Wet Scrubber Vortex Chamber Diffuser Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wet scrubbers in paint spray booths are inefficient in capturing paint particles, leading to sub-optimal particle separation and high pressure drops due to recirculation zones and energy loss in volutes.

Innovation Solution

A wet scrubber design featuring a vortex chamber with a diffuser configuration that prevents fluid recirculation, utilizing a mixing chamber with an impingement pool and divider to enhance turbulence and a cylindrical vortex chamber with projections to divide it into sub-chambers, along with diffusers positioned to decelerate airflow efficiently and prevent backflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If volutes are used to decelerate air flow and recover pressure in wet scrubbers, then pressure recovery is improved, but back flow of exhaust occurs which perturbs the vortex chamber flow, decreasing capturing efficiency and increasing effective pressure drop

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure recoveryVSAvoidparticle capture efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scrubber is divided into separate functional sections: a vortex chamber for particle capture and a diffuser section for pressure recovery. The diffuser is positioned downstream of the vortex chamber, preventing back flow from affecting the vortex flow patterns. This segmentation allows each section to perform its function independently without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The detrimental back flow and recirculation zones are extracted and isolated from the vortex chamber by positioning the diffuser downstream. The diffuser acts as a separate pressure recovery mechanism that does not perturb the vortex flow, effectively removing the source of efficiency degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stress or pressure

If recirculation zones are generated in volutes, then pressure recovery is attempted, but energy required to sustain recirculation zones is taken away from the flow, reducing recoverable pressure energy and increasing effective pressure drop

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure energy recoveryVSAvoideffective pressure drop

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation zones and their associated energy consumption are extracted and isolated from the main flow path by positioning the diffuser downstream of the vortex chamber. This prevents energy loss from recirculation from affecting the overall pressure recovery process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The diffuser acts as an intermediary component between the vortex chamber and the exhaust. It provides a smooth transition for flow deceleration and pressure recovery without creating harmful recirculation zones that would consume energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stress or pressure

If volutes are used to decelerate air flow, then pressure recovery is improved, but recirculation zones reduce the effective flow area precluding appropriate deceleration of the flow, hence reducing pressure recovery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure recoveryVSAvoidflow pattern control

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow control function is segmented between the vortex chamber (for particle capture) and the diffuser (for deceleration and pressure recovery). The diffuser provides a controlled, gradual deceleration of flow without the complex recirculation patterns found in volutes, simplifying the overall flow control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design significantly increases particle capture efficiency while minimizing pressure drop and energy consumption, ensuring cleaner air exhaust and effective paint particle removal.

Implementation Method 1

a vortex chamber, in communication with the inlet, for causing at least a portion of the fluid to circulate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

at least one diffuser for exhausting the fluid from the vortex chamber, the diffuser configured to substantially prevent fluid exhausted from the diffuser from recirculating back into the diffuser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffuser deceleration: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a mixing chamber having an impingement pool located between the inlet and the vortex chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS8241405B2Fluid scrubber and spray booth including the fluid scrubber

Publication Date: 2012.08.14 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION

AI summary

A wet scrubber for scrubbing a fluid. The wet scrubber may include an inlet for receiving the fluid and a vortex chamber, in communication with the inlet, for causing at least a portion of the fluid to circulate. The wet scrubber may also include at least one diffuser for exhausting the fluid from the vortex chamber, the diffuser configured to substantially prevent fluid exhausted from the diffuser from recirculating back into the diffuser. A paint booth and a method of scrubbing a fluid are also provided.