Centrifugal Separator Disc Spacing via Segmented Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal separators with elongate spacing elements have inactive regions on the surface of separation discs, leading to reduced separation efficiency due to unused surface areas, especially at the radially outer parts of the interspaces.

Innovation Solution

The use of spot-formed spacing elements, such as raised points or half-spherical protrusions, which are either integral or separate, to create even and open interspaces for gas flow, ensuring that the entire surface of the separation discs is utilized for particle separation, thereby enhancing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If elongate spacing elements are used to maintain interspaces between separation discs, then the structural stability is improved, but inactive regions are created on the separation disc surface reducing separation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidseparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The spacing elements are segmented into multiple discrete spots rather than continuous elongate structures. This segmentation allows gas to flow through multiple small openings while maintaining interspace stability, eliminating the large inactive regions that would exist behind continuous spacing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacing elements create a porous structure with multiple small openings distributed across the separation disc surface. This porous arrangement allows gas permeation through the interspaces while maintaining structural integrity, converting previously inactive surface regions into active separation areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Strength

If elongate spacing elements are used to maintain interspaces, then the mechanical support is improved, but the gas flow freedom is restricted creating inactive regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical supportVSAvoidgas flow freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous spacing element is divided into multiple discrete spot-formed elements. This segmentation provides mechanical support at key locations while creating multiple small flow paths, allowing gas to flow freely through the interspaces without encountering large blocked regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spacing elements have different properties at different locations - spot-formed elements provide localized mechanical support where needed while creating minimal obstruction to gas flow. This local quality optimization ensures both structural stability and gas flow freedom throughout the interspaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 eliminates inactive regions, achieving efficient separation of particulate contaminants from gas by ensuring even spacing and free flow through the interspaces, improving the overall separation efficiency and pumping action of the centrifugal separator.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor which by means of a driving device is rotatable around a rotational axis and which is adapted, during operation, to bring the gas into rotation in the separation chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a stack of frustoconical separation discs which are disposed coaxially with one another and concentrically with the rotational axis and which by means of spacing elements are disposed at mutual spacing such that they delimit between them interspaces for gas to flow through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentEP2326428B2Centrifugal separator
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 ALFA LAVAL CORP AB
  • EP2326428B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2326428B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a centrifugal separator for cleaning of gas from solid or liquid particles suspended therein which are of greater density than the gas. The centrifugal separator comprises a rotor housing (1) which delimits a separation chamber (2) and which has a gas inlet (3) to the separation chamber (2) and a gas outlet (4) from the separation chamber (2) and a rotor (8) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (R). The rotor (8) comprises a stack of conical separation discs (22) which via spacing elements (26, 30) between them delimit interspaces (27) for gas to flow through. The interspaces (27) between the separation discs (22) are, at least at their radially outer part, open for flow of the gas in the circumferential direction.