Gas Supply Control for Liquid Solid Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for supplying compressed gas to liquid/solid separators, such as effluents, face challenges in controlling the ratio of fluid flow to compressed gas, leading to unstable and unpredictable operation due to independent gas injection, making it difficult to maintain a consistent gas-to-fluid ratio.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that divert a fraction of the fluid flow from the separator through an external enclosure where pressurized gas is introduced, allowing precise control of the gas supply based on the enclosure's weight, ensuring a constant gas-to-fluid ratio by reintroducing the gas-laden fluid co-currently with the treated flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If compressed air is injected directly into the separator in parallel with the fluid flow, then the separator can operate with gas supply, but the ratio of fluid flow to compressed gas cannot be controlled with certainty
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas supply process into two independent parts: a first circuit that supplies compressed air to an enclosure, and a second circuit that supplies fluid to the separator. This segmentation allows each circuit to be controlled independently, enabling precise control of the gas-to-fluid ratio by controlling the amount of fluid diverted to the enclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
An enclosure is introduced as an intermediary component between the compressed air supply and the separator. The enclosure receives compressed air through a first circuit and fluid through a second circuit, allowing the gas-to-fluid ratio to be controlled by adjusting the fluid diversion amount, thus mediating the interaction between gas and fluid flows.
2Productivity
If independent gas injection is used, then gas can be supplied to the separator, but stable and repetitive operation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control by measuring the actual gas-to-fluid ratio and adjusting the fluid diversion amount accordingly. The control unit monitors the operation and modifies the flow distribution to maintain the desired ratio, ensuring stable and repetitive separator operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the fluid flow distribution between the enclosure and the separator based on operating conditions. The diversion amount is not fixed but can be modified in real-time to maintain optimal gas-to-fluid ratio, enabling adaptive control for stable operation.
3Quantity of substance
If compressed air is supplied directly to the separator, then the separator receives gas, but the quantity of gas cannot be quantified with certainty
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical gas injection with a controlled fluid diversion mechanism. Instead of directly measuring and controlling gas quantity, the system controls the amount of fluid diverted to the enclosure, which indirectly but precisely determines the gas quantity entering the separator through the known gas-to-fluid ratio relationship.
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 precise quantification and maintenance of a consistent gas-to-fluid ratio, ensuring repetitive and stable operation of the separator by controlling the weight of the enclosure, which adjusts the pressurized gas supply accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
means for weighing the weight of the enclosure capable of delivering signals to the control unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for supplying pressurized gas to a liquid/solid separator (2) having at least one inlet (3) for the flow of fluid to be treated and at least one outlet (4) for the treated fluid. This method comprises a step of diverting a fraction of the fluid flow from the separator (2) through a chamber (12), a step of introducing pressurized gas in a given quantity into said chamber (12), and a step of reintroducing the gas-laden fluid flow from the chamber (12) into the separator (2).