Annular Gap Scrubber Injection for Dust Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Annular gap scrubbers face limitations in achieving high degrees of separation due to factors like inadequate penetration depth and distribution of scrubbing liquid, leading to reduced efficiency in removing submicron dust particles from gas streams.

Innovation Solution

Injecting scrubbing liquid counter to the gas flow direction and positioning nozzles at an acute angle within the annular gap scrubber to enhance relative speed and coverage, with multiple nozzle levels to increase the surface area for particle separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If scrubbing liquid is injected perpendicularly to the gas flow direction via nozzles in the throat, then the scrubbing liquid can be delivered to the high-velocity region, but the penetration depth is insufficient and zones remain uncovered where particles pass through without contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegree of separationVSAvoidcoverage area of scrubbing liquid
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional injection approach by injecting scrubbing liquid counter to the gas flow direction rather than perpendicularly. This reversal allows the liquid to penetrate deeper into the throat region against the high-velocity gas stream, ensuring complete coverage of the flow channel and eliminating uncovered zones where particles would otherwise pass through without contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces multiple nozzle levels arranged at different positions along the throat, transforming the single-plane injection into a multi-dimensional injection system. This dimensional expansion ensures comprehensive coverage of the entire throat cross-section and length, eliminating geometric dead zones that exist in single-plane configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the annular gap is reduced to increase sprinkling density, then the degree of separation improves, but the structural complexity and difficulty of adjustment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegree of separationVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the annular gap structure into a fixed outer annular channel and a movable inner gap body that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows the gap width to be varied by moving only the inner component along the longitudinal axis, simplifying the adjustment mechanism while maintaining the ability to optimize sprinkling density for different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment capability where the inner gap body can be moved axially to change the annular gap width in response to varying operating conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between sprinkling density and device complexity for different gas flow rates and particle loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2720776B1Annular gap scrubber having annular gap injection
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP2720776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2720776B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2720776B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A venturi scrubber, which has a flow channel defined by a confuser, a throat, and a diffuser in sequence and which has a longitudinal axis. The throat has a throat wall, with nozzles for injecting scrubbing liquid into the throat. At least one insert body in the throat reduces the flow cross-section in the flow channel by at most 45%, preferably at most 30%, especially preferably at most 20%. The insert body is located preferably in a region of the longitudinal extension of the throat after the nozzles, as viewed in the direction from the confuser to the diffuser.