Separator Tray With Concave Profile For Grit Resuspension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separators for removing grit from wastewater suffer from reduced separation efficiency due to resuspension of settled grit particles, which affects the performance and longevity of processing equipment.
Innovation Solution
A separator design featuring a tray assembly with nested tray units having inner surfaces with varying gradients, forming a concave profile that reduces resuspension by increasing the surface area for grit settlement and improving flow distribution, thereby enhancing sediment capture and removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frusto-conical tray with uniform gradient is used, then grit particles can settle on the sloping inner surface, but the grit becomes resuspended reducing separation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The tray inner surface is divided into zones with different gradients: a first zone with a first gradient angle and a second zone with a second gradient angle. This local variation in surface properties prevents uniform resuspension while maintaining effective grit settlement in specific areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray employs a concave profile with curved surfaces instead of straight frusto-conical geometry. The varying gradient angles create a more complex curvature pattern that disrupts vortex flow patterns and reduces the harmful resuspension effect while maintaining settling effectiveness.
2Productivity
If the tray gradient is increased to improve grit settlement, then separation efficiency improves, but the tray size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the gradient across the entire tray, the invention applies steeper gradients only in specific zones where they are most effective for grit settlement, while maintaining gentler gradients in other areas. This localized approach improves productivity without proportionally increasing overall tray complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray profile is segmented into distinct zones with different gradient characteristics. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for specific functions (grit settlement vs. flow management) independently, achieving high productivity while keeping the overall design manageable through modular zone construction.
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 concave profile design increases the efficiency of grit removal, with improved sediment capture and reduced resuspension, leading to increased grit collection and reduced wear on processing equipment, while allowing for potential size reduction or retrofitting of existing units.
Implementation Method 1
The low energy vortex allows grit particles entrained by the flow to settle on the sloping inner surface of each tray whereupon the particles gravitate towards and pass through the openings in the trays
Implementation Method 2
The influent duct is arranged to provide a tangential inlet such that a low energy vortex flow is established between adjacent trays
Data Source
AI summary
A separator for separating solids from a fluid including a tray assembly, the tray assembly including a plurality of nested tray units which define a separator axis and are spaced apart from one another along the separator axis, wherein each tray unit includes comprising an inner surface facing the separator axis 16 extending outwards, away from an aperture in the tray unit disposed at the separator axis, wherein the inner surface comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the inner portion is disposed between the aperture and the outer portion, and wherein the gradient of the outer portion is greater than the gradient of the inner portion.