(19)
(11)EP 2 146 936 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
01.05.2013 Bulletin 2013/18

(21)Application number: 08704958.1

(22)Date of filing:  25.01.2008
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
C02F 11/12(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/KR2008/000467
(87)International publication number:
WO 2008/140175 (20.11.2008 Gazette  2008/47)

(54)

THE ELECTROOSMOTIC DEHYDRATOR

VORRICHTUNG ZUR ELEKTROOSMOTISCHEN ENTWÄSSERUNG

DÉSHYDRATEUR ÉLECTRO-OSMOTIQUE


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30)Priority: 14.05.2007 KR 20070046494

(43)Date of publication of application:
27.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/04

(73)Proprietors:
  • Korea Water Technology Inc.
    Gyeongsangnam-do 641-847 (KR)
  • Lee, Yeong Chae
    Busan 613-827 (KR)

(72)Inventor:
  • LEE, Yeong Chae
    Busan 613-827 (KR)

(74)Representative: Banzer, Hans-Jörg 
Kraus & Weisert Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Thomas-Wimmer-Ring 15
80539 München
80539 München (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
JP-A- 62 197 115
KR-B1- 100 452 145
US-A- 5 114 560
US-A- 5 292 421
KR-A- 977 006 055
KR-B1- 100 507 686
US-A- 5 192 413
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Technical Field



    [0001] The present invention relates to an electroosmotic dehydrator, and more specifically to an electroosmotic dehydrator having a structure of improving durability and electrical conductivity of a drum that is a core part of the electroosmotic dehydrator, making it possbile to secure stable dehydrating work, extend use lifetime, and reduce power consumption.

    Background Art



    [0002] Generally, an electroosmotic dehydrator is an apparatus that is applied with a direct current power supply for forming electric field to remove water coupled with sludge by electrophoretic property and dehydrates water contained in the sludge by means of a voltage difference.

    [0003] The structure comprises a drum largely applied with a + and -; a caterpillar applied with + or - pole by being mounted to be spaced by a constant space portion from the drum; and a filter cloth belt wound for transfer and dehydration of sludge between the drum and the caterpillar.

    [0004] Herein, there may be an electroosmotic dehydrator comprising an electrode plate applied with - or +, which rotates at an endless track such as the caterpillar, instead of the caterpillar.

    [0005] Such a conventional electroosmotic dehydrator applies constant pure direct current voltage between the drum and the caterpillar (or electrode plate) to form electric field and transfers water around liquid sludge particles charged in the electric field to an electrode opposite to a charge taken by the sludge particles by means of electrophoresis and capillary phenomena to separate and remove water.

    [0006] In other words, since the sludge particles have - surface charge, if the electric field is applied to the sludge, the sludge particles move to a positive (+) pole and the water in the sludge particle layer moves to a negative (-) pole, thereby promoting the dehydration.

    [0007] However, since such a conventional electroosmotic dehydrator has a structure that the drum is made of only stainless, an electrochemical reaction occurs by the electric field generating between the drum and the caterpillar (or electrode plate) when performing the dehydrating work so that the surface of the drum is electrolyzed, thereby causing large and small corrosion on the surface thereof.

    [0008] And, the drum is heated at high temperature by means of coulombic heating generated between the drum and the caterpillar (or electrode plate) to generate vapor, thereby causing more serious corrosion on the surface of the drum as well as a change in an external form.

    [0009] Therefore, the use lifetime of the drum is shortened more than expected, the electrical conductivity of the drum is degraded, and the dehydration performance is degraded, thereby causing problems that maintenance cost of the dehydrator is increased, power consumption required for the operation of the dehydrator is increased, and water content of the sludge is increased.

    [0010] An electroosmotic dehydrator according to the preamble of independent claim 1 is known from US 5,114,560 A. The electroosmotic dehydrator comprises a drum, a caterpillar and a filter cloth belt. The drum is made from stainless steel, and copper bars formed into rings are inserted in grooves of the drum. A titanium sheet is attached to the outer surface of the drum, and a very thin platinum coating is applied to the titanium sheet in order to avoid corrosion. The titanium sheet is welded to a titanium backing plate which is fitted to a groove in a roll of the drum. The platinum coating is applied to the drum by placing a very small amount of liquid platinum salt at the bottom of a titanium bath vessel corresponding in shape to the drum.

