Press Screw Separator Single Drive Sieve Basket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing press screw separators require increased equipment expenditure due to the need for separate drives for the screw arrangement and sieve basket, which also necessitates interrupting operations for cleaning, leading to inefficiencies in both operation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A press screw separator design where the sieve basket is driven by a single drive that can rotate for cleaning, eliminating the need for a separate drive for the screw arrangement and allowing continuous operation, with a focus on a vertically aligned configuration for improved drainage and simplified maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw arrangement is driven separately from the sieve basket, then the screw arrangement can effectively separate solids from slurry, but the equipment expenditure increases due to requiring multiple drives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive functions by making the sieve basket the driven element while the screw arrangement remains stationary. The sieve basket drive simultaneously achieves both the separation function (by rotating the basket while solids are conveyed upward by the stationary screw) and eliminates the need for a separate screw drive, thus reducing equipment complexity while maintaining separation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive for the sieve basket performs multiple functions: it rotates the basket during operation for separation, and can be stopped to allow washing nozzles to clean the basket exterior. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drives for operation and cleaning, reducing overall device complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If the sieve basket is rotated for cleaning with washing nozzles, then the exterior of the sieve basket can be cleaned, but the operation must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between operation mode (sieve basket rotates, solids are separated) and cleaning mode (sieve basket stationary, washing nozzles clean the exterior). This periodic switching allows effective cleaning while minimizing operational interruptions, as the cleaning cycles are brief compared to the continuous operation cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational states: during normal operation, the sieve basket rotates to perform separation; during cleaning, the rotation stops and washing nozzles are activated. This dynamic state change allows the same single drive mechanism to serve both operational and cleaning functions without requiring separate dedicated mechanisms
3Reliability
If multiple drives are used for screw arrangement and sieve basket, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the drive functions into a single sieve basket drive, the patent reduces the number of drive mechanisms from two (one for screw, one for basket) to one (for basket only). This reduction directly decreases maintenance complexity while the stationary screw arrangement maintains its separation optimization through its fixed, gravity-assisted configuration
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 design reduces equipment costs and allows for continuous operation during cleaning, enhancing efficiency and reducing maintenance complexity by using a single drive for both operation and cleaning, while improving drainage and solid separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
conveying the slurry upwards against the force of gravity
Implementation Method 2
seal (9) which prevents the liquid from flowing downwards
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a press screw separator for separating solid components from a slurry comprising solid and liquid components, such as wastewater from municipal, industrial or agricultural operations, liquid manures et cetera, having a substantially cylindrically shaped screw assembly (2) comprising at least one screw coil (3), a substantially cylindrically shaped sieve basket (4) enclosing the screw assembly (2), a ring chamber formed between the inside of the sieve basket (4) and the screw assembly (2), a supply (7) for the slurry, a drain (8) for the watery components of the slurry, a solids outlet (20) for the solid components of the slurry, and a drive (13, 14, 15). In order to reduce the technical complexity of such a press screw separator, according to the invention the drive (13, 14, 15) drives the sieve basket (4) and rotates around the fixed screw assembly (2).