Rotary Drum Washer with Separator Ring and Clod-Breaking Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washers for plant waste disposal and recovery, such as those described in EP1775267, are inadequate in separating organic contaminants from clay clods, leading to degraded material quality due to incomplete breaking and crushing of clods, which contaminates recovered materials.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal rotary drum washer equipped with a separator ring, adjustable inclination, and clod-breaking teeth, along with dedicated nozzles for counter-current washing, enhances separation of organic contaminants and effectively breaks clay clods, improving material quality by increasing the energetic wash and reducing water/material ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a horizontal rotary drum washer is used for washing street sweeping waste and contaminated soil, then the number of machines in the wash plant is reduced and organic contaminants are removed, but clay clods are not adequately broken and crushed, causing pollutants to remain concentrated in the recovered materials
Solution Approach 1:
The internal structure of the drum is segmented into multiple compartments by discoid members, creating distinct washing zones. This segmentation allows different regions of the drum to perform different functions - some zones for breaking clay clods using inclined paddles and clod-breaking teeth, others for washing and separation, thereby achieving both clod breakdown and pollutant removal within a single machine
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the drum are equipped with specialized components tailored to local needs: clod-breaking teeth and inclined paddles in zones requiring mechanical breakdown, while other zones feature screening mechanisms and water injection systems for washing. This localized functional differentiation ensures that clay clods are adequately broken in specific zones without compromising the overall washing effectiveness
2Device complexity
If the drum operates without additional breaking mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the separation of organic contaminants from clay clods is inadequate, degrading material quality
Solution Approach 1:
Inclined paddles and clod-breaking teeth act as intermediary mechanical elements between the rotating drum and the clay clods. These intermediaries provide the necessary mechanical action to break down resistant clay structures, enabling subsequent washing stages to effectively remove concentrated pollutants that would otherwise remain trapped in intact clods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for separate mechanical breaking systems with an integrated approach where the drum's rotation combined with inclined paddles and clod-breaking teeth provides the necessary mechanical breakdown force. This substitution eliminates the need for additional standalone breaking machines while achieving the same pollutant separation effectiveness
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 solution achieves better separation of organic contaminants and effectively breaks clay clods, resulting in higher quality recovered materials that meet regulatory standards without additional washing, and reduces the number of machines needed in the wash plant.
Implementation Method 1
the wash processes in said disposal plants generally comprise various steps such as the transfer of pollutants from the particles of material to water, the separation of the particles of solid pollutant substances by means of selection processes
Implementation Method 2
the separation of the particles of solid pollutant substances by means of selection processes
Implementation Method 3
the current version of the machine is not able to guarantee a good breaking and crushing of the clods, so that the lumps of clay, in which generally most of the pollutants are concentrated
Implementation Method 4
the transfer of pollutants from the particles of material to water
Implementation Method 5
the suspension present on the bottom of the drum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A washer comprises a horizontal rotary drum (1) in which the materials to be treated are introduced through a feed hopper (12) together with a water flow admitted through treatment nozzles so as to form a suspension of water and materials, inside the drum (1) there being arranged inclined paddles (2) that move forward the heavy materials deposited on the bottom of the drum (1) towards an exit end where an extractor (3) conveys them towards concentric screening means, a stop ring (10) being arranged transversally inside the drum (1) so as to leave only a peripheral annular passage having a height lower than the level of the suspension of water and materials present on the bottom of the drum (1) so as to stop the lighter organic contaminants that are in the upper part of the suspension. The machine can further be provided with means for slightly inclining the axis of the rotary drum (1) within a small angular interval (α), as well as with clod-breaking teeth for treating clayey materials.