Rib Body Inlet Distributor for Milk Separator Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separators used for sterilizing milk face inefficiencies due to pressure increases from partial emptying, tank switching, and increased air content, which can lead to reduced sterilization efficiency and germ transport to the peeling disc.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a ribbed body with curved, blade-like design in the inlet area of the separator, which reduces inlet pressure and increases inlet capacity, ensuring a gentle product feed and minimizing deposit formation, while maintaining uniform venting even with high air content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a conventional inlet design is used, then the structure is simple, but inlet pressure increases and inlet capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved, blade-like ribs with specific curvatures in all spatial directions to the inlet distributor. These curved surfaces guide the fluid flow more efficiently, reducing pressure losses and increasing inlet capacity while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet distributor is segmented into multiple blade-like ribs that are distributed around the inlet area. This segmentation allows each rib to independently guide flow in its local region, collectively achieving uniform pressure distribution and enhanced overall inlet capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the inlet pressure is reduced, then the product feed becomes more gentle, but the feed rate may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The curved blade-like ribs create a gentler flow path that reduces turbulence and shock during product feed, while the optimized curvature geometry maintains high flow velocity and feed rate simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the curvature parameters and spatial orientation of the ribs to achieve the right balance between gentle feed (reduced pressure) and high feed rate (maintained flow capacity).
3Ease of manufacture
If the inlet area structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but deposit formation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved blade-like ribs eliminate sharp corners and stagnant zones in the inlet area, creating smooth flow paths that prevent deposit formation. The continuous curved surfaces are easy to manufacture while effectively reducing contamination risk.
4Reliability
If uniform venting is achieved with high air content, then sterilization efficiency is maintained, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented rib structure distributes venting uniformly across the inlet area, handling high air content effectively while keeping the overall system design simple and manufacturable.
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 inlet pressure, increases feed rate, and minimizes the risk of deposits, achieving a more efficient and consistent sterilization process.
Implementation Method 1
the ribs are curved with a blade-like design with curvatures in all spatial directions as long as there is an acceleration effect in the circumferential direction
Implementation Method 2
The rib body is easy to assemble. In addition, the inlet pressure can be reduced and the inlet capacity increased
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a separator comprising a centrifugal drum (1) into which a product to be processed, especially milk, can be guided through an admission tube (7) and an admission chamber (12) arranged downstream of the tube and comprising outlets in admission boreholes (8), which lead to a centrifugal chamber in the centrifugal drum (1). A rib (15) is associated with at least one or each outlet (14) from the admission chamber (12) to the admission boreholes (8) of the distributor (5). The separator is characterised in that the ribs (15) are part of a rib body (14) that comprises a plurality of the ribs and a base section (16) connecting the ribs (15) in the peripheral direction.