Rotatable Stormwater Screen for Self-Cleaning Trash Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stormwater treatment devices suffer from clogging issues due to direct screening techniques, leading to reduced treatment capacity and the need for frequent maintenance to clear screens.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable screen unit with a tubular structure and external drive paddles that separates trash from water while allowing water to pass through, utilizing kinetic energy conversion to maintain rotation and self-cleaning mechanisms to prevent clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct screening techniques are used, then trash removal is achieved, but the screen clogs easily and treatment capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The screen is made rotatable rather than stationary, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The screen rotates to a cleaning position where trash accumulates is removed, and then returns to the treatment position, preventing clogging while maintaining treatment capacity throughout operation cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the stormwater flow itself to drive the screen rotation and perform cleaning. The kinetic energy of the flowing water automatically rotates the screen to the cleaning position and back, eliminating the need for external motors or power sources while maintaining screen clarity and treatment capacity
2Reliability
If screen density is increased to improve filtration, then trash capture improves, but flow capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable screen allows the system to maintain high screen density for effective trash capture while periodically rotating to clear accumulated trash. This dynamic operation prevents flow capacity reduction that would occur with static high-density screens, as the screen remains open and functional throughout the rotation cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The screen operates in periodic cycles of treatment and cleaning. During treatment phases, the dense screen captures trash effectively; during brief cleaning phases, the screen rotates to discharge accumulated trash. This periodic action maintains both high trash capture efficiency and sustained flow capacity
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 system effectively separates trash from stormwater, maintains high flow capacity, and reduces maintenance needs by ensuring the screen remains clean through rotational energy and turbulent flow, enhancing longevity and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing kinetic energy conversion to maintain rotation
Implementation Method 2
a screen structure with a plurality of screening openings for allowing passage of at least some stormwater from the through path outwardly through the screen structure while inhibiting passage of at least some trash items
Implementation Method 3
ensuring the screen remains clean through rotational energy and turbulent flow
Data Source
AI summary
A stormwater treatment device includes a tank defining an internal volume and having an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable screen unit mounted within the tank, the rotatable screen unit defining a through path with an inlet end and an outlet end. The rotatable screen unit includes a screen structure with a plurality of screening openings for allowing passage of at least some stormwater from the through path outwardly through the screen structure while inhibiting passage of at least some trash items through the screen structure such that the trash items move along the through path from the inlet end to the outlet end. The stormwater treatment device may include both a normal treatment flow path and one or more bypass treatment flow paths.