Self-cleaning screen system and method
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsMeng H. Lean, Armin R. Völkel, Ashutosh Kole, Kai Melde, Huangpin Ben Hsieh
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Abstract
A self-cleaning screen system and method removes contaminants from a fluid passed through a screen of the self-cleaning screen system. The self-cleaning screen system includes a cleaning mechanism used to remove contaminants which may have adhered to the screen. The self-cleaning screen system is self-powered by extracting energy from the fluid flow to cause rotation or other movement of either the screen and/or the cleaning mechanism.
Claims20
A self-cleaning screen system for removal of contaminants from a fluid passed through a screen comprising:
- a conduit having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit separate from the fluid entrance;
- a screen positioned in relationship to the conduit such that contaminants in fluid passing through the conduit are removed as the fluid passes through the screen.
- a cleaning mechanism operatively associated with the screen to remove the contaminants;
- and
- an energy transformer configured to extract energy from the fluid flow and to use the extracted energy to activate at least one of the screen or the cleaning mechanism.
A method for removal of contaminants from a fluid passed through a self-cleaning screen comprising:
- providing a fluid flow passing through a conduit having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit separate from the fluid entrance;
- positioning a screen in relationship to the conduit such that contaminants in the fluid are removed as the fluid passes through the screen;
- and
- providing a cleaning mechanism operatively associated with the screen to remove contaminants from the screen;
- wherein the fluid flow generates turbine motion causing rotation of at least one of the screen or the cleaning mechanism.
A self-cleaning screen system for removal of contaminants from a fluid passed through a screen comprising:
- a conduit;
- a screen positioned in relationship to the conduit such that contaminants in the fluid are removed as the fluid passes through the screen;
- and
- a cleaning mechanism in contact with the screen to remove contaminants, the system configured such that energy extracted from the fluid passing though the screen is used to rotate at least one of the screen or the cleaning mechanism and the rotation is caused by a turbine motion, a back flush using pressurized air or a back flush using stored energy, and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.