Fine Grit Classifier for Milk of Lime Slurry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water treatment processes face challenges with the abrasive nature of grit in milk of lime slurries, which causes equipment wear, plugging issues, and inefficient lime usage, particularly exacerbated by cold winter temperatures that affect settling rates and require time-consuming shutdowns and flushing procedures.
Innovation Solution
A fine grit classifier apparatus and method that includes a settling tank with turbulence induction and a recirculation loop to separate grit from the slurry, allowing for continuous or batch processing, and a dewatering system to reduce moisture content, enabling the use of lower-grade lime products and minimizing plugging risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grit removal is not implemented, then equipment wear and plugging issues occur, but the complexity of the system increases with additional removal devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the grit removal function with the existing slurry storage and dosing system by integrating a grit classifier into the slurry tank. The classifier uses the natural settling process and recirculates clarified slurry back into the system, merging grit removal with the existing slurry management infrastructure rather than adding completely separate removal equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The grit classifier system is self-regulating and automatically removes grit without requiring external intervention. The recirculation loop continuously draws clarified slurry from the upper portion of the tank and returns it to the dosing system, while the grit auger automatically evacuates settled grit from the bottom, creating a self-sustaining grit removal mechanism.
2Stability of the object's composition
If agitation is used to prevent lime slurry settling, then lime particles remain suspended, but the opacity of the slurry makes visual monitoring of grit levels impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the slurry tank into distinct zones based on height: an upper portion for drawing clarified slurry and a lower portion for grit settlement. The grit classifier inlet is positioned at the lower portion to draw slurry below the water line where grit settles, while the outlet is positioned at the upper portion to discharge only clarified slurry, creating spatial separation of functions despite the opaque medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary grit classifier system that mediates between the opaque slurry and the need for grit removal. The classifier acts as a separate processing stage that takes in slurry from the lower portion, allows grit to settle in a controlled environment, and returns only clarified slurry to the main system, bypassing the visual monitoring limitation.
3Productivity
If grit is not removed from slurry, then the slurry can be transported and applied, but grit settles out and clogs dosing valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary grit removal by positioning the grit classifier inlet at the lower portion of the slurry tank where grit naturally settles. This preliminary separation occurs before the slurry reaches the dosing valves, preventing grit from entering the dosing system and clogging valves, thereby maintaining dosing reliability while preserving slurry application productivity.
4Ease of manufacture
If water is not drained from grit before transportation, then transportation is simpler, but disposal costs increase due to higher moisture content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial dewatering by allowing grit to settle in the lower portion of the tank where excess water drains away, but does not attempt complete drying. This partial removal of water reduces grit moisture content to a manageable level for transportation without requiring energy-intensive drying equipment, balancing transportation simplicity with reduced water content for cost-effective disposal.
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 effectively reduces grit settlement, allows for accurate dosing of lime slurry, and decreases the moisture content of grit for easier transportation, thereby enhancing process efficiency and reducing downtime and disposal costs.
Implementation Method 1
a settling tank for receiving a milk of lime slurry... The settling tank has a lower portion below a water line and an upper portion above the water line
Implementation Method 2
at least one auger having a lower end and an upper end for transporting settled grit from the lower portion of the settling tank to the upper portion of the settling tank and discharging the settled grit
Implementation Method 3
a recirculation loop that draws milk of lime slurry from the lower portion of the settling tank and delivers the drawn milk of lime slurry to the upper portion of the settling tank
Data Source
AI summary
A fine grit classifier for removing grit from a milk of lime slurry includes a settling tank for receiving the milk of lime slurry, means for creating turbulence inside the tank to promote grit settling, a launder for collecting milk of lime slurry from an upper portion of the settling tank and directing milk of lime slurry to an outlet, and an auger for transporting settled grit from the lower portion of the settling tank and discharging the settled grit.