Perimeter Water Supplier for Horizontal Oil Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water supply methods for horizontal centrifuges in the agri-food sector, such as direct water injection into olive paste, lead to excess contact and unwanted emulsions due to pressure, causing aroma loss and inefficiencies in oil separation processes.
Innovation Solution
A perimeter water supplier system that injects water tangentially into the drum, utilizing centrifugal forces to prevent direct contact with the paste, featuring a tubular body with internal ducts and a decompression chamber to distribute water peripherally, forming a screen that separates lower-density particles from higher-density ones, thereby minimizing emulsions and improving separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is injected directly into the olive paste using a direct water jet, then water supply to the paste is achieved, but unwanted emulsions are generated and aroma is lost due to excess contact and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (perimeter water supplier with tubular body and internal ducts) between the water source and the olive paste. This intermediary distributes water perimetrically along the drum wall rather than injecting it directly into the paste core, thereby achieving water supply while minimizing harmful direct contact and emulsion formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies water at different locations with different characteristics - water is supplied perimetrically along the drum wall rather than centrally into the paste. This local distribution approach ensures water contacts the paste gently at the periphery where centrifugal force is lower, avoiding the high-pressure direct injection that causes emulsions in the paste core.
2Reliability
If water is supplied in excess to improve product quality, then separation performance improves, but machine stability is compromised and unnecessary emulsions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter water supplier is designed to be inserted into the rotating drum and rotates with it, maintaining a constant perimetric position relative to the paste flow. This dynamic adaptation ensures consistent water distribution along the drum wall while adapting to varying operational conditions, improving separation performance without compromising stability.
3Device complexity
If direct water injection is used to simplify the water supply system, then device complexity is reduced, but water contact with paste causes washing and loss of material
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into multiple components: a tubular body with multiple internal ducts arranged perimetrically. This segmentation allows water to be distributed through multiple small openings along the drum wall rather than through a single injection point, reducing device complexity while preventing paste washing through controlled perimetric distribution.
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 perimeter water supplier enhances the separation process by reducing unwanted emulsions and aroma loss, improving the quality and yield of the final oil product while maintaining machine stability through controlled water distribution and minimal contact with the paste.
Implementation Method 1
aiding the stability of the machine in the separation process by using the centrifugal forces generated inside the corresponding drum, such that the water is injected in a perimetric manner, entering the inside of the drum and being subjected to centrifugal forces in advance, an inner ring of water particles settling, acting as a screen so that the lower-density particles reach the internal surface of the drum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
This invention is intended to obtain an improvement in the performance of separator machines, and an improvement in the quality of the aromas of the final product. It is made up of a tubular body (1), which functions as an enclosure, which at one of the ends thereof includes an adapter (2) with a flexible hose for the coupling thereof to the feed pipe for the olive paste, while at the opposite end it includes a coupling (4) to the corresponding feed tube of the horizontal separator centrifuge machine, incorporating a water inlet adapter (5) to a reserve chamber (6) internally delimited by a wall with holes (7) which enable water to pass from said reserve chamber (6) to an expansion chamber (8), a water retention and decompression chamber (9) and a solid non-return element (10) being concentrically arranged.