Flow-Control Support for Composite Vessel Distributor Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
In composite pressure vessels used for water treatment, the existing distributor baskets and plates face challenges during backwashing operations, leading to inefficient water distribution and media conditioning, resulting in high backwash flow rates and chemical discharge, which can disrupt the water treatment process and cause environmental issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermoplastic polymeric distributor plate with radial slits is introduced, which swirls fluid to ensure even distribution and optimal contact with water treatment media, reducing backwash flow rates and enhancing media conditioning by promoting near-fractal distribution and eliminating channeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
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 mess and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A flow control support is introduced as an intermediary component between the distributor plate and the vessel bottom. This support includes flow control openings that redirect water flow to prevent media from settling beneath the distributor plate, eliminating the need for high-pressure flushing and preventing water damage during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control support is pre-installed and configured before media loading. The flow control openings are positioned and sized in advance to maintain proper water flow patterns during both operation and maintenance, preventing media settlement issues before they occur and eliminating the need for corrective high-pressure flushing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If water treatment media settles beneath the distributor basket, then the dip tube position is disturbed, but re-securing the valve assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control support acts as a mediator that maintains the distributor plate in its proper position by controlling water flow. The flow control openings prevent media from settling beneath the plate, thereby maintaining dip tube alignment and facilitating easy valve assembly re-securing during maintenance operations.
3Reliability
If the distributor plate uses narrow slits to prevent media flow into the dip tube, then media is contained, but water distribution efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor plate is segmented with multiple radial flow passages that distribute water efficiently across the media bed. The flow control support complements this by providing additional flow control openings that maintain proper flow patterns, achieving both effective media containment and high water distribution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the flow control parameters by providing specifically sized and positioned flow control openings in the flow control support. These openings are optimized to maintain appropriate water flow rates and distribution patterns, improving water distribution efficiency while the distributor plate's radial slits maintain reliable media containment.
4Reliability
If backwash flow rate is increased to condition media effectively, then media conditioning improves, but water and chemical consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control support provides optimized flow control openings that enable effective media conditioning at reduced backwash flow rates. By maintaining proper flow distribution and preventing media settlement, the system achieves reliable media conditioning while significantly reducing water and chemical consumption and discharge.
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 significantly reduces backwash flow rates, conserves water and chemicals, and extends the life of water treatment media by ensuring uniform fluidization and effective conditioning, thereby improving the overall efficiency and environmental impact of water treatment systems.
Implementation Method 1
the spirally fluted upper surface is adapted to direct fluid flowing from a supply pipe disposed in the central opening of a distributor plate that is supported by the flow control support such that the fluid swirls in a space between the bottom side of the distributor plate and an inner side of an end portion of a water treatment vessel
Implementation Method 2
The radial slits are adapted to distribute fluid flowing through the distributor plate in a near-fractal pattern
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a flow-control support for a distributor plate in a composite pressure vessel. The distributor plate includes a thermoplastic polymeric disk having a top side, a bottom side, a perimeter edge and a central opening and a plurality of fluid flow passages through the disk. The flow-control support is disposed between the bottom side of the disk and an inner side of an end of a thermoplastic liner assembly. The flow-control support includes a spirally fluted upper surface that is adapted to direct fluid flowing from a supply pipe disposed in the central opening of a distributor plate that is supported by the flow control support such that the fluid swirls in a space between the bottom side of the distributor plate and an inner side of an end portion of a water treatment vessel. The swirling water insures that fluid is distributed to substantially all of the fluid flow passages through the disk during backwashing operations.