Portable Vacuum Two-Stage Separation to Reduce Pressure Loss and Foam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable suction devices face inefficiencies due to pressure losses from sharp air deflections and baffle plates, leading to reduced battery life and foam formation, which complicates liquid separation and results in splashes and atomization, while also requiring a larger design to prevent splash water entry.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage separation system comprising a suction material guide element and a rotary separator, eliminating the need for air deflections and baffle plates, with the suction material guide element dissipatively separating material and the rotary separator further refining the separation, allowing for a compact design and preventing foam formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If baffle plates and air deflectors are used to separate suction material from suction flow, then separation effectiveness is improved, but pressure losses increase leading to reduced efficiency and shorter battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The separation device is divided into multiple functional zones: a first separation zone with a baffle plate for initial separation, and a second separation zone with a centrifugal separator for further separation. This segmented approach allows gradual separation of suction material from the air stream, reducing the need for sharp air deflections and minimizing pressure losses while maintaining effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a centrifugal separator that rotates at high speed to create centrifugal force for separating suction material. This dynamic separation mechanism replaces static sharp air deflectors, allowing material separation through rotational motion rather than abrupt flow direction changes, thereby reducing pressure losses and improving energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If baffle plates are used for separation, then suction material separation is improved, but foam formation increases which prevents proper drainage and causes liquid escape
Solution Approach 1:
The separation process is segmented into two zones: the first zone with a baffle plate provides gentle initial separation that avoids violent air deflections, and the second zone with the centrifugal separator completes the separation. This segmented approach prevents foam formation by avoiding the sharp air deflections that cause liquid aeration and foam generation, while still achieving effective suction material separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal separator acts as an intermediary mechanism between the baffle plate separation and the final collection. It provides a smooth transition zone that prevents foam formation by using centrifugal force rather than sharp air deflections to separate remaining suction material, ensuring proper drainage and preventing liquid escape through ventilation outlets.
3Reliability
If intermediate storage areas are enlarged to prevent suction material escape during pivoting, then liquid containment is improved, but device size increases unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a centrifugal separator that can be rotated to different positions. During normal operation, it is positioned for optimal separation. When the device is pivoted or transported, the separator can be rotated to a transport position that prevents suction material escape without requiring enlarged intermediate storage areas, thereby maintaining compact device dimensions while ensuring liquid containment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of preventing material escape by enlarging storage areas in the horizontal plane, the invention uses the rotational degree of freedom of the centrifugal separator. By rotating the separator to different angular positions, it can effectively contain suction material during pivoting operations without increasing the overall device volume, thus solving the containment problem in a different dimensional approach.
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 solution enhances the efficiency of the suction device, extending battery life, preventing foam and atomization, and maintaining a compact design by effectively separating suction material without pressure losses, ensuring efficient operation and reduced device size.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit (10) for generating a suction flow that has a suction negative pressure at the suction nozzle (4)
Implementation Method 2
the rotary separator (16) which is configured to separate the suction material not separated by the suction material guide element (14) from the air stream
Implementation Method 3
Due to its inertia, the suction material cannot follow the narrow air deflections and runs into the area of the suction material container
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a portable suction device (2) with a suction channel (3) opening into a suction nozzle and with a housing, a container for the collected material, and a suction unit (10) for generating a suction flow that provides a negative pressure at the suction nozzle, and with a separation device (12) that is able to divide the suction flow drawn in via the suction nozzle into an exhaust air flow flowing from the suction device and into collected material in the form of particles and/or fluid components, wherein the separated particles or fluid components are collected in the container for the collected material. The suction devices of this type have the disadvantage that the current design of the separation devices requires more installation space and energy.To solve the technical problem of providing a suction device that offers good separation of suction material, a compact design, and improved efficiency, the invention provides that the separation device (12) is designed with at least two stages, comprising a suction material guide element (14) and a rotary separator (16). The suction material guide element is arranged in the flow direction as a continuation of the suction channel (3) and is configured to partially separate the suction material. The rotary separator is arranged downstream of the suction channel and aligned towards the suction channel in the flow direction and is configured to separate the suction material not separated by the suction material guide element. Under intended use, the suction material guide element constitutes a first stage of separation, and the rotary separator a second stage.