Passive Grease Trap with Diverging Conical Baffles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grease traps allow small quantities of FOG to be carried downstream with grey water, and passive traps require frequent emptying due to inefficient separation of grease and solids.
Innovation Solution
A grease trap design featuring diverging conical baffles that slow down the flow of effluent, allowing FOG to rise and solids to settle, with a method of discharging effluent between upper and lower baffles to separate FOG and grey water effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water flows through the grease trap at high velocity, then the grease trap processes waste water quickly, but the high velocity disrupts the separated grease and expels waste with grey water
Solution Approach 1:
The grease trap is divided into multiple chambers separated by baffles. The first baffle creates a first chamber for initial separation, and the second baffle creates a second chamber for further separation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both processing speed and separation effectiveness by creating multiple stages of treatment rather than a single high-velocity pass through one chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffles act as intermediary structures that mediate between the incoming high-velocity waste water and the separation process. The baffles slow down the water flow, allow grease to separate and accumulate, and then release the separated water in a controlled manner, preventing direct high-velocity disruption of the grease layer.
2Quantity of substance
If the grease trap tank fills up with grease, then more grease can be stored, but the grease/water interface moves closer to the bottom and is more susceptible to disruption by incoming flow
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tank into multiple chambers with baffles, the system can store larger quantities of grease in the first chamber without compromising the stability of the grease/water interface in subsequent chambers. Each chamber acts as an independent separation zone, so grease accumulation in one chamber does not directly affect the separation stability in other chambers.
3Device complexity
If a single baffle design is used, then the device structure is simple, but small quantities of FOG still pass downstream with grey water
Solution Approach 1:
The use of multiple baffles creates a multi-stage separation process where each baffle performs a specific function: the first baffle handles initial separation and the second baffle handles final polishing. This segmentation achieves near-complete FOG removal without requiring overly complex individual baffle structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The second baffle is positioned at a different vertical level (higher than the first baffle), creating a multi-level separation system. This dimensional arrangement allows the system to address FOG removal at different heights and flow stages, improving overall efficiency without significantly increasing structural complexity.
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 design achieves near-complete removal of FOG from effluent, reducing downstream contamination and minimizing the need for frequent emptying.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second baffles may diverge so waste water entering the tank between the baffles encounters an enlarging volume. The first baffle may be conical with a downward apex and the second baffle may also be conical, with an upward apex.
Implementation Method 2
Lightweight grease rises to the top of the tank and heavier solids settle in the bottom of the tank.
Implementation Method 3
the lower baffle comprising a wall with a hole, allowing the grey water and heavy solids to descend in the tank through the hole in the lower baffle
Implementation Method 4
Allowing the grey water to exit the tank may include baffling the path of the grey water after it descends through the hole in the lower baffle to lengthen the path the grey water traverses to exit the tank.
Data Source
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AI summary
A grease trap for separating waste from waste water that includes grey water and FOG includes a tank having a bottom and an interior volume. An inlet invert in the tank has a discharge end for discharging waste water into the tank, and an outlet invert in the tank has a drain end for removing grey water from the tank. A first baffle across the interior volume below the discharge of the inlet invert and above the drain end of the outlet invert has a hole allowing grey water to descend through the hole to a path under the first baffle to the drain end of the outlet invert. A second baffle across the interior volume above the discharge of the inlet invert has a hole allowing FOG to float through the hole in the second baffle to collect above the second baffle.