Removable Underdrain Septa and Movable Spray Nozzle for Media Vessel Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing water treatment systems face challenges in efficiently cleaning the media vessels, particularly the annuli around the septa in external header underdrain systems, which can lead to trace amounts of exhausted media being retained, causing treated water to fail to meet treatment standards, and require hazardous confined-space entries for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of removable pipe sections between the external header and the vessel allows for the septa to be removed and cleaned externally without lowering the header, and a movable cleaning mechanism enables targeted interior cleaning, reducing the need for confined-space entries and improving safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed spray nozzle is used at the top center of the vessel, then the cleaning mechanism is simple, but it cannot effectively clean the annuli around the septa and interior surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed spray nozzle into a movable cleaning mechanism that can be positioned and oriented to target specific areas. The mechanism includes a movable platform with spray nozzles that can be lowered into the vessel and positioned adjacent to interior surfaces, allowing dynamic adjustment of cleaning location and angle to effectively clean annuli around septa and other hard-to-reach areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a movable platform as an intermediary between the fixed spray nozzle system and the vessel interior surfaces. This platform carries spray nozzles close to the surfaces being cleaned, acting as a mediator that delivers cleaning fluid directly to target areas including annuli around septa, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness without requiring complete system redesign.
2Manufacturing precision
If a worker enters the vessel to perform maintenance and cleaning, then thorough cleaning can be achieved, but safety risks and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the cleaning system to serve itself by providing automated positioning and spraying capabilities that do not require human entry into the vessel. The movable platform can be lowered, positioned, and operated remotely or automatically, allowing the system to perform thorough cleaning of interior surfaces and annuli without exposing workers to confined space hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical action of manual cleaning by workers with an automated movable cleaning mechanism. The system uses a movable platform with spray nozzles that can be positioned and operated without human entry, substituting the mechanical labor of workers with an automated mechanical system that maintains cleaning thoroughness while eliminating safety risks associated with confined space entry.
3Ease of repair
If the external header is lowered to access septa for cleaning, then maintenance can be performed, but system complexity and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning function from the header assembly by providing a separate movable cleaning platform that can access the vessel interior independently. This allows the header to remain in place while the cleaning mechanism is lowered and positioned adjacent to the septa, enabling maintenance without requiring header removal or lowering, thereby reducing maintenance time and procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary positioning of the movable cleaning platform before maintenance operations. The platform can be lowered and positioned adjacent to the septa in advance, allowing cleaning to begin immediately without requiring header manipulation. This preliminary setup eliminates time-consuming header lowering and reassembly operations.
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 allows for effective cleaning of the annuli and vessel interior without hazardous entries, ensuring treated water meets stringent standards and reducing maintenance costs and risks.
Implementation Method 1
water is released from a spray nozzle at the top of the tank to rinse and wash the interior of the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
An underdrain system for a media pressure vessel has a set of removable pipe sections located between an external header and the bottom of a vessel. Septa extend upwards from the removable pipe sections into the vessel. The header is attached to the bottoms of the removable pipe sections. To clean the vessel, the pipe sections are removed. While a pipe section is removed, its associated septum is removed so that solids can be removed from the annulus between the septum and the vessel. In this way, media can be cleaned from the annuli without moving the external header or entering the vessel. A cleaning mechanism includes an elongated member with a spray nozzle that may be moved within the vessel. The cleaning mechanism may be used to removed media adhered to the walls of the vessel, for example while the septa are removed.