Rotatable Backwash Conduit for Compact Strainer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strainer assemblies for offshore oil and gas operations face inefficiencies due to complex backwash systems that require significant space and weight, and often necessitate shutting down the entire system for maintenance, leading to reduced straining capacity and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
A strainer assembly with a backwash conduit that moves relative to the strainer basket, allowing for a high surface area of strainer screen within a compact unit, enabling efficient backwash operations without shutting down the system, and allowing simultaneous straining and backwashing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a complex backwash system with multiple conduits and valves is used to enable selective backwashing of individual strainer baskets, then the ability to maintain straining operation during backwash is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotatable backwash conduit that dynamically positions itself relative to the strainer baskets. The conduit rotates to alternately expose different portions of the strainer screen to backwash flow, enabling selective backwashing without complex valve arrangements. This dynamic mechanism simplifies the overall system while maintaining the ability to perform backwash operations during straining.
Solution Approach 2:
The single backwash conduit serves multiple functions: it provides backwash flow to different sections of the strainer screen at different times, acts as both a cleaning conduit and a flow distributor, and eliminates the need for separate backwash conduits for each strainer basket. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If multiple separate backwash conduits are provided for each strainer basket to enable simultaneous backwashing, then the straining capacity is maintained, but the overall assembly size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple backwash functions into a single backwash conduit that serves all strainer baskets. By combining what would traditionally be multiple separate conduits into one shared conduit, the overall assembly weight and size are significantly reduced while maintaining the ability to perform backwash operations on all baskets during straining.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable backwash conduit dynamically distributes backwash flow to different sections of the strainer screen, enabling a single conduit to perform the function of multiple conduits would provide in a static configuration. This dynamic approach maintains productivity while reducing weight.
3Ease of repair
If the entire strainer assembly is shut down for backwash operations, then complete cleaning of all strainer baskets is achieved, but the loss of time and reduction in straining capacity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable backwash conduit enables the system to perform backwash operations dynamically during straining operation. The conduit rotates to expose different portions of the strainer screen to backwash flow, allowing cleaning to occur while straining continues. This eliminates the need to shut down the entire assembly for backwash, reducing downtime while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous straining operation during backwash by using the rotatable conduit to direct backwash flow to specific sections while other sections continue to strain. This continuity of useful action eliminates interruptions and reduces the time loss associated with shutting down the entire assembly for maintenance.
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 a high backwash flowrate, reduces the time needed for cleaning, and minimizes the overall size and weight of the strainer unit, enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being moveable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen
Implementation Method 2
the straining of sea water for use in offshore oil and gas exploration and production operations... the removal of solid material from water and aqueous streams
Data Source
AI summary
A strainer system comprises a strainer housing having an inlet for raw fluid and an outlet for strained fluid; a generally cylindrical strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being moveable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen. A method of straining a fluid, in particular a liquid, is also provided. Finally, a valve assembly for use in the selective opening and closing of a plurality of backwash conduits is disclosed.