Orbital Rotor Drying Plate for Slurry Thickening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical thickening devices for water-containing mixtures, such as slurry and industrial effluents, face issues with high wear and maintenance due to the mixture's corrosive nature, leading to frequent component damage and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a rotor with plate-shaped entraining elements that move along a closed orbital path, where only these elements come into contact with the mixture, reducing downtime and allowing for a larger number of elements and increased drying surface, utilizing ventilation for enhanced drying with a heated air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conveyor belts and mechanical components are used for thickening water-containing mixtures, then mechanical thickening efficiency is improved, but component wear and damage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is segmented into multiple plate-shaped elements that can be individually replaced. Instead of a single complex mechanical structure, the system uses many simple, identical plates that process the mixture in sequence, reducing the impact of damage to any single component
Solution Approach 2:
The plate-shaped elements are designed as simple, inexpensive components that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. Their simple geometry and material requirements make them far cheaper and easier to replace than conventional conveyor belts or mechanical thickening components
2Productivity
If a larger number of plate-shaped entraining elements are provided, then drying surface area increases and processing speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple plate-shaped elements are merged into a single rotating rotor assembly. The plates are arranged radially and rotate together as one unit, combining many drying surfaces into a single mechanical component that simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining large total drying area
Solution Approach 2:
The drying surface is extended from a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional rotating structure. The plates are arranged radially around the rotation axis, creating drying surfaces at multiple radii and angles, which increases total drying area without proportionally increasing device footprint
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 configuration minimizes downtime and enables faster thickening and drying of large volumes by maintaining the plate-shaped elements' integrity and creating a substantial drying surface, reducing maintenance and processing costs.
Implementation Method 1
plate-shaped entraining elements (3) which are designed to entrain the mixture to be dried from the first part to the second part
Implementation Method 2
plate-shaped entraining elements come into contact with the water-containing mixture
Implementation Method 3
ventilation means for generating an air flow directed at the device in order to dry the entrained mixture during the second part of its orbital path
Implementation Method 4
the generated air flow is heated. Preferably, the temperature of the generated air flow is between 20 and 130°C
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for drying a water-containing mixture comprising at least one body (2) which can be moved along a closed orbital path and is situated in the mixture during a first part of the orbital path and is situated outside the mixture during a second part of the orbital path, said body (2) comprising a number of plate-shaped entraining elements (3) which are designed in such a manner that they entrain part of the mixture. By means of such a device, a large drying surface is created, as a result of which mixtures can dry and thus thicken much more quickly.