Sedimentation Shaft Helix Riser Pipe Rotary Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sedimentation shafts are inefficient in handling large quantities of untreated water for effective calming and sedimentation, leading to lower hydraulic performance compared to filter shafts.

Innovation Solution

A sedimentation shaft design with a helix in the riser pipe to create a rotary flow, followed by an annular space for additional sedimentation, allowing water to rise and be cleaned without direct vertical flow, enhancing particle separation and cleaning performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a sedimentation shaft is designed to handle large quantities of water, then the hydraulic performance increases, but the cleaning performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic performanceVSAvoidcleaning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is divided into multiple sedimentation stages: a first sedimentation stage in the lower section and a second sedimentation stage in the upper section. Water flows through the helix in the riser pipe to create rotary movement, then enters the annular space for additional sedimentation. This segmentation allows the shaft to handle large volumes of water while maintaining effective particle separation at each stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the sedimentation process by using a riser pipe that extends from the separating base to the upper section. The helix in the riser pipe creates rotary flow in the vertical direction, and the annular space provides additional sedimentation volume above the separating base. This vertical arrangement increases the effective sedimentation capacity without increasing the horizontal footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a filter shaft is used to achieve thorough purification, then the cleaning performance improves, but the hydraulic performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidhydraulic performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is divided into multiple sedimentation stages: a first sedimentation stage in the lower section and a second sedimentation stage in the upper section. Water flows through the helix in the riser pipe to create rotary movement, then enters the annular space for additional sedimentation. This segmentation allows the shaft to handle large volumes of water while maintaining effective particle separation at each stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic principles to create rotary flow in the riser pipe through the helix geometry. The water flow itself generates the rotary movement needed for effective sedimentation, eliminating the need for mechanical filters. The annular space provides additional hydraulic path length for particle separation while maintaining high flow rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If water flows directly vertically through the shaft, then the hydraulic performance improves, but the particle separation effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic performanceVSAvoidparticle separation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces straight vertical flow with curved rotary flow through the helix in the riser pipe. The helical geometry forces water to follow a curved path, creating rotational movement that enhances particle separation. The annular space further extends this curved flow path, providing additional opportunity for particles to settle out of the water stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 increases the hydraulic performance for handling large volumes of water by providing multiple sedimentation stages, ensuring effective removal of particles and maintaining a high cleaning performance without the need for filtration stages, making it suitable for large-area drainage during heavy precipitation events.

Implementation Method 1

A helix (11) is arranged inside the riser pipe (9) and runs around a closed core (12), so that the rising water is forced into a rotary movement by the helix

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotary flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

the rising water is forced into a rotary movement by the helix, and on the other hand, it cannot rise directly in the vertical direction and 'shoot through' the riser pipe, but during this upward movement it hits the helix from below

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

An initial calming of the water flowing into the shaft therefore takes place in a calming space below the separating tray, and an additional further calming then takes place as the water rises within the riser pipe, so that overall an effective separation of particles is effected by the calming of the water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 4

The annular space serves as a further calming space for the water and thus as a further sedimentation stage, in which further cleaning of the already pre-cleaned water takes place

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP3381533B1Shaft for the treatment of surface water
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 FUNKE KUNSTSTOFFE GMBH
  • EP3381533B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3381533B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3381533B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In a shaft (1) with an inlet opening (2) for untreated raw water, an outlet opening (3) for treated water, and a settling chamber arranged between the inlet opening (2) and the outlet opening (3), which has a settling surface for particles contained in the raw water, wherein a partition (7) is arranged in the shaft (1) above the inlet opening (2), wherein the partition (7) has an opening (8) to which a riser pipe (9) is connected upwards, which has an outlet (10) at a distance above the partition (7), the invention proposes that a helix (11) be arranged in the riser pipe (9) which runs around a closed core, such that raw water flowing into the shaft (1) can rise upwards in the helix above the partition (7), wherein an annular space (14) is arranged radially outside the riser pipe (9) above the partition (7). is, in such a way,that water flowing out of the outlet (10) of the riser pipe (9) enters the annular space (14), and wherein the annular space (14) is fluid-permeable to the outlet opening (3) of the shaft (1), such that filtered water flows from the annular space (14) to the outlet opening (3).