Ejector-Based Effluent Decontamination Without Heating Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing effluent decontamination systems face challenges such as difficult validation, high costs, energy inefficiency, and frequent chemical cleaning due to contamination and mechanical failures, particularly in static and continuous systems used for microbial inactivation in biologically contaminated areas.
Innovation Solution
A decontamination apparatus and method utilizing a motive fluid, such as steam, to create a continuous effluent stream through an ejector system, which heats the effluent without direct contact with heating surfaces, preventing clogging and allowing for efficient thermal shock treatment, and includes a treatment tank for controlled temperature maintenance and leak testing to ensure safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous decontamination systems are used to treat effluent as a continuous stream, then productivity is improved, but the heating arrangements soil the inner surfaces with contaminant layers requiring frequent chemical washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from contact with the effluent stream by using steam injection directly into the effluent. The heating occurs through phase change of injected steam rather than through contact with heated surfaces, eliminating the soiling problem while maintaining continuous treatment capability
Solution Approach 2:
Steam acts as an intermediary medium that transfers thermal energy to the effluent without requiring solid heating surfaces to contact the contaminated liquid. The steam condenses within the effluent stream, providing heat transfer while avoiding surface contamination
2Reliability
If static decontamination systems are used with kill tanks, then reliability is improved through simple design, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to large space requirements and regular inspection needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static batch treatment to dynamic continuous flow treatment. Effluent flows continuously through the decontamination chamber while steam is continuously injected, enabling sustained treatment without the energy-intensive heating and cooling cycles required by static systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the phase transition of steam condensing into liquid as the primary heating mechanism. This phase change occurs directly within the effluent stream, providing efficient heat transfer that reduces overall energy consumption compared to conventional heating methods
3Ease of operation
If direct steam injection is used to heat effluent, then ease of operation is improved by avoiding clogging, but device complexity increases due to pressure requirements and pump needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the effluent's own flow characteristics and the steam injection to create the necessary mixing and distribution. The effluent flow itself serves to distribute the steam throughout the chamber, eliminating the need for complex pumping and pressure control systems
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 provides a cost-effective, scalable, and safe decontamination process that is easily validated, reduces clogging and mechanical failures, and enhances operational safety by preventing feedback contamination and allowing for flexible thermal treatment adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a first ejector configured to direct first motive fluid from the first inlet into piping connected to the second inlet thus causing the effluent to stream from the second inlet towards the outlet, and simultaneously causing the effluent to be heated
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient thermal shock treatment
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for decontamination of effluent, includes connecting a first ejector to source of a first motive fluid, directing from the first ejector first motive fluid into piping connected to a source of effluent thus causing the effluent to stream in the piping and simultaneously causing the effluent to be heated, and controlling the directing of the first motive fluid in such a way that a predetermined thermal effect is achieved.