one spray pipe (6) having a plurality of nozzle openings (7), the nozzle openings (7) directing a respective water jet (8) onto a reflector (9) which reflects the water jet (8) to the perforated outer wall of the drum (4).