Fluid cleaning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chillers lack effective water quality management systems, leading to performance degradation due to foreign matter accumulation in heat exchangers, which complicates maintenance and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid cleaning apparatus with a rotating wheel and filter system that discharges filtered foreign matter back to the outlet, utilizing fluid flow to rotate the wheel without additional power, ensuring a simple structure and efficient foreign matter removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate cleaning apparatus with complex structure is installed inside the heat exchanger, then foreign matter removal capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus utilizes the existing fluid flow within the heat exchanger to rotate the filtering wheel and achieve self-cleaning. The system serves itself by using its own operating fluid to perform the cleaning function, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex mechanical drive mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by providing effective foreign matter removal without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering wheel serves multiple functions: it filters foreign matter from the fluid during normal operation and then rotates to discharge the accumulated foreign matter back to the inlet. This multi-functionality allows a single component to handle both filtration and self-cleaning, reducing the need for separate cleaning apparatus and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining effective foreign matter removal.
2Productivity
If a filter is installed to remove foreign matter, then heat exchanger efficiency is maintained, but filter replacement frequency increases management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding filtered foreign matter in a collection container requiring periodic emptying, the system rotates the filtering wheel to discharge the accumulated foreign matter back to the fluid inlet. This recovering approach allows continuous operation without manual intervention for filter maintenance, extending the effective service life of the filter and reducing management complexity while maintaining heat exchanger efficiency.
3Productivity
If additional power is provided to rotate the cleaning wheel, then foreign matter discharge efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering wheel is rotated by the pressure differential and flow of the fluid passing through the heat exchanger itself, rather than by an external motor or power source. The system uses its own operating fluid to provide the rotational force needed for discharge, achieving effective foreign matter removal without additional energy consumption. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction between discharge efficiency and energy use.
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
Prevents foreign matter accumulation in heat exchangers, extends filter replacement cycles, maintains heat exchanger efficiency, and simplifies management by using fluid flow to rotate the wheel and discharge filtered matter.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the wheel to rotate without additional power by the flow of the introduced fluid and the discharged fluid
Implementation Method 2
a rotating wheel which is provided with a filter for filtering the first fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid cleaning apparatus including: a first volume comprising a first inlet through which a first fluid is introduced and a first outlet through which the first fluid is discharged; a second volume comprising a second inlet through which a second fluid is introduced and a second outlet through which the second fluid is discharged; and a rotating wheel which is provided with a filter for filtering the first fluid, and rotatably positioned within the first volume and the second volume in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction of the first fluid or the second fluid, wherein foreign matter filtered while the first fluid passes through the filter in the first volume is discharged through the second outlet while the second fluid passes through the filter in the second volume, as the rotating wheel rotates.