Horizontal Plate Filter Helix Flow Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The duration of the drying and ventilation phases in horizontal plate filters is prolonged due to inefficient air displacement and turbulence during the filling process, which affects the formation of the filter cake and reduces the overall filter performance.

Innovation Solution

A flow control system is introduced in the ventilation duct, creating a helix-shaped flow that separates air from liquid, allowing for immediate discharge of air through a dedicated outlet, reducing the need for a liquid/gas mixture to be displaced, and enhancing degassing by creating a negative pressure zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the ventilation duct is provided with a flow control system to create helix-shaped flow and separate air from liquid, then the ventilation phase duration is significantly shortened, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation phase durationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation duct is segmented into multiple sections with flow control devices positioned at different locations. These devices divide the flow path into distinct zones (inlet section, transition section, outlet section) that handle different flow characteristics separately, enabling efficient air-liquid separation while managing complexity through modular segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flow control devices act as intermediary elements between the connecting ducts and the ventilation duct. These intermediaries (flow control devices) modify the flow characteristics by creating helix-shaped flow patterns, enabling smooth transition from connecting ducts to the ventilation duct while facilitating air-liquid separation without direct connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If compressed air is applied via aeration and ventilation ducts to blow dry the filter cake, then the drying process can be performed, but the drying phase duration becomes significant and reduces filter readiness time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying process capabilityVSAvoiddrying phase duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flow control system is designed to create helix-shaped flow patterns that promote air-liquid separation before the actual drying process begins. By pre-establishing this flow pattern in the ventilation duct, the system prepares the flow path to efficiently separate air from liquid during the drying phase, reducing the overall drying time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes pneumatic principles by applying compressed air through the aeration and ventilation ducts to blow dry the filter cake. The flow control devices optimize this pneumatic action by creating helix-shaped flow that enhances air penetration and contact with the filter cake, improving drying efficiency and reducing the time required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If dirty liquid and air are displaced through connecting channels into the aeration and ventilation channel, then venting can occur, but the available channel cross-section is filled with displaced dirty liquid preventing quick air escape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing capabilityVSAvoidventing phase duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flow control devices create helix-shaped (curved) flow paths instead of straight flow channels. This curvature causes the flow to follow a spiral path along the duct wall, which prevents direct filling of the channel cross-section with liquid and allows air to escape more quickly through the curved flow pattern that promotes separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow control devices transform the flow from a two-dimensional channel filling to a three-dimensional helix-shaped flow pattern. By introducing this dimensional change (curved path along the duct wall), the system creates a free lumen in the central region where air can escape independently of the liquid flow, adding a third dimension to the flow management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution significantly shortens the ventilation phase, allowing for quicker transition to the operating phase, thereby increasing filter performance and reducing downtime.

Implementation Method 1

A flow control system is introduced in the ventilation duct, creating a helix-shaped flow that separates air from liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

enhancing degassing by creating a negative pressure zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

due to the increasing filling of the filter plate stack from below - a compression of the air that increases steadily upwards with the result that during the filling process in the filter chambers increasing Form turbulences

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2361662B1Horizontal plate filter
Publication Date: 2012.03.14 ACHENBACH BUSCHHITTEN GMBH
  • EP2361662B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2361662B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2361662B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The horizontal plate filter has filter plates (12) arranged in a detachably connected manner on each other to filter plates stack in a rack, attachment pieces arranged on opposite lying sides and through holes which form input channel (21) on inflow side and output channel (22) on outlet side. A flow control system is provided which comprises multiple flow control devices attached to connection channels for forming a hollow cylindrical flow body radially defined by a channel wall. The flow control devices are designed in such a way that the ventilations are deflected in a wall flow.