Pneumatic Water Purification Suction Slit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing oil and impurities from water surfaces, such as rotating brushes and suction pipes, often result in significant water contamination, making further processing costly and inefficient, especially when dealing with thin layers or low oil concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A suction device with a vertically narrow and horizontally wide suction slit, combined with an underwater control surface and an air jet, allows for the removal of surface impurities without direct mechanical contact or mixing with water, using a pneumatic injector pipe and air knife to guide impurities into the suction slit while preventing water from entering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rotating brushes or skimmers are used to remove oil from water surface, then the removal speed is improved, but the water content in collected fluid increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact systems (rotating brushes, skimmers) with a pneumatic system. Air is introduced through a diffuser plate to create bubbles that rise through the water, carrying oil impurities to the surface where they are removed by a skimmer. This substitution eliminates the mechanical mixing that causes water to be entrained in the collected oil, thereby reducing water content in the collected fluid while maintaining effective oil removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by introducing compressed air through a diffuser plate positioned near the water surface. The air bubbles rise through the water column, creating upward flow that carries oil impurities to the surface. This pneumatic mechanism enables oil removal without the mechanical contact that causes water entrainment, thus improving oil removal efficiency while minimizing water content in the collected fluid.
2Productivity
If suction pipe head is inserted into water to remove impurities, then the removal efficiency is improved, but more water enters the suction pipe along with impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical suction (which requires inserting the pipe into water) with a pneumatic lifting system. Air bubbles rise through the water, carrying oil impurities to the surface where a skimmer removes them. This eliminates the need for submerging a suction pipe, thereby preventing water from being drawn into the collection system along with the oil impurities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air bubbles as an intermediary medium between the water and the oil impurities. The bubbles attach to the oil droplets and carry them upward to the surface, where a skimmer collects the oil-air mixture. This intermediary mechanism enables impurity removal without direct suction of water, thus maintaining high removal efficiency while minimizing water content in the collected fluid.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical devices contact water surface impurities, then the removal capability is improved, but the impurities mix with water making further processing more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact devices (brushes, skimmers that physically touch the water surface) with a pneumatic system. Air bubbles rise through the water, carrying oil impurities to the surface where they are collected. This substitution removes the mechanical mixing action that causes water to be incorporated into the collected impurities, thereby enabling versatile impurity removal while minimizing water content for more economical further processing.
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 method enables precise separation of thin oil layers and membranes with minimal water contamination, reducing processing expenses and maintaining efficient water circulation in industrial processes.
Implementation Method 1
below the suction slit, suitably supported by the sheath, is an underwater control surface uniformly rising from the horizontal upwards either linearly or curvilinearly towards the suction slit, along which the air flow directed towards the suction slit pulls along with it impurities on the surface of the water
Implementation Method 2
the suction of the suction device does not directly focus on the impurity to be removed, instead by focussing the suction as horizontal in the plane of the surface of the water the air above the impurities is made to move and, along with it, the impurities
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The object of the invention is a purification device and a corresponding method for removing impurities from the surface of the water. The purification device has a suction device (2) with a suction canal (1). A vertical sheath forming a suction canal (1) according to the invention has a vertically narrow and horizontally wide suction slit (3), which is above the surface (4) of the water to be processed. Further, below the suction slit (3), the sheath has an underwater control surface (5) uniformly rising from the horizontal upwards towards the suction slit, along which control surface the air flow directed into the suction slit (3) pulls the impurities on the surface of the water (4) along with it.