Washing Chamber Particle Separation With Controlled Water Droplets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biomass boilers of small size in residential applications face challenges in efficiently capturing fine particulate emissions due to their low combustion efficiency, leading to high atmospheric pollution, and existing filtration technologies are bulky, costly, and require complex maintenance, making them unsuitable for small-scale use.

Innovation Solution

A separation apparatus with a washing chamber and dispensing nozzles that inject liquid, such as water, in a cross-flow and equicurrent manner to interact with exhaust gases, optimizing contact and separation through evaporation, condensation, and coalescence mechanisms, using adjustable parameters for optimal efficiency and low energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If industrial filtration technologies (bag filters or electrostatic filters) are used to capture fine particulate, then separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticulate separation efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the operating parameters by using water at controlled temperatures (preferably between 20-100°C) and specific flow rates to optimize particle capture. By adjusting temperature and flow parameters, the system achieves high separation efficiency for fine particles without requiring complex industrial filtration structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses hydraulic principles by injecting water through nozzles into the gas stream to capture particulate. The water injection system uses pressure-controlled spray nozzles to create fine water droplets that efficiently capture submicronic particles, replacing complex mechanical filtration with a simpler hydraulic separation approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If larger separation chamber size is increased to improve capture efficiency, then separation performance is improved, but device volume and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapture efficiencyVSAvoidseparation chamber volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the separation chamber into multiple zones with water injection nozzles positioned at different locations and angles. This segmentation allows efficient particle capture throughout the chamber volume without requiring excessive overall size, maintaining high capture efficiency in a compact configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces water injection from multiple dimensions (side walls, top, bottom) rather than relying solely on linear chamber length. By using multi-dimensional water spray patterns, the system achieves thorough particle capture without proportionally increasing chamber volume

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

3Manufacturing precision

If water injection flow rate is increased to improve particle capture, then separation efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes energy consumption by carefully controlling water injection parameters including flow rate, pressure, and temperature. By adjusting these parameters to optimal values rather than using excessive water flow, the system achieves high separation efficiency with minimized energy input for pumping and heating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of water (evaporation and condensation) to enhance particle capture. Water droplets evaporate partially to match particle size for better capture, then condensed water vapor coalesces with captured particles, improving efficiency without requiring continuous high-flow water injection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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

Achieves high separation efficiency with reduced energy consumption, minimizing particulate emissions to below 10 mg/Nm3 and achieving 97% efficiency with costs and maintenance comparable to large-scale industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid dispensed into the washing chamber undergoes evaporation, condensation and coalescence phenomena

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

The liquid dispensed into the washing chamber undergoes evaporation, condensation and coalescence phenomena

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

The liquid dispensed into the washing chamber undergoes evaporation, condensation and coalescence phenomena

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoalescence: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentEP3773987B1Method and apparatus for separating particulate composition carried by a gaseous stream
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 ALMA MATER STUDIORUM UNIV DI BOLOGNA
  • EP3773987B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for separating an an exhaust gas, in particular an exhaust gas of a boiler, comprising introducing a gas stream of exhaust gas inside a washing chamber, dispensing a pressurized liquid shaped as drops inside the washing chamber, wherein the delivery pressure is adjusted according to the specific particulate to be separated so as to provide, during the separating step, a physical interaction between the delivered liquid drops and the particulate particles.