Rotary Filtration System With Removable Disk Stack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotary filtration systems are not well-suited for industrial environments, such as nuclear plants, due to labor-intensive servicing, exposure to hazardous waste water, and seal failure caused by particle build-up, and are susceptible to failure when exposed to radioactive elements.
Innovation Solution
A rotary filtration apparatus with a removable disk stack and robust sealing arrangement, featuring a steel-based construction, bellows seal, and around-the-shaft union rotary joint, allowing for off-site maintenance and reduced exposure to hazardous materials, and eliminating seals prone to failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If filtration disks remain in place during servicing, then the system maintains continuous filtration capability, but labor requirements increase and technician exposure to waste water increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the filtration assembly into separable components: the disk stack can be removed as a unit from the housing while the housing remains stationary. This segmentation allows the filtration function to be maintained in the housing while the removable disk stack is serviced separately, reducing labor and exposure risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The disk stack is extracted from the housing as a removable component. By taking out the filtration disks from their operational position, technicians can service them outside the hazardous environment while the housing remains in place, maintaining system reliability without requiring full disassembly.
2Device complexity
If conventional seals are used on the hollow shaft, then the system structure remains simple, but seal failure occurs due to particle build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from conventional seal components and integrated into the bellows structure. The bellows seal is positioned to prevent particle ingress before particles can reach and build up on traditional seals, eliminating the particle build-up failure mode while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system combines multiple materials and structures: bellows (flexible metal), O-rings (elastomer), and seal surfaces, creating a composite sealing arrangement that is more reliable than conventional single-material seals while managing the complexity through functional integration.
3Ease of manufacture
If polymeric filtration disks with epoxy joints are used, then the filtration function is achieved, but the disks are susceptible to failure in harsh radioactive environments
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration disk uses a composite construction combining metal support structures (providing radiation and chemical resistance) with polymeric filtration media (providing filtration function). The epoxy joints bond these dissimilar materials, creating a composite component that leverages the strengths of each material while mitigating their weaknesses in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the filtration disk have different material properties: the support structure uses radiation-resistant metal in areas exposed to harsh conditions, while the filtration media uses polymeric materials optimized for particle separation. This local differentiation of material quality allows the disk to function reliably in radioactive environments while maintaining manufacturability.
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
Enhances serviceability and reliability by enabling off-site cleaning of filtration components, reducing downtime and operation costs, and ensuring effective filtration of radioactive waste water while minimizing exposure to harmful substances.
Implementation Method 1
The filtration disks have a steel base plate that carries at least one membrane for filtering fluid
Implementation Method 2
Relative rotation between the separator elements and the filtration disks causes a flow pattern to be established that acts to sweep particles off of the outer surface of the filtration disks
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary filtration apparatus for filtering a feed fluid into permeate is provided. The rotary filtration apparatus includes a container that has a feed fluid inlet. A shaft is at least partially disposed in the container and has a passageway for the transport of permeate. A disk stack made of a plurality of filtration disks is mounted onto the shaft so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the filtration disks. The filtration disks may be made of steel components and may be welded together. The shaft may penetrate a filtering section of the container at a single location. The rotary filtration apparatus may also incorporate a bellows seal to prevent leakage along the shaft, and an around the shaft union rotary joint to allow for removal of permeate. Various components of the rotary filtration apparatus may be removed as a single assembly.