Movable Proximity Nozzle for Filter Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration systems face difficulties in effectively cleaning filtration screens, particularly those with small hole sizes, due to the accumulation of trapped suspended solids and organic matter, which often requires high forces that can cause frictional wear and tear, and existing nozzle designs lack the ability to adjust proximity to the screen effectively.
Innovation Solution
A suction nozzle assembly with a deformable housing, such as a bellows, that couples the nozzle to a tube and includes pressure-equalizing apertures to maintain a consistent force and reduce pressure differences, allowing the nozzle to move closer to the filtration screen while minimizing retraction and friction, and a movement actuator to cover at least 50% of the screen's surface with a gap of 5 mm or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high forces are applied to remove trapped suspended solids from the filtration screen, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but frictional wear and tear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is made movable relative to the filtration screen through a deformable housing (bellows) that allows dynamic adjustment of the nozzle-screen distance. This dynamic positioning enables effective cleaning at varying distances without requiring excessively high forces, thereby reducing frictional wear while maintaining cleaning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of nozzle-to-screen distance dynamically through the deformable housing. By adjusting this distance parameter, the cleaning effectiveness is optimized without applying excessive force, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and wear reduction.
2Device complexity
If the nozzle is fixed at a preset distance from the filtration screen, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is made flexible using a bellows structure that can deform to change the nozzle's distance from the filtration screen. This flexible design provides movement capability without complex mechanical positioning systems, maintaining simplicity while improving cleaning effectiveness through variable distance adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed nozzle position is replaced with a dynamic positioning system using a deformable housing. This allows the nozzle to adapt its distance from the screen based on cleaning needs, significantly improving cleaning effectiveness without requiring complex actuation mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the nozzle moves closer to the filtration screen, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but pressure differences cause nozzle retraction
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows housing acts as an intermediary element between the nozzle and the fixed tube structure. It absorbs and compensates for pressure differences that would otherwise cause nozzle retraction, allowing the nozzle to maintain its position close to the filtration screen during backwash operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable housing provides beforehand cushioning against pressure-induced retraction forces. By designing the housing to be deformable, the system anticipates and compensates for pressure differences before they cause problematic nozzle movement, ensuring stable positioning during cleaning.
4Quantity of substance
If organic matter accumulates on the filtration screen, then filtration capacity is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic positioning capability allows the nozzle to adjust its distance from the screen, enabling effective removal of accumulated organic matter through controlled proximity cleaning without requiring excessive force that would cause wear.
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 cleaning with low frictional forces, reducing maintenance needs and power requirements, allowing the nozzle to operate effectively across varying screen geometries and pressures, and prevents clogging by maintaining a consistent force and reducing pressure differences, thus enhancing the filtration system's efficiency and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element which couples the nozzle to a proximal side of the tube; and a deformable housing which bridges a gap between the proximal side of the tube and the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
allowing the nozzle to move closer to the filtration screen while minimizing retraction and friction
Implementation Method 3
at least one pressure-equalizing aperture formed in one or both of the nozzle and the housing and providing fluid communication between the gap and an outside of the nozzle assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A suction nozzle assembly, comprising a tube coupled to a pressure sink at a distal side thereof, a nozzle, a resilient element which couples said nozzle to a proximal side of said tube and a deformable housing which bridges a gap between said proximal side of said tube and said nozzle. Optionally, a pressure equalizer, for example, a through aperture, is formed in said nozzle.