Suction Adapter for Pleated Filtration Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pleated screens in filtration systems are inefficiently cleaned by suction scanners due to reduced cleaning efficiency and increased fluid loss, often requiring manual cleaning or being disposable.
Innovation Solution
A suction adapter with partitioning elements and a perforated sheet is used to tunnel suction power to inaccessible screen regions, enhancing cleaning intensity and efficiency by matching the helical scanning path of the suction scanner, thereby increasing the suction intensity and minimizing fluid loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a pleated screen is used to increase screen area per flow rate, then the filtration capacity is improved, but the cleaning efficiency by suction scanner deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction adapter divides the space-extension into multiple cavities separated by partitioning elements. Each cavity can be independently accessed by the suction scanner, allowing the cleaning process to tackle complex pleated structures systematically. The partitioning creates multiple access paths that enable the suction scanner to reach screen areas that would otherwise be inaccessible, thereby maintaining cleaning efficiency while preserving the high screen area benefit of pleated screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction adapter acts as an intermediary structure between the suction scanner and the pleated screen. It provides a framework of cavities and partitioning elements that guide the suction flow to all necessary screen regions. This intermediary structure enables the suction scanner to effectively clean the complex pleated geometry without requiring direct access to every screen surface, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high screen area and achieving effective cleaning.
2Device complexity
If the suction scanner uses a fixed scanning path, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning coverage of pleated screens deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction adapter incorporates a helical scanning path that dynamically adapts to the pleated screen geometry. The helical path allows the suction scanner to progress through the three-dimensional structure of the pleated screen in a systematic manner, accessing cavities at different depths and angles. This dynamic scanning approach maintains relatively simple device complexity while dramatically improving cleaning coverage compared to fixed scanning paths.
3Productivity
If manual cleaning is used to ensure thorough cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the automation level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction adapter enables the filtration system to clean itself automatically through the helical scanning mechanism. The adapter's cavity structure guides the suction flow to systematically access all screen regions without human intervention. This self-service capability maintains high cleaning effectiveness while achieving full automation, eliminating the need for manual cleaning operations.
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 suction adapter effectively increases the cleaning intensity of pleated screens during self-cleaning sessions, maximizing dirt removal and minimizing fluid loss, allowing for automated cleaning without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A differential pressure is created between the positive working pressure of the filtration system, and the atmospheric pressure to which the flushing path is open. The differential pressure results with a high velocity fluid stream traveling backward through the small region of the screen element
Implementation Method 2
Suction scanners make use of focused back-flushing, in which a suction force is created by reversing the flow through a small region of the screen element
Data Source
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AI summary
A suction adapter for filtration systems is disclosed. The suction adapter is useful for filtration systems in which there are screen regions unapproachable by intake openings of nozzles of the suction scanner, such as the case with pleated screens. The suction adapter comprises a partitioning adapted to match within a space- extension of a predetermined size and shape, whereby being useful for tunneling a suction power from an intake opening of the suction scanner to a screen region unapproachable by the intake opening. A method for cleaning a filtration screen having screen regions gapped from a closest approach of an intake opening of a suction scanner is disclosed. The method comprises providing immovable tunneling means between the screen regions and a location of the closest approach, whereby tunneling a suction power of the suction scanner to respective spots on the screen regions when closely approached, respectively, by the intake opening.