Spiral Conduit Water Separator for Grit Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic installations face inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for long, large grit tunnels to separate solid particles from water, which are only partially effective in reducing particle content by 50% and require significant civil engineering efforts.
Innovation Solution
A compact device with multiple parallel conduits having spiral sections and thin thickness relative to their width, utilizing centrifugal force to separate solid particles from water, allowing for efficient particle removal and reduced sedimentation time, compatible with high flow rates and power hydraulic machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional grit tunnels are used to separate solid particles from water, then particle separation is achieved, but the device requires very long length (greater than 150 meters) and large cross-section area, resulting in major civil engineering works and high costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spiral curvature to the conduit cross-section, creating a rotating flow pattern that generates centrifugal forces. This curved geometry transforms the linear sedimentation process into a rotational separation process, achieving effective particle removal in a much shorter distance without requiring long tunnel lengths
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by creating a rotating flow regime within the conduits through the spiral geometry. The hydraulic flow itself generates the centrifugal forces needed for separation, eliminating the need for external mechanical separators or long gravitational settling distances
2Reliability
If traditional grit tunnels are used to separate solid particles from water, then some particle removal is achieved (approximately 50% reduction), but the device complexity and civil engineering works are major
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the separation function into multiple parallel conduits, each handling a portion of the total flow. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall separation effectiveness while keeping each individual conduit simple and compact, reducing the need for major civil engineering works
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear/vertical separation dimensions to a rotational dimension by implementing spiral flow within the conduits. This dimensional change enables separation to occur along the spiral path rather than requiring long linear distance, simplifying the overall device structure
3Productivity
If conduit thickness is reduced to less than 10% of width for centrifugal separation, then sedimentation time is reduced, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the thickness-to-width ratio parameter of the conduits to less than 10%, which enables rapid sedimentation while maintaining adequate structural integrity. This parameter change allows the thin-walled conduits to withstand the hydraulic pressures and centrifugal forces generated during operation
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 device effectively separates solid particles from water, reducing costs and civil engineering needs while maintaining high efficiency and compatibility with high-power hydraulic machines, achieving improved particle removal compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
each duct has, in section perpendicular to the axis of progression, a spiral-shaped section... each duct is equipped, at the outlet, with a flow separator capable of separating a first portion of a unit flow circulating in this conduit, heavily loaded with solid particles by centrifugal effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~7
AI summary
The device (1) has an inlet zone (104) of forced water flow (E) and an outlet zone (105) of water flow, shifted along a longitudinal axis (X100) of the device. Pipes (110) are placed in parallel between the zones. Each pipe has a spiral section, at a profile perpendicular to the axis. Each pipe has a thickness less than 10 percentage of width (L110) of the pipe parallel to the axis, in a radial direction with respect to the axis. Each pipe is equipped with a separating sheet formed by inner and outer metallic sheets placed in the pipe at a distance from radial partition of the pipe.