Centrifugal Separator Base With Annular Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing centrifugal separators face challenges in maintenance, particularly in aligning the closure relative to fluid inlet and outlet during servicing, leading to potential misalignment and reduced flexibility in fluid flow direction, which complicates maintenance access and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A design where the base serves as a detachable closure element, connected to the main housing body via an annular channel around its external perimeter, allowing for flexible fluid flow direction and sealed with O-ring seals, enabling maintenance through the detachable closure and improved alignment independence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the closure member is removed and replaced during maintenance, then maintenance access is enabled, but misalignment between the closure and fluid inlet/outlet occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a main body and a detachable closure member that can be independently removed for maintenance. The closure member forms a separate assembly with the channel, allowing it to be detached and reattached without affecting the main housing structure or requiring precise realignment with fluid inlet/outlet ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The channel is designed as a universal fluid passage that can accommodate fluid flow from any direction and at any position around the circumference. The annular cross-section and peripheral location of the channel allow it to receive fluid from multiple potential inlet positions, making the system insensitive to alignment variations during maintenance reassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the fluid inlet and outlet positions are fixed, then the device structure is simplified, but maintenance access and flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow direction flexibilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The channel is positioned at the periphery of the rotor chamber and given an annular cross-section, transitioning from a linear inlet/outlet configuration to a circumferential fluid passage. This dimensional change allows fluid to enter and exit at any point around the circumference, providing 360-degree flexibility in fluid flow direction while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

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

3Reliability

If the channel is positioned away from the fluid inlet and outlet, then alignment misalignment is avoided during rotation, but fluid flow efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidfluid flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The annular channel acts as an intermediary fluid passage between the rotor chamber and the external fluid inlet/outlet. By positioning the channel at the periphery and giving it an annular cross-section, it serves as a buffer zone that decouples the internal rotor chamber from external alignment requirements, allowing fluid to reach the rotor from any direction without compromising flow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design enhances maintenance flexibility by allowing fluid to flow around the entire circumference, reducing misalignment issues and improving access during servicing, thus enhancing the overall operational efficiency and maintenance convenience of centrifugal separators.

Implementation Method 1

the principle of operation of such a separator is that a housing has a rotor mounted therein for high speed rotation about a substantially vertical axis. Fluid is provided at high pressure along the axis of rotation and flows into the rotor chamber through openings in a central tube or axial cavity. It is then expelled from tangentially aligned nozzles in the rotor base into the housing, from where it drains into a trough. As the liquid passes through the rotor, denser contaminating materials or particles therefrom are separated by centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2842631B1Filtration device
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 MANN HUMMEL GMBH
  • EP2842631B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2842631B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a filter device comprising a housing with a main housing body (1) detachably attached to a base (3) for defining an enclosed space, wherein filter media (2) are provided, and with an inlet passage (14) to the filter media (2) and/or a liquid outlet passage (16) from the filter media (2) provided in the base (3), wherein the base (3) serves as a removable closure element of the housing and has a channel (13) extending around its entire external or internal circumference, wherein this channel (13) communicates on the one hand with a liquid inlet (15) and/or a liquid outlet (16) of the housing and wherein, on the other hand, the associated liquid inlet passage (12) or liquid outlet passage (16) is provided in the removable closure element (26).