Liquid-Liquid Extractor With Angled Perforated Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior liquid-liquid extraction apparatuses suffer from inefficiencies due to insufficient agitation, complex and costly construction, and maintenance challenges, often requiring large columns with unreliable drive mechanisms and inefficient liquid flow.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-liquid extraction apparatus with a shaft and perforated plates mounted at a non-zero angle, rotating within a cylindrical container, which agitates the mixture into uniform droplets for efficient mass transfer and solvent extraction, using a simpler and more cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If prior art extraction columns are made large to provide sufficient height for efficient liquid extraction, then extraction efficiency is improved, but equipment size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs rotating plates that dynamically move within the column to enhance liquid-liquid contact and mass transfer. This dynamic agitation mechanism increases extraction efficiency without requiring a larger column height, as the rotating plates create continuous mixing and redistribution of liquid phases throughout the extraction zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by introducing rotation speed and plate angle as controllable variables. By optimizing the rotation speed and plate inclination angle, the system achieves enhanced mass transfer coefficients and improved extraction efficiency within a compact column configuration, avoiding the need for increased column size.
2Productivity
If prior art devices use complex construction to provide sufficient agitation, then mass transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The agitation function is segmented into multiple rotating plates with perforations, each contributing to liquid distribution and mixing. This segmentation allows for efficient mass transfer through distributed contact points while keeping each individual plate simple in design, avoiding the need for a single complex agitation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating plates are designed to self-distribute liquid through their perforations and self-agitate the liquid phases through their rotation. The system utilizes the flow of liquid itself to drive the rotation and achieve mixing, reducing the need for additional complex mechanical agitation components and simplifying the overall construction.
3Ease of operation
If prior art drive mechanisms are located high in the air and at the top of the column, then operational space is optimized, but maintenance difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is extracted from its traditional high-location position and relocated to a more accessible position. This allows the drive to be positioned at ground level or at a convenient height, maintaining operational effectiveness while enabling easy access for maintenance and repair activities without requiring workers to access elevated or confined spaces.
4Productivity
If prior art columns use rotating paddle blades to force materials laterally, then mixing is achieved, but column girth and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using lateral forcing with paddle blades that require large column girth, the invention introduces a vertical dimension to the mixing process through rotating plates. The plates create vertical and radial fluid motion patterns that achieve effective mixing within a compact column diameter, utilizing three-dimensional flow patterns rather than simple lateral pushing.
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 apparatus achieves higher efficiency in liquid-liquid extraction with reduced equipment size and complexity, ensuring effective component transfer and longer component lifespan with easier maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The plates are rotated, the angle of such plates thereby agitating the aggregate mixture into a uniform distribution of small droplets and allowing for the solvent to more efficiently extract the desirable component of the compound through mass transfer
Implementation Method 2
agitating the aggregate mixture into a uniform distribution of small droplets
Implementation Method 3
The additional liquid, often a solvent, is appropriately selected such that it preferentially adheres to the desired liquid in the initial mixture and such that it is insoluble with the initial mixture
Implementation Method 4
the aggregate mixture stratifies into two distinct liquid phases or layers, such as oil and water, when it is not agitated
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for extracting compounds from mixtures based on their relative solubilities in different solvents. The mixture can be introduced into a cylindrical container in which the mixture is agitated as it flows past a plurality of plates mounted along a shaft. At least one plate is arranged at a nonzero angle with respect to a plane normal to the shaft and features a plurality of perforations. Agitation by the plates breaks the mixture into small, evenly dispersed droplets and a solvent is introduced into the container to extract the desirable compound and thus separate it from the undesirable compounds.