Regenerative Mixer Vortex Flow Dissolves Polymer Flocculant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dissolving solid polymer flocculants in water require high power and mechanical actions like crushing or grinding, which can break the molecular structure and lead to inefficient flocculation, and also result in a decrease in flocculation effect over time if the solution is not used immediately.
Innovation Solution
A polymer flocculant mixing and dissolving system using a regenerative turbine mixer with a bladed wheel forming a vortex flow to dissolve the flocculant without mechanical action, combined with pressure control to achieve efficient and rapid dissolution using low power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical crushing or grinding is used to dissolve polymer flocculant, then dissolution speed is improved, but power consumption increases and molecular structure may break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical crushing/grinding systems with a regenerative turbine mixer that uses vortex flow and pressure application to dissolve polymer flocculant. The turbine mixer creates intense mixing action through rotational motion that generates vortex patterns, eliminating the need for high-power mechanical impact while achieving rapid dissolution without breaking molecular structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the mixing process by controlling pressure application through a pressure adjusting unit. By regulating pressure within specific ranges and using variable frequency drives to control turbine speed, the system optimizes dissolution conditions to achieve fast dissolution with low power consumption while preserving molecular integrity.
2Loss of time
If mechanical crushing is used to dissolve polymer flocculant, then dissolution time is reduced, but molecular structure breakage occurs leading to deteriorated flocculation action
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerative turbine mixer substitutes high-impact mechanical crushing with gentle vortex flow mixing. The rotational blades create circulating patterns that gradually break down aggregates through shear forces and pressure variations, achieving dissolution in short time while maintaining molecular structure integrity and preserving flocculation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine mixer creates periodic vortex patterns through its rotational motion, repeatedly cycling the polymer flocculant through zones of high and low pressure. This periodic action progressively breaks down undissolved portions without applying continuous high-impact forces that would damage molecular structures.
3Productivity
If pressure control is applied in regenerative mixer, then dissolution efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerative turbine mixer serves multiple functions: it mixes the polymer flocculant, applies pressure control, creates vortex flow, and facilitates dissolution all within a single integrated unit. The pressure adjusting unit and variable frequency drive control the same mixing mechanism, eliminating the need for separate high-power crushing equipment and simplifying the overall system despite adding pressure control capability.
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 system effectively dissolves undissolved polymer flocculants quickly and efficiently using low power, maintaining the molecular structure and ensuring a fresh solution for improved sludge disposal and water treatment processes.
Implementation Method 1
forming a vortex flow of the aqueous solution along an inner circumferential wall of the casing
Implementation Method 2
controls pressure on a discharge side of the regenerative mixer, wherein the pressure adjusting unit has information regarding a pressure set value determined in association with a type of polymer flocculant
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing and dissolving system includes a tank where a polymer flocculant in a solid state is mixed with water, a liquid feed unit for feeding an aqueous solution containing the mixed polymer flocculant from the tank, one regenerative mixer comprising a casing arranged at an intermediate position of a channel for the aqueous solution discharged from the liquid feed unit, and a bladed wheel where grooves are formed in a radial pattern on an outer circumference, and is used to mix and dissolve the polymer flocculant through pressure application by rotating the bladed wheel in the casing and forming a vortex flow of the aqueous solution along an inner circumferential wall of the casing, and an adjusting unit arranged at an intermediate position of a channel for the aqueous solution that has passed through the regenerative mixer, and controls pressure on a discharge side of the regenerative mixer.