Automatic Slurry Strainer with Helical Mixing and Scraping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of removing solids or particles from ethanol production slurries is time-consuming and inefficient, as solids tend to stick to strainer screens, requiring manual cleaning and leading to trapped material and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
An automatic strainer assembly with a rotatable internal shaft having a helical flange to promote slurry mixing, a scraper for removing stuck material, and a collection vessel for recycling, along with ergonomic design features to prevent trapping and facilitate cleaning, including a timing mechanism for automatic cleaning and a method for processing slurries that involves straining, scraping, and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cleaning of strainer basket is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer assembly performs self-cleaning through an automated mechanism where a water source flushes the basket to remove accumulated solids. The system includes a timing mechanism that automatically initiates the cleaning cycle, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing mechanism initiates the cleaning operation before the basket becomes completely full of solids. This preliminary action prevents overflow and ensures continuous operation by scheduling regular cleaning cycles proactively rather than reactively.
2Ease of manufacture
If basket-type strainer is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual removal and cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer basket is designed to rotate on a horizontal axis, transforming it from a static component to a dynamic one. This rotation enables automated scraping mechanisms to effectively remove solids from the basket surface, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining the manufacturability of the basket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A scraper mechanism acts as an intermediary between the basket and the solids accumulation problem. The scraper continuously removes solids from the rotating basket, preventing clogging and eliminating the need for manual cleaning, thus improving operational ease without complicating the basic basket design.
3Productivity
If horizontal strainer configuration is used, then productivity is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to solid material trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation of the horizontal basket creates dynamic movement that prevents solids from settling and trapping in dead zones. Combined with the scraper mechanism, this mechanical motion continuously dislodges and removes trapped material, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining high processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper mechanism extracts solids from the basket surface in real-time during operation. By continuously removing trapped material as it accumulates, the system prevents harmful effects while maintaining the productivity benefits of the horizontal configuration.
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 automatic strainer assembly increases efficiency by automating the removal of solids, reducing manual labor, and enhancing the mixing of slurries, thereby improving the overall processing efficiency and enabling the recycling of materials, while minimizing wear and trapped particles.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable internal shaft having a helical flange mounted thereon to promote flow of the slurry from a back portion to a front portion of the strainer member to increase mixing of the slurry
Implementation Method 2
A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member
Implementation Method 3
The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough. A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to and contacting the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A helical member is mounted on an internal shaft or auger is located within the strainer member for contacting the slurry to increase mixing and promote flow of the slurry through the system.