    [0011] A similar electroosmotic dehydrator is known from US 5,292,421 A.

    Disclosure of the Invention


    Technical Problem



    [0012] It is the object of the present invention to provide an electroosmotic dehydrator which can solve the aforementioned problems. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electroosmotic dehydrator having an increased durability and electrical conductivity, which comprises a copper plate mounted to an outer side surface of the drum and a titanium plate coated with a coating agent of platinum-based metal that is mounted to an outer side surface of the copper plate so as to increase the durability and electrical conductivity of the drum.

    [0013] According to the present invention, an electroosmotic dehydrator as defined in independent claim 1 is provided. The dependent claim defines a preferred and advantageous embodiment of the invention.

    [0014] In the following, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

    Technical Solution



    [0015] An electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention comprising a drum 1 applied with + or -; a caterpillar 2 or an electrode plate applied with + or - by being mounted to be spaced by a constant space portion from the drum; and a filter cloth belt 3 wound for transfer and dehydration of sludge between the drum and the caterpillar or the electrode plate, characterized in that a copper plate 4 is mounted to an outer side surface of the drum 1 and a titanium plate 6 is coated with a coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal to an outer side surface of the copper plate 4.

    [0016] The drum 1 is made of a stainless plate and has a thickness of 8T, the copper plate 4 has a thickness of IT and the titanium plate 6 has a thickness of IT.

    [0017] An inner side surface of the drum 1 is mounted with a water cooling jacket 8 in a cylindrical shape having a space portion within which cooling water is circulated.

    [0018] The copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 is mounted to the drum 1 without being spaced from eacht other by means of a plurality of bolts 9 whose heads are coated with the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal and penetrate through the cooper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 to be coupled to the drum 1.

    [0019] The water cooling jacket 8 is made of lightweight and strong anti-corrosion stainless so as to be smoothly rotated and prevent corrosion by means of the cooling water.

    [0020] Herein, although not shown, the water cooling jacket 8 is connected to a cooling water supplying apparatus supplying the cooling water that is separately mounted to the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 to smoothly circulate the cooling water therein.

    [0021] Also, although not shown, the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 does not use the caterpillar 2 and includes a structure mounted with the electrode plate applied with - or +, which rotates at an endless track such as the caterpillar 2.

    [0022] In non-explained numerals in the drawings, 10 is a cooling water supplying nozzle mounted to the water cooling jacket 8 and 11. is a water cooling supplying tube connecting the cooling water supplying nozzle 10 to the cooling water supplying apparatus.

    [0023] The electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention is an apparatus that dehydrates the sludge by separating water contained in the sludge from the sludge through electrophoretic property and capillary phenomenon by means of a voltage difference in an applied direct current power supply, as shown in FIG. 1.

    [0024] In particular, the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention improve the durability and electrical conductivity of the drum 1, which is a core part, making it possible to extend its use lifetime and improve dehydration performance.

    [0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electroosmotic dehydrator comprises the water cooling jacket 8 mounted to the inner side surface of the drum 1 made of stainless to circulate the cooling water, the copper plate 4 mounted to thee outer side surface of the drum 1 and the titanium plate 6 coated with the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal and mounted to the outer side surface of the copper plate. The operation thereof will be described in more detail.

    [0026] First, the sludge to be hydrated is injected through a hopper (not shown) and the sludge injected into the hopper flows in the filter cloth belt 3 and is then transferred along the drum 1.

    [0027] Thereafter, the water contained in the sludge transferred along the drum 1 is dyhydrated through the electrophoresis and capillary phenomena by electric field generated between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 each applied with (+) direct current voltage and (-) direct current voltage.

