Peristaltic Grid Conveyor for Uniform Filter Cake Drying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drying apparatuses face inefficiencies when dealing with high-water-content filter cakes, including uneven spreading, blockage of filter meshes, incomplete exposure to heat sources, and heat loss through open discharging ports, leading to low evaporation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A drying apparatus utilizing peristaltic propelling with movable grids and alternating stacking to create gaps, combined with horizontal heat source introduction and sealed ports, enhances material flipping and evaporation area, ensuring uniform drying and reduced heat loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a net belt is used for material delivery, then the structure is simple, but the filter cake cannot be evenly spread and blocks filter meshes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidevenness of spreading
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The net belt is divided into multiple grid modules that can independently move and adjust. Each grid segment can flexibly adapt to material distribution, preventing blockage while maintaining structural simplicity. The segmented design allows gaps between grids to facilitate material spreading without requiring complex continuous surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grid modules are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment during the drying process. This enables the structure to adapt to varying material loads and maintain optimal spreading characteristics throughout operation, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and even spreading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the filter cake shape is maintained during delivery, then structural integrity is preserved, but water removal efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape stabilityVSAvoidwater removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The grid modules incorporate vibration mechanisms that periodically disturb the filter cake during transport. This vibration prevents the cake from maintaining a static shape, promoting internal water movement toward the surface for more efficient evaporation while the overall structural integrity is maintained through controlled mechanical action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Device complexity

If heat source only rises vertically from bottom, then heating structure is simple, but evaporation efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating structure simplicityVSAvoidevaporation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system transitions from purely vertical heat rise to multi-directional heat distribution. Heat sources are positioned to provide both vertical and horizontal heating components, creating a three-dimensional heat field that increases the effective evaporation surface area and efficiency without significantly complicating the overall heating structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of operation

If open discharging port is used, then material discharge is simple, but heat loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial discharge simplicityVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The discharging port is equipped with flexible sealing elements or curtains that can dynamically open and close. During normal operation, the port remains sealed to prevent heat loss, while during discharge cycles, the flexible seal opens to allow material egress. This maintains operational simplicity while dramatically reducing thermal energy loss through the discharge opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 efficient drying of high-moisture materials by maintaining air fluidity, increasing evaporation area, and minimizing heat loss, thereby improving drying efficiency and suitability for materials with high water content.

Implementation Method 1

a heat output point of the heat supply module is arranged at the heat source inlet and is configured to provide a heat source for the drying chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the material too be dried is repeatedly flipped to enable peristaltic propelling and keep the gap unobstructed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3964781B1Peristaltic propulsive drying apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 AMCON FUJIAN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION EQUIP CO LTD
  • EP3964781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3964781B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3964781B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A drying apparatus based on peristaltic propelling, including a heat supply module, a drying chamber and a conveying device. The conveying device is arranged in the drying chamber. The drying chamber is provided with a heat source inlet, a heat source outlet, a feeding port and a discharging port. A heat output point of the heat supply module is arranged at the heat source inlet and is configured to provide heat to the drying chamber. The conveying device is configured to provide a platform for laying and propelling a material. The conveying device includes a platform formed by alternate stacking of at least two grid groups. A gap is provided between two adjacent grids. The gap is kept unobstructed and the material is flipped when the material is propelled forward. The gap formed between the adjacent movable grids facilitates improving the fluidity of the air, enhancing the drying efficiency.