Skimming Device with Rotating Peripheral Flow Deflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skimming and separation devices face challenges in efficiently handling solid pollutants with irregular shapes and large areas, such as bottle caps and leaves, which clog filters and reduce device capacity, and intermittently discharging phases can lead to uneven flow distributions and malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a new peripheral, rotating vertical and horizontal flow platform (prvhF) and centrifugal collecting flow pattern (ccF), which includes a peripheral flow deflecting member and baffle unit to generate rotational movements and prevent clogging, allowing for effective gravimetric and centrifugal purification and transportation of pollutants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional skimming and separation devices are used, then oil and floating pollutants can be collected, but solid pollutants with irregular shapes and large areas clog filters and reduce device capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes solid pollutants with irregular shapes and large areas from the flow before they can reach and clog the filters. The separating and discharge compartment is designed to discharge these solid objects separately, preventing them from entering the filter system while maintaining continuous operation and device capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary separation of solid pollutants from the water-oil mixture before the flow reaches the filters. By using the separating and discharge compartment to remove large-area solids in advance, the system prevents future clogging issues and maintains consistent filtering efficiency.
2Productivity
If intermittently discharging phases are used, then collected pollutants can be expelled, but uneven flow distributions and malfunctions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic discharging phases where the separating and discharge compartment is periodically activated to expel collected pollutants. This periodic action creates controlled flow patterns that prevent uneven distribution and malfunctions, maintaining reliable operation while achieving efficient pollutant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous useful action by alternating between collection mode and discharge mode. The periodic discharge phases are designed to maintain continuous flow through the system, preventing stagnation and uneven distribution while ensuring pollutants are continuously removed from the water.
3Reliability
If peripheral flow deflecting members and baffle units are added, then rotational movements are generated and clogging is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs peripheral flow deflecting members with curved surfaces that generate rotational movements in the flow. These curved structures guide the flow in circular patterns, preventing solid pollutants from settling and clogging the system while maintaining relatively simple geometric forms that are easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional compartments: the skimming compartment, the separating and discharge compartment, and the collection compartment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, with the separating compartment handling solid pollutant removal and the other compartments handling liquid-oil separation.
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 solution enhances the device's capacity and efficiency in handling solid pollutants, prevents clogging, and optimizes the separation process, enabling the use of activated carbon filters for improved water quality and efficient pollutant transportation to storage tanks or bags.
Implementation Method 1
at least one peripheral flow deflecting member arranged in relation to the floater and structured to achieve a rotational movement of the downward directed flow of water and debris, in a horizontal plane and along a vertical longitudinal center axis of the skimming and separation device
Implementation Method 2
The technique applied by the device is basically based upon gravimetric separating methods which mean that pollutants having a lower density than water will float up on to the top of the water level
Implementation Method 3
The vertical flow is set by the rotational speed of the propeller. This speed may be adjusted to be lower than the speed that the gravitational separation forces are generated to bring the pollutants towards the discharge volume and area
Implementation Method 4
A floater 5 is provided and being configured to create the skimming function of the device
Data Source
AI summary
A skimming and separation device includes an outer casing defining a compartment, a floater that provides a skimming function, the floater being attached at its lower side to a vertically arranged bellow allowing the floater to adapt flow into a substantially circum volume and to move from an upper position with essentially no flow into the compartment to a lower position allowing flow of water and debris to follow the contours of the floater in a downward direction. The device further includes a power device with a propeller, the power device being controlled by a control unit such that various kinds of flows and pressures may be generated to control the in-flow and outflow of the device. At least one peripheral flow deflecting member achieves a rotational movement of downward directed flow of water and debris, in a horizontal plane and around a vertical longitudinal center axis of the device.