Oil-Water Separator with Self-Cleaning Filter Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil-water separators require frequent filter replacements, are costly, and occupy significant installation space, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns when treating oil-contaminated wastewater, as they struggle to effectively separate and manage oil and water independently.
Innovation Solution
An oil-water separator design featuring a filter member with a support frame and hitting mechanism to improve filter efficiency, a pedal-driven power transmission system, a valve for controlled oil discharge, and a filter cleaning mechanism to facilitate easy maintenance and reduce clogging, allowing oil and water to be separated at different speeds and minimizing filter damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is used in the oil-water separator to separate oil and water, then the separation effect is improved, but the filter requires frequent replacement which increases maintenance costs and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The filter support frame is designed to be separable and removable, allowing the filter to be easily taken out and replaced by the user without requiring professional maintenance services. The hitting mechanism automatically cleans the filter surface by dislodging accumulated oil and debris, enabling the system to maintain its separation effect through self-cleaning rather than frequent manual interventions
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and discarded when saturated. The separable filter support frame allows users to quickly replace the filter without disassembling the entire separator unit, reducing maintenance time and operational complexity while maintaining continuous separation functionality
2Reliability
If a separate sludge collection device is added to the oil-water separator, then the oil collection capability is improved, but the installation area becomes bulky increasing space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The filter support frame integrates both filtration and sludge collection functions into a single component. The frame structure includes recesses that collect oil and sludge as the filter processes wastewater, eliminating the need for a separate sludge collection device. This merging of functions maintains effective oil collection while reducing the overall installation footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The filter support frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the filter element, collects separated oil and sludge through integrated recesses, and provides a structure for the hitting mechanism to clean the filter. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate devices into a single compact unit, reducing installation space requirements
3Ease of manufacture
If the filter is made durable to reduce replacement frequency, then maintenance costs are reduced, but the filter becomes more expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is segmented into a reusable filter support frame and a replaceable filter element. The support frame is manufactured with durable materials and precise machining to ensure long-term use, while the filter element can be a simpler, more economical component that is replaced periodically. This segmentation allows the expensive durable parts to be reused while only the cheaper filter elements are replaced, balancing manufacturing cost with maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the entire filter assembly to be durable and expensive, the system is designed for periodic replacement of only the filter element while reusing the durable support frame. The hitting mechanism provides periodic automated cleaning to extend the service life of both the frame and filter, creating a cost-effective cycle of maintenance that reduces overall manufacturing costs compared to making the entire assembly highly durable
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 enhances filter efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and optimizes installation space by allowing for simpler manufacturing and operation, enabling effective oil-water separation with reduced environmental impact and improved filter longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the oil and the water are passed through the filter member at different speeds from each other
Data Source
AI summary
The present inventive concept relates to an oil-water separator for oil-containing residues, including: an outer casing configured to allow residues containing oil and water to be put thereinto; a filter member for separating the oil and the water contained the residues from each other; and a filter support frame coupled to the filter member in such a manner as to be separably seated inside the outer casing, wherein the oil and the water are passed through the filter member at different speeds from each other.