Electro-osmosis Well Points for On-site Mud Solidification

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for pile foundation mud treatment, such as natural precipitation and centralized treatment using cement or quicklime, are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful, requiring large areas and leading to illegal discharge due to high water content and complex geology challenges.

Innovation Solution

A device and method utilizing electro-osmosis well points cooperating with well-points dewatering, which includes a mud tank, sedimentation tank, well point pipes, and a DC generator to implement on-site mud solidification with reduced area requirements, harmless treatment, and resource recycling, using electro-osmosis and vacuum dewatering to quickly solidify mud.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If natural precipitation method is used for mud treatment, then the mud can be air-dried, but it requires a large occupied area and a long air-drying period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud treatment simplicityVSAvoidoccupied area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the natural mechanical air-drying process with an electro-osmosis system that uses electrical fields to actively extract water from mud. The electro-osmosis well points create an electric field that drives water molecules through the mud matrix, substituting passive evaporation with active electro-driven water migration, thereby achieving rapid dewatering without large surface areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a vacuum water pump system that creates negative pressure to extract water from the electro-osmosis well points. This hydraulic/vacuum system works in conjunction with the electro-osmosis process to efficiently remove water from the mud, enabling compact on-site treatment without requiring large drying areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of manufacture

If natural precipitation method is used for mud treatment, then the mud can be air-dried, but it requires a long air-drying period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud treatment simplicityVSAvoidair-drying period

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the natural mechanical air-drying process with an electro-osmosis system that uses electrical fields to actively extract water from mud. The electro-osmosis well points create an electric field that drives water molecules through the mud matrix, substituting passive evaporation with active electro-driven water migration, thereby achieving rapid dewatering without large surface areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous water extraction through the electro-osmosis system. The DC power source continuously applies voltage to the electro-osmosis well points, maintaining a constant electric field that continuously drives water out of the mud. This continuous action, combined with the vacuum pump system, eliminates the long waiting periods required for natural air-drying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If centralized treatment using cement and quicklime is used, then mud solidification can be achieved, but the treatment cost is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud solidification effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical solidification methods (cement and quicklime) with a physical electro-osmosis system. Instead of using chemical reactions to bind water, the system uses electrical fields to physically extract water from the mud matrix. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive chemical additives while achieving effective solidification through water removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables on-site self-sufficient mud treatment without requiring centralized treatment facilities. The portable electro-osmosis system can be deployed directly at the construction site, allowing mud to be treated and solidified in place. This eliminates transportation costs and centralized processing fees, making the treatment economically viable for individual projects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If mud is transported to the open sea for direct discharge, then disposal can be achieved, but illegal discharge and environmental pollution may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemud disposal efficiencyVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste mud into a useful solidified material through water extraction. The electro-osmosis system removes water from the mud, transforming it from a liquid waste product into a solidifiable material that can be reused as construction fill or other engineering materials. This converts the environmental harm of mud discharge into a beneficial resource recovery process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables on-site self-sufficient mud treatment without requiring centralized treatment facilities. The portable electro-osmosis system can be deployed directly at the construction site, allowing mud to be treated and solidified in place. This eliminates transportation costs and centralized processing fees, making the treatment economically viable for individual projects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 approach enables quick and effective mud solidification, preventing illegal discharge, achieving environmental protection, energy savings, and zero emissions while allowing for on-site treatment and resource utilization.

Implementation Method 1

Device and method for mud solidification based on electro-osmosis well points cooperating with well-points dewatering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-osmosis: Electro-Osmosis

Implementation Method 2

a vacuum water pump house

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum suction: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS12077459B2Device and method for mud solidification based on electro-osmosis well points cooperating with well-points dewatering

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 SHAOXING UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A device and method for mud solidification based on electro-osmosis well points cooperating with well-points dewatering. The method includes the following steps: 1) preparation; 2) construction of well point pipe positioning frame beams; 3) assembly of a mobile trestle platform; 4) well point pipe arrangement; 5) well point/electro-osmosis dewatering; 6) filtrate treatment; 7) well point pipe dismantling; and 8) excavation and transportation of solidified drilling slag for utilization. According to the disclosure, well point pipes are adopted and used as an anode and a cathode of an electro-osmosis well, and on-site quick solidification of pile foundation mud is implemented through the electro-osmosis combined with light well-points dewatering; by the adoption of the well point pipe positioning frame beams, the problems that drilling slag in a sedimentation tank has a large water content and it is difficult to arrange and fix the well point pipes are well solved.