Centrifugal Separator Inner Drum Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal separators face challenges in improving running characteristics and ease of handling, particularly in continuous operation and hygiene aspects, especially when processing pharmaceutical products like fermentation broths, where existing designs require frequent cleaning or replacement.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a non-rotating inflow and outflow system connected in a sealed manner, a stabilizing outer supporting apparatus, and a thin-walled plastic inner drum with a clarifying plate assembly, allowing for easy assembly and single-use configurations to minimize cleaning needs and enhance hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the drum is made of plastic or plastics composite for single use, then hygiene is improved and cleaning is eliminated, but the running characteristics and stability of the drum deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidrunning characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drum is divided into two separate components: an inner drum made of plastic or plastics composite for single use to ensure hygiene, and an outer drum made of metal for structural stability and running characteristics. The inner drum can be easily exchanged after each batch while the outer drum remains stationary and stable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner drum is nested within the outer drum, with the inner drum positioned inside the outer drum's interior space. This nested configuration allows the plastic inner drum to benefit from the structural support and stability of the metal outer drum while maintaining its own hygiene advantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If the inflow and outflow system rotates with the drum, then the system structure is simplified, but sealing becomes difficult and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidsealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the inflow and outflow system rotate with the drum, the design inverts this approach by making the inflow and outflow system stationary while the drum rotates around it. This inversion simplifies sealing significantly, as stationary components can be sealed to the rotating drum at only one or very few points, rather than requiring continuous sealing along the entire rotating interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of time

If the drum is designed for single use, then cleaning time is eliminated, but assembly and handling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning timeVSAvoidassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drum is segmented into an inner drum (single-use plastic) and an outer drum (reusable metal), allowing the inner drum to be pre-assembled with inflow and outflow systems before use. This segmentation enables easy replacement of the inner drum after each batch while the outer drum remains assembled and ready.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner drum and its inflow/outflow systems are pre-assembled and prepared before use, so that during operation only the inner drum needs to be exchanged after each batch, rather than disassembling and reassembling the entire system. This preliminary assembly simplifies the handling process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 configuration improves the running behavior and handling of the separator, reduces the need for frequent cleaning, and ensures hygiene by allowing the entire drum to be exchanged after each batch, maintaining sterility and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

Centrifugal separators for realizing a continuous operation have long been known

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

the outer supporting apparatus stabilizes the system. Because this supporting apparatus lies radially on the outside relative to the drum wall delimiting the drum interior

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical stabilization:

Implementation Method 3

a means for clarifying the product to be processed in the centrifugal field is expediently arranged in the inner drum—for instance a plate assembly consisting of conical plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS10780445B2Separator with inner and outer drum and one or more grippers having a disk portion and a shank portion

Publication Date: 2020.09.22 GEA MECHANICAL EQUIP GMBH

AI summary

A separator for centrifugally processing a flowable product includes a rotatable drum bounding a centrifuging chamber. The drum has a feeding and removal system having at least one feeding device and one or more removal devices composed of plastic or a plastic composite. An inner drum, composed of plastic or a plastic composite, is arranged in an outer supporting device of the drum. The feeding device and the one or more removal devices extend into the inner drum, do not rotate with the inner drum during operation, and are glued and/or welded to each other in such a way that the feeding device and the one or more removal devices are sealingly connected. The feeding and removal system has one or more grippers as the removal device, each of which one or two or more grippers has a disk segment and a shaft segment.