Pre-separator Deflecting Gas Flow to Extend Main Separator Life

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing particle separating devices face challenges in maintaining a long service life and efficient operation, particularly in environments where particles like paint overspray are present, as they often require frequent regeneration and are costly to maintain.

Innovation Solution

A separating device with a pre-separator and main separator configuration, where the pre-separator deflects the raw gas flow using rotating radial surface elements with multiple separation surfaces, allowing for continuous operation and regeneration, reducing particle load on the main separator, and utilizing a folded cardboard filter for enhanced separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a pre-separator with rotating separation elements is added upstream of the main separator, then the service life of the main separator is extended and operational costs are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of main separatorVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device is divided into two independent stages: a pre-separator with rotating separation elements for coarse separation, and a main separator for fine separation. This segmentation allows the pre-separator to handle the bulk of particle removal, extending the service life of the main separator while distributing system complexity across modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-separator performs preliminary separation of particles from the raw gas stream before the gas enters the main separator. By removing a significant portion of particles in advance, the main separator experiences reduced wear and contamination, thereby extending its service life and reducing operational costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If a pre-separator is introduced to reduce particle load on the main separator, then operational costs are reduced, but the device complexity and initial investment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational costsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-separator performs preliminary separation of particles from the raw gas stream before the gas enters the main separator. By removing a significant portion of particles in advance, the main separator experiences reduced wear and contamination, thereby extending its service life and reducing operational costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-separator is designed with self-cleaning capability through the rotation of separation elements, where particles are automatically removed from the separation surfaces during continuous rotation. This self-service mechanism reduces maintenance requirements and operational costs without requiring additional complex cleaning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the pre-separator enables continuous operation and regeneration, then productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-separator is designed to operate continuously with rotating separation elements that constantly present fresh separation surfaces to the gas stream. This continuous operation eliminates the need to shut down the main separator for regeneration, maintaining uninterrupted productivity while the rotating mechanism inherently provides self-cleaning functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-separator employs dynamically rotating separation elements instead of static structures. This dynamic design allows the separation surfaces to continuously move through the gas stream, enabling continuous particle separation and automatic self-cleaning during operation, thereby achieving uninterrupted productivity without requiring complex external regeneration systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device effectively extends the service life of the main separator by reducing particle load and enabling continuous operation, while maintaining efficient particle separation and regeneration, thus reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

the separation surfaces of two adjacent separation elements are arranged one behind the other in the main flow direction such that they are successively swept over by the raw gas stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

A separation element is designed to rotate continuously or intermittently about an axis of rotation in order to adjust the separation element between several operating positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 3

a separation surface of the separation element acts as a flow guide element, projecting into the flow path of the raw gas stream, wherein at least one separation surface acting as a flow guide element of two adjacent separation elements jointly cause a deflection of the raw gas stream from the main flow direction, whereby the particles contained in the raw gas stream are separated on the separation surfaces due to inertia

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectParticle separation:

Data Source

PatentEP3268109B1Separating device for separating particles
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 DUERR SYST AG
  • EP3268109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3268109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3268109B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a separating device (4) for separating solid, liquid, and/or pasty particles from a crude gas flow (12) and to a method for separating solid, liquid, and/or pasty particles from a crude gas flow (12) in each case using a main separator which separates at least some of the particles from the crude gas flow (12). According to the invention, a preliminary separator is provided which separates at least some of the particles from the crude gas flow (12), said preliminary separator being arranged upstream of the main separator such that the crude gas flow (12) first flows through the preliminary separator and then through the main separator in the main flow direction (28) The preliminary separator comprises a separating element (14, 15) which is provided for deflecting the crude gas flow (12) and which has a separating surface (15a', 15a'', 15b', 15b'', 15c', 15c'') on which particles can be separated from the crude gas flow (12). Outer contours of two adjacent separating elements (14, 15, 16) intersect, and separating surfaces (15a', 15a'', 15b', 15b'', 15c', 15c'') of two adjacent separating elements (14, 15, 16) are spaced apart. The separating device for separating particles and the method for separating particles are preferably used to clean exhaust air in a paint booth.