    [0028] At this time, the drum 1 has high strength, high lightweight and high anti-corrosion by means of the titaninum plate 6 mounted to the outer side surface thereof.

    [0029] Furthermore, the drum 1 becomes an insoluable electrode by means of the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal coated on the surface of the titanium plate 6 to very slightly emit metal ions upon performing the dehydrating work so that the electrolysis is little performed, thereby making it strong against the electrochemical corrosion.

    [0030] Therefore, the disadvantage of the conventional electroosmotic dehydrator that large and small corrosion is caused on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 1 by means of the electrochemical reaction performed between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 is solved, making it possible to increase the durability of the drum 1.

    [0031] Herein, the lifetime for preventing the corrosion of the drum 1 may be varied according to the thickness of the coating agent 5. For example, when the thickness of the coating agent 5 is 1 micrometa, it has the lifetime of about 1 year.

    [0032] Therefore, when the thickness of the coating agent is large, the lifetime for preventing the corrosion of the drum 1 can be further extended.

    [0033] And, the electrical conductivity of the drum 1 is improved several times by means of the copper plate 4 mounted between the outer side surface thereof and the inner side surface of the titanium plate 6, thereby smoothing the flow of electricity and reducing coulombic heating.

    [0034] Therefore, the electrical field between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 can be more effectively improved as well as the generation of vapor can be suppressed so that the dehydrating work can be stably and effectively performed as well as the power consumption required for the dehydrating work can be reduced.

    [0035] Also, the drum 1 is contiuously cooled by means of the water cooling jacket 8 mounted to the inner peripheral surface thereof so that the deformation or corrosion of the drum 1 due to heat are prevented, making it possible to extend the use lifetime of the drum 1 and seucre the stabe dehydrating work.

    [0036] Therefore, the disadvantage of the conventional electroosmotic dehydrator that the drum 1 not having a separate cooling means is heated by high temperature heat generated while the electrical field is formed between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 so that it is easily corroded or deformed can be solved.

    [0037] When the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 are mounted to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 1, without performing the welding as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of bolts 9, which are screw-connected to the drum at a constant interval by penetrating through the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6, is used.

    [0038] Since the welding damages the coating agent 5 coated on the titanim plate 6, this is for closely mounting the drum 1 to the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 without causing a gap therebetween while preventing the damage of the coating agent.

    Advantageous Effects



    [0039] The present invention constituted as described above has an effect that the use lifetime of the drum 1 is extended according to the durability reinforce of the drum 1 and the electrical conductivity of the drum 1 so that the maintenance cost of the dehydrator 100 can be reduced and the electric field is effectively generated and the power consumption is reduced so that the hydration performance can be improved and the stable dehydrating work can be secured.

    Brief Description of the Drawings



    [0040] 

    FIG. 1 is an inner perspective cross-sectional view of an electroosmotic dehydrator of the present invention.

    FIG. 2 is a portion cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the present invention.

    FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the present invention.

    FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of A of FIG. 3.


    [Detailed Description of Main Elements]



    [0041] 

    1: drum

    2: caterpillar

    3: filter cloth belt

    4: copper plate

    5: coating agent

    6: titanium plate

    7: space portion

    8: water cooling jacket

    9: bolt

    10: cooling water supplying nozzle

    11: cooling water supplying tube

    100: electroosmotic dehydrator


    Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention



    [0042] Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

    [0043] FIG. 1 is an inner perspective cross-sectional view of an electroosmotic dehydrator of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a portion cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of A of FIG. 3.

    [0044] An electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention comprising a drum 1 applied with + or -; a caterpillar 2 or an electrode plate applied with + or - by being mounted to be spaced by a constant space portion from the drum; and a filter cloth belt 3 wound for transfer and dehydration of sludge between the drum and the caterpillar or the electrode plate, characterized in that a copper plate 4 is mounted to an outer side surface of the drum 1 and a titanium plate 6 is coated with a coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal to an outer side surface of the copper plate 4.

