Anaerobic Digester Mixer Support Assembly Gas-Tight Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anaerobic digester systems with integrated floating mixers and covers face challenges in preventing excessive air intake during vacuum operation, which introduces oxygen into the reaction, and require easy disconnection for maintenance, while maintaining a gas-tight seal to contain biogas effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mixer support assembly with a float ring and clamping arrangement that includes a support body, float ring, and adjustment bolts to securely attach the mixer to the cover, ensuring a gas-tight connection and allowing for easy removal of the mixer support body for maintenance, while minimizing oxygen introduction and maintaining biogas containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the floating mixer is integrated with the cover and vacuum is applied under the cover, then biogas containment is improved, but excessive air is drawn through the floating mixer connection introducing oxygen into the reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the floating mixer and cover is segmented into a removable coupling mechanism with separate sealing components. This allows the connection to maintain gas-tight integrity during operation while enabling disconnection for maintenance, preventing air leakage that would introduce oxygen into the anaerobic reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated sealing interface acts as an intermediary between the floating mixer and cover. This sealing mechanism ensures gas-tight connection during vacuum operation to prevent air ingress, while the removable coupling design allows the seal to be maintained during operation and replaced during maintenance without permanent attachment.
2Reliability
If the floating mixer is permanently attached to the cover, then gas-tight seal is maintained, but the mixer is difficult to disconnect for repair and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into separable coupling components between the floating mixer and cover. These segmented parts include a removable connection mechanism that maintains gas-tight sealing during operation but can be easily disconnected for maintenance, eliminating the need for permanent attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable coupling. The coupling mechanism allows the floating mixer to be securely attached during operation to maintain sealing, while enabling easy disconnection for repair and replacement, adapting the connection state based on operational vs. maintenance modes.
3Ease of repair
If a removable connection is used between the floating mixer and cover, then ease of maintenance is improved, but gas-tight seal integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The removable connection is segmented into separate coupling components with integrated sealing elements. This segmentation allows the connection to be easily disconnected for maintenance while maintaining gas-tight integrity during operation through the sealed interface between components.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing interface serves as an intermediary between the removable floating mixer and cover. This intermediary sealing mechanism ensures that even though the connection is removable, gas-tight integrity is maintained during operation, preventing air leakage while allowing easy disconnection for maintenance.
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 provides a substantially gas-tight enclosure, reduces oxygen introduction, and facilitates easy maintenance by allowing selective removal of the mixer support assembly, enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of anaerobic digester systems.
Implementation Method 1
a float ring (42) surrounding the support body (40) and supporting the support body (40) in an axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A mixer support assembly for use in an integrated cover and mixer apparatus and anaerobic digester system incorporating same provided. The digester system includes a tank with an integrated cover and mixer apparatus which provides a completely or substantially gas tight enclosure for the collection of biogas. The integrated cover and mixer apparatus includes a cover, a mixer, and a mixer support assembly for supporting the mixer. The mixer support assembly includes a float ring and a support body that is selectively removable from the float ring. The support body is attached to the float ring by way of a clamping arrangement.