Flexible Blade Device for Submersible Mixer Mixing Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing submersible mixers for wastewater treatment are cumbersome, costly, and difficult to maintain, with rigid blades that lack forward and upward propelling forces, leading to inefficient mixing and precipitation of activated sludge flocs.

Innovation Solution

A blade device with flexible, rocking shaft-mounted blades, comprising horizontal propelling and vertical uplifting blades that swing within fixing grooves, allowing for both forward propulsion and upward lifting of liquid mixtures, preventing sludge precipitation and enhancing mixing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid blades are used in submersible mixers, then structural strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and device size increase, and maintenance difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade structural strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid blades with flexible membrane blades that can bend and deform during operation. The membrane structure provides sufficient strength while being simpler to manufacture and maintain, directly resolving the contradiction between structural strength and manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic flexibility to the blades, allowing them to adapt their shape during operation rather than maintaining a fixed rigid form. This dynamic characteristic reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining operational strength requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If rigid blades are used in submersible mixers, then mixing capability is achieved, but forward propulsion and upward lifting forces are not generated, leading to poor liquid circulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidliquid flow speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane blades dynamically adjust their position and angle during rotation, generating both mixing action and forward propulsion force. This dynamic behavior enables the blades to perform multiple functions simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between mixing capability and liquid circulation speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible blade design enables a single component to perform multiple functions: mixing, forward propulsion, and upward lifting. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving both mixing capability and liquid circulation enhancement with the same structural element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If submersible mixers are designed for industrialized production, then treatment capacity is improved, but device size becomes huge and placement flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment capacityVSAvoidmixer size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane structure allows the mixer to maintain effectiveness while reducing overall device volume. The membranes can conform to smaller spaces and require less structural support, enabling compact design that preserves treatment capacity while improving placement flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic flexible blades generate sufficient mixing and propulsion forces in a compact configuration, allowing the device to maintain industrialized production capacity in a reduced size package, resolving the contradiction between treatment capacity and device volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If rigid blade devices are used, then initial manufacturing cost may be controlled, but maintenance difficulty and vulnerability to damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidmaintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane blades are simpler in construction than rigid blades, using fewer fasteners and complex joints. This simplicity reduces both manufacturing cost and maintenance difficulty, resolving the contradiction between initial manufacturing cost and long-term maintenance ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of blade rigidity to flexibility, which fundamentally alters the maintenance characteristics. Flexible membranes are more damage-tolerant and easier to replace or repair than rigid structures, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and maintenance ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9776148B2Blade device for a mixing propeller and the application thereof

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 JIANGSU PROVINCIAL ACAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCI

AI summary

A blade device for a mixing propeller has a rocking shaft and a plurality of blade units. The blade unit is made of a flexible material and is installed on the rocking shaft via a fixing groove. The blade unit includes a horizontal propelling flexible blade and a vertical uplifting flexible blade. The fixing groove has a horizontal section and a vertical section. One end of the horizontal propelling flexible blade is inserted in the vertical section of the fixing groove while the other end of which is kept free so that it can swing back and forth. One end of the vertical uplifting flexible blade is inserted in the horizontal section of the fixing groove while the other end of which is kept free so that it can swing back and forth.