Hydroclone Inlet Flow Shield Protects Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cyclonic separation in hydroclones can lead to accelerated wear or fouling of membranes used in cross-flow filtration, especially when dealing with feed fluids having high solids content, which affects separation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The hydroclone design incorporates a filter assembly with a cylindrical outer membrane surface and a cleaning assembly, along with an inlet flow shield to protect the membrane from direct fluid impact, and uses a vortex flow barrier to maintain efficient fluid flow and separation, combining cyclonic separation with cross-flow filtration to prevent excessive wear and fouling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cross-flow filtration is combined with cyclonic separation to improve separation efficiency, then separation efficiency is improved, but membrane wear and fouling accelerate
Solution Approach 1:
A flow diversion member is introduced as an intermediary component between the inlet and the membrane surface. This member redirects the high-velocity feed stream away from the membrane, allowing the membrane to process only the lower-velocity cross-flow portion while maintaining effective separation. The flow diversion member mediates between the cyclonic vortex flow and the filtration function, protecting the membrane from direct impact of solids-laden high-velocity stream.
2Productivity
If high feed flow velocities are used to create vortex for cyclonic separation, then separation performance improves, but membrane wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into two distinct zones: a high-velocity vortex region for cyclonic separation and a lower-velocity region for filtration. The flow diversion member creates this segmentation by splitting the inlet stream, allowing the vortex region to operate at high speeds for effective separation while the filtration zone operates at lower speeds to minimize membrane wear.
3Adaptability or versatility
If feed fluid with high solids content is processed, then application versatility improves, but fouling of membrane accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow diversion member serves as a protective intermediary that prevents solids-rich high-velocity feed fluid from directly contacting the membrane surface. By redirecting this harsh stream away from the membrane, the system can process high solids content fluids with reduced fouling, thereby maintaining application versatility across challenging feed streams.
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 design enhances separation efficiency and reduces membrane wear, allowing for broader application in recycling and reusing process fluids, while maintaining vortex flow and preventing fouling, thus improving the overall performance of hydroclone systems.
Implementation Method 1
Vortex flow is generated in a hydroclone to separate suspended particles from liquid
Implementation Method 2
a filter assembly (26) located within the chamber (24) and has a cylindrical outer membrane surface (44)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
A hydroclone (10) including a tank (12) with a fluid inlet (14), a filtered fluid outlet (16), an effluent outlet (18), a process fluid outlet (20) and a chamber (24) including an inner peripheral wall (22) centered about a central axis (X). The hydroclone further includes: i) a filter assembly (26) located within the chamber (24) which has an outer membrane surface (44) symmetrically located about the central axis (X) and encloses a filtrate chamber (46) that is in fluid communication with the filtered fluid outlet (16), and ii) a cleaning assembly (50) concentrically located and rotatably engaged about the membrane surface (44). A fluid pathway (28) extends from the fluid inlet (14) and defines a vortex region (25) between the inner peripheral wall (22) of the chamber (24) and the membrane surface (44) and is adapted for receiving incoming fluid. An inlet flow shield (58) is concentrically located about the filter assembly (26) and is adapted to block at least a portion of fluid flowing into the chamber (24) from the fluid inlet (14) from impacting the membrane surface (44).