Separator Outlet Cap Design for Gas-Tight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional separator outlet devices allow phase mixtures and liquid phases to come into contact with ambient air, leading to unwanted reactions and degassing, particularly during beer separation, and are energy-inefficient due to high friction losses from mechanical seals and sealing gases.

Innovation Solution

A cap with a stationary, L-shaped drum ring and web ring design surrounds the outlet channel, creating a gas-tight cavity filled with a sealing gas like carbon dioxide that prevents air contact and minimizes friction, while a gripper and locking disk system ensures reliable sealing and energy-efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical seals are used to prevent contact between liquid phase and ambient air, then sealing reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to high friction losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical seals with a hydrodynamic sealing system using sealing fluid (water or gas) that creates a barrier between the liquid phase and ambient air. The sealing fluid is supplied through channels in the blocking disc and maintains separation through fluid pressure rather than mechanical contact, eliminating friction losses while maintaining sealing reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sealing fluid (water or gas) as an intermediary substance between the liquid phase and ambient air. This sealing fluid forms a barrier layer that prevents direct contact between the process liquid and atmospheric oxygen, replacing the need for mechanical seals and their associated friction and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sealing gas is used to prevent air contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases due to friction with rotating drum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidfriction energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical interaction between sealing gas and rotating drum surface with a fluid-based sealing mechanism. The sealing fluid is contained within stationary channels in the blocking disc, eliminating relative motion and friction between the sealing medium and rotating components, thereby removing friction energy losses while maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If conventional outlet devices are used, then liquid phase discharge is achieved, but unwanted oxygen uptake and degassing occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid phase dischargeVSAvoidoxygen uptake

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a sealing fluid (water or gas) as an intermediary barrier between the liquid phase and ambient air. This fluid layer prevents direct contact between the process liquid and atmospheric oxygen, eliminating unwanted oxygen uptake and degassing reactions while allowing continuous liquid phase discharge through the outlet channel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an inert environment by filling the blocking disc channels with water or an inert gas that prevents oxidation reactions. This inert sealing medium displaces atmospheric oxygen from the interface with the liquid phase, preventing unwanted chemical reactions and degassing while maintaining productive liquid discharge

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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

The solution effectively prevents contact between liquid phases and ambient air, reducing energy consumption and mechanical wear, allowing for efficient separation across varying throughput conditions without significant oxygen uptake.

Implementation Method 1

a gas-tight cavity filled with a sealing gas like carbon dioxide that prevents air contact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas barrier / Sealing gas effect:

Implementation Method 2

Separators are centrifuges used to separate phase mixtures using centrifugal force in a drum rotating about a rotational axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3582900B1Outlet device of a separator

Publication Date: 2024.10.23 FLOTTWEG GMBH & CO KGAA

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an outlet device (24) of a separator (10), the outlet device comprising an outlet channel (38) for discharging a liquid phase from a rotating drum of the separator (10), wherein the outlet channel (38) extends along a rotational axis (16) in a fixed tube device (42) of the separator (10). According to the invention, a cap (74) is provided which is fixedly connected to the tube device (42), surrounds the tube device (42), and covers the drum in the radial direction.