Immersed Flow-Guide Tube Flocculation Reactor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment methods face challenges in achieving compactness, efficacy, and moderate cost, particularly in flocculation processes, where bypassing and inefficient mixing lead to increased investment and operating costs, and the connection of multiple reactors in series is complicated by vortex formation and power consumption issues.
Innovation Solution
A flocculation reactor design featuring a completely immersed flow-guide tube with a static system opposing rotation, creating a central area with high agitation and a peripheral area with lower agitation, maximizing turbulence and minimizing dead volumes, while allowing for efficient recirculation and series connection of reactors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vertical baffles are placed against lateral walls to prevent vortex formation, then mixing performance is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of vertical wall-mounted baffles with a flow-guide tube positioned coaxially with the agitator. This flow-guide tube redirects fluid flow to prevent vortex formation without requiring wall-mounted structures, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining mixing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow-guide tube acts as an intermediary element between the agitator and the reactor walls. It mediates the fluid flow to prevent vortex formation without direct contact with the walls, eliminating the need for wall-mounted baffles and reducing the associated power consumption and structural complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple vats are connected in series with low-level inlet and high-level outlet, then bypassing is prevented, but connection complexity increases and adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning both inlet and outlet at high levels within the same reactor. The flow-guide tube creates an internal circulation pattern that prevents bypassing without requiring vertical separation between inlet and outlet, thereby simplifying series connections and improving adaptability.
3Productivity
If flow-guide tube is used to increase stirred volume fraction, then mixing efficiency is improved, but vortex formation occurs compromising mixing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by positioning the flow-guide tube coaxially with the agitator rather than symmetrically around it. This asymmetric positioning, combined with the agitator's rotation, creates a controlled flow pattern that enhances mixing efficiency while preventing vortex formation through the static system opposing rotation.
4Productivity
If stacked mobiles are disposed in vat volume to increase turbulence fraction, then mixing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple stacked mobiles into a single flow-guide tube positioned coaxially with the agitator. This single structure creates turbulence throughout the reactor volume without requiring multiple separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
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 design enhances reaction kinetics, increases the usable reactor volume, reduces energy consumption, and facilitates the connection of multiple reactors, achieving efficient flocculation and separation with reduced operational costs and improved mixing performance.
Implementation Method 1
agitation (8) brings about turbulent axial flow of the mixture of the raw fluid to be treated and the flocculating agent in an axial direction of the flow-guide tube
Implementation Method 2
the flow is divided (5) angularly by means of a static system opposing rotation of the flow disposed at the flow-guide tube outlet
Implementation Method 3
the raw fluid to be treated is circulated with a flocculating reagent in a flocculation vat to obtain a flocculated mixture in which the impurities form flocs
Implementation Method 4
this flocculated mixture is circulated in a separation area in which the flocculated mixture is separated into clarified effluent and sludge containing the flocs
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for treating wastewater. The apparatus comprises a reactor having a flow channel generally centrally located in a reactor and immersed in the water or wastewater in the reactor. An agitator is disposed within the flow channel and induces water or wastewater to enter the open upper end thereof and to move downwardly through the flow channel where the water or wastewater is discharged via a flow divider. A reagent is injected into the water or wastewater and the agitator within the flow channel serves to mix the reagent with the water or wastewater passing therethrough and in the process causes at least a slightly turbulent and downward axial flow through the flow channel.