Rotary Annular Crossflow Filter for Three-Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for wastewater treatment, particularly in municipal and industrial settings, face challenges in efficiently separating three phases (gases, liquids, and solids) without the use of heat or chemicals, leading to inefficiencies in waste management, energy consumption, and environmental impact due to slow settlement processes and volatile organic compound emissions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers that continuously separate feed streams into solids, gases, and liquids using high shear radial crossflow filtration, where suspended solids are centrifugated and agglomerated into a thick sludge, gases and light fractions are extracted, and liquids are clarified and degassed, all without chemical pretreatment or filter clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dead end filters are used for wine filtration, then filtration is achieved, but the filters clog and must be cleaned or discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic cross-flow filtration system where the filter medium is continuously moved through the feed stream. This dynamic operation prevents filter clogging by constantly refreshing the filtration surface, allowing continuous operation without cleaning or replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous filtration operation by circulating the filtrate back through the filter medium continuously. This continuous action ensures the filter surface remains clear and functional, eliminating the need for intermittent cleaning or discarding of the filter.
2Reliability
If gravity settlement is used for sulfur dioxide removal, then separation occurs, but the process is slow and requires large footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by circulating the slurry through a closed-loop system with pumps and channels. This mechanical circulation accelerates the separation process dramatically compared to passive gravity settlement, achieving rapid sulfur dioxide removal without requiring large footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the slurry by controlling flow rate, pressure, and residence time in the circulation loop. These parameter adjustments optimize the separation efficiency and speed, enabling rapid processing in a compact footprint.
3Reliability
If chemical pretreatment is used for wastewater treatment, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but environmental impact and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical treatment methods with a purely mechanical circulation and separation system. The mechanical action of circulating slurry through filtered channels physically separates contaminants without requiring chemicals, thereby maintaining treatment effectiveness while eliminating harmful chemical emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-regulating through its closed-loop circulation, where the filtrate automatically returns to the feed stream to maintain optimal conditions. This self-service operation eliminates the need for chemical additives and external intervention, reducing environmental impact.
4Productivity
If volatile organic compounds are emitted during wastewater treatment, then processing occurs, but greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a closed-loop hydraulic circulation system that contains all process fluids within sealed channels and vessels. This closed system prevents the escape of volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, maintaining processing efficiency while eliminating harmful emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a controlled, inert environment within the closed circulation loop where volatile compounds remain trapped. The sealed nature of the system effectively isolates the process from the external environment, preventing greenhouse gas emissions while allowing continuous processing.
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 method enables efficient three-way phase separation in a continuous process, reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and effectively capturing volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases, while producing a thickened sludge and potable water, thus addressing the inefficiencies of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers that continuously separate feed streams into solids, gases, and liquids using high shear radial crossflow filtration
Implementation Method 2
suspended solids are centrifugated and agglomerated into a thick sludge
Implementation Method 3
high shear radial crossflow filtration, where suspended solids are centrifugated and agglomerated
Implementation Method 4
liquids are clarified and degassed through an annular high shear radial crossflow filter
Implementation Method 5
gases and light fractions are extracted
Implementation Method 6
three way phase separation divides a feed of a fluid mixture into three streams: gases, liquids, and solids
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, axially-fed slurry can be continuously separated into clarified liquid, stripped gas, and thickened sludge in radial counterflow between counter-rotating coaxial centrifugal impellers. One impeller comprises an annular crossflow filter through which liquids are extracted. At the periphery of the impellers, where they are narrowly separated, the sludge is shear thickened into an extruded paste. Suspended solids in the feed pass over the surface of the rotating annular crossflow filter by the shear lift effect, and the vortex-wall interaction jets water radially inward from the periphery, dewatering the sludge. Evolved gases, oils, and fractions lighter than water flow radially inward to the impeller axis through radial vortices in a shear layer between the impellers, and are extracted through an axial exhaust conduit. Feed has long residence time so that separation is complete and continuous. Municipal wastewater, produced water, beverages, food, and scrubber sludge are discussed.