Hydrocyclone Layout With Shared Feed for Uniform Fiber Suspension Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydrocyclone arrangements face challenges in designing compact and efficient systems for cleaning fibrous suspensions due to issues with inlet and outlet routing, especially when replacing individual hydrocyclones, and require improved distribution of fiber suspension to multiple hydrocyclone chambers.

Innovation Solution

A hydrocyclone arrangement with a common inlet chamber connected to individual hydrocyclone chambers via separate inlet channels and a common discharge chamber, featuring separate outlet lines for light parts, ensuring homogeneous distribution and a compact design, utilizing guide elements for optimal fiber suspension flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple small hydrocyclones are combined to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to routing problems of inlets and outlets

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidrouting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple hydrocyclone chambers into a single unit with a common inlet chamber and common outlet chamber, combining the functionality of multiple individual hydrocyclones while simplifying the overall structure. This allows multiple hydrocyclones to operate simultaneously (increasing throughput) while sharing common connection points (reducing routing complexity).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common inlet chamber and common outlet chamber serve multiple functions: they act as connection points for all hydrocyclone chambers, provide homogeneous distribution of fibrous suspension to all inlets, and collect light parts from all outlets before discharge. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate routing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the diameter of hydrocyclone chamber is reduced to improve efficiency, then separation efficiency is improved, but throughput per hydrocyclone decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidthroughput per hydrocyclone
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple small efficient hydrocyclone chambers into a single unit, allowing the system to achieve high throughput by operating multiple chambers simultaneously while maintaining the high separation efficiency of small-diameter chambers. The common inlet and outlet chambers enable coordinated operation of all chambers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If separate outlet lines are used for each hydrocyclone chamber, then homogeneous distribution of fiber suspension is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneous distributionVSAvoidnumber of connections
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The common outlet chamber serves as a universal collection point for light parts from all hydrocyclone chambers, eliminating the need for separate outlet lines for each chamber. This reduces the number of connections while maintaining homogeneous distribution through the common inlet chamber's annular flow pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables efficient and space-saving purification of fibrous suspensions by ensuring uniform distribution of the suspension to multiple hydrocyclones, enhancing the separation efficiency and allowing for the replacement of individual hydrocyclones in limited spaces.

Implementation Method 1

Hydrocyclones are well suited to concentrate heavy and light particles in fibrous suspensions using centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The hydrocyclone chamber should be conical, at least in sections, with the diameter decreasing towards the separator. This reduction in diameter increases the rotational speed and thus the centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

This creates an annular flow within the feed chamber that sweeps across all inlet channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnular flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3541527B1Hydrocyclone arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 VOITH PATENT GMBH
  • EP3541527B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3541527B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydrocyclone arrangement for cleaning a fiber suspension having a plurality of hydrocyclone chambers (1) of circular cross-section, into which an inlet and a light particle outlet opens on one end and a heavy particle separator opens on the opposite end, wherein the inlets are connected to a common inflow (5) via a common inflow chamber (4). According to the invention, the design is simplified in that the light particle outlets are connected to a common outlet (8) via separate outlet lines (6), which lead through the common inflow chamber (4).