Separator Drum Piston Valve Segmented Closing Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing separator drums face challenges in rapid emptying and partial emptying due to the large amount of closing liquid required and the inability to control the flow of closing liquid, leading to prolonged times in reaching the open state.

Innovation Solution

A separator drum design featuring a hydraulically operated, axially movable piston slide with a closing chamber having a first parallel section and a second conical section, along with two outflow channels of different diameters to manage the flow of closing liquid, allowing for quick movement of the piston slide and efficient emptying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of closing liquid is used in the closing chamber, then the piston valve can be reliably held in its closed position, but the time required for the drum to reach the open state is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidopening time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The closing chamber is divided into two distinct sections: a first closing chamber section with a large volume for reliable sealing, and a second closing chamber section with a small volume for rapid drainage. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both reliable sealing capability and rapid opening speed by having different sections serve different functional purposes simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the closing chamber are given different properties: the first section has large volume for reliability, while the second section has small volume and is positioned to drain first. The outflow channels are also differentiated with first and second outflow channels of different sizes, creating local variations in fluid flow characteristics to achieve selective drainage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the piston valve moves quickly to enable rapid emptying, then the emptying speed increases, but the control over the flow of closing liquid is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemptying speedVSAvoidflow control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The outflow system is segmented into two separate outflow channels: a first outflow channel for rapid drainage of closing liquid from the first chamber section, and a second outflow channel for controlled drainage from the second chamber section. This segmentation enables independent control of drainage rates from different sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outflow channels are designed with different characteristics: the first outflow channel has larger diameter for rapid flow, while the second outflow channel has smaller diameter for controlled flow. This creates local differences in flow control capability, allowing the system to achieve both rapid emptying and precise flow management

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 enables faster opening and closing of the separator drum, reducing the time required for emptying and allowing for both rapid partial and complete emptying by controlling the flow of closing liquid effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulically actuated, axially movable piston valve which can seal a solids chamber against at least one solids outlet, wherein the piston valve can be held in its closed position via a closing chamber that can be filled with closing fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

JPS 521 761 A relates to a device that compactly connects and supports a separator housing by utilizing the pressure difference of the fluid generated by centrifugal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3720611B1Separator drum
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 FLOTTWEG GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP3720611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3720611B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3720611B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a separator drum (10) with a hydraulically actuated, axially movable piston slide valve (20) which can seal off a solids space (14) from at least one solids outlet (18), wherein the piston slide valve (20) can be held in its closed position via a closing chamber (30) that can be filled with closing liquid, in particular closing water, wherein the closing chamber (30) is formed between an underside (21) of the piston slide valve (20) and a top side (35) of a drum lower part (15). According to the invention, the closing chamber (30) has a first closing chamber portion (31) near the rotation axis (R) and a second closing chamber portion (32) remote from the rotation axis (R), wherein the first closing chamber portion (31) is formed by two mutually parallel portions (22, 36) of the underside (21) of the piston slide valve (20) and of the top side (35) of the drum lower part (15), and the second closing chamber portion (32) has at least in part a conical cross section.