    [0045] The drum 1 is made of a stainless plate and has a thickness of 8T, the copper plate 4 has a thickness of 1T and the titanium plate 6 has a thickness of 1T.

    [0046] An inner side surface of the drum 1 is mounted with a water cooling jacket 8 in a cylindrical shape having a space portion within which cooling water is circulated.

    [0047] The copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 is mounted to the drum 1 without being spaced from eacht other by means of a plurality of bolts 9 whose heads are coated with the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal and penetrate through the cooper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 to be coupled to the drum 1.

    [0048] The water cooling jacket 8 is made of lightweight and strong anti-corrosion stainless so as to be smoothly rotated and prevent corrosion by means of the cooling water.

    [0049] Herein, although not shown, the water cooling jacket 8 is connected to a cooling water supplying apparatus supplying the cooling water that is separately mounted to the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 to smoothly circulate the cooling water therein.

    [0050] Also, although not shown, the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 does not use the caterpillar 2 and includes a structure mounted with the electrode plate applied with - or +, which rotates at an endless track such as the caterpillar 2.

    [0051] In non-explained numerals in the drawings, 10 is a cooling water supplying nozzle mounted to the water cooling jacket 8 and 11 is a water cooling supplying tube connecting the cooling water supplying nozzle 10 to the cooling water supplying apparatus.

    [0052] The electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention is an apparatus that dehydrates the sludge by separating water contained in the sludge from the sludge through electrophoretic property and capillary phenomenon by means of a voltage difference in an applied direct current power supply, as shown in FIG. 1.

    [0053] In particular, the electroosmotic dehydrator 100 of the present invention improve the durability and electrical conductivity of the drum 1, which is a core part, making it possible to extend its use lifetime and improve dehydration performance.

    [0054] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electroosmotic dehydrator comprises the water cooling jacket 8 mounted to the inner side surface of the drum 1 made of stainless to circulate the cooling water, the copper plate 4 mounted to thee outer side surface of the drum 1 and the titanium plate 6 coated with the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal and mounted to the outer side surface of the copper plate. The operation thereof will be described in more detail.

    [0055] First, the sludge to be hydrated is injected through a hopper (not shown) and the sludge injected into the hopper flows in the filter cloth belt 3 and is then transferred along the drum 1.

    [0056] Thereafter, the water contained in the sludge transferred along the drum 1 is dyhydrated through the electrophoresis and capillary phenomena by electric field generated between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 each applied with (+) direct current voltage and (-) direct current voltage.

    [0057] At this time, the drum 1 has high strength, high lightweight and high anti-corrosion by means of the titaninum plate 6 mounted to the outer side surface thereof.

    [0058] Furthermore, the drum 1 becomes an insoluable electrode by means of the coating agent 5 of platinum-based metal coated on the surface of the titanium plate 6 to very slightly emit metal ions upon performing the dehydrating work so that the electrolysis is little performed, thereby making it strong against the electrochemical corrosion.

    [0059] Therefore, the disadvantage of the conventional electroosmotic dehydrator that large and small corrosion is caused on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 1 by means of the electrochemical reaction performed between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 is solved, making it possible to increase the durability of the drum 1.

    [0060] Herein, the lifetime for preventing the corrosion of the drum 1 may be varied according to the thickness of the coating agent 5. For example, when the thickness of the coating agent 5 is 1 micrometa, it has the lifetime of about 1 year.

    [0061] Therefore, when the thickness of the coating agent is large, the lifetime for preventing the corrosion of the drum 1 can be further extended.

    [0062] And, the electrical conductivity of the drum 1 is improved several times by means of the copper plate 4 mounted between the outer side surface thereof and the inner side surface of the titanium plate 6, thereby smoothing the flow of electricity and reducing coulombic heating.

    [0063] Therefore, the electrical field between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 can be more effectively improved as well as the generation of vapor can be suppressed so that the dehydrating work can be stably and effectively performed as well as the power consumption required for the dehydrating work can be reduced.

    [0064] Also, the drum 1 is contiuously cooled by means of the water cooling jacket 8 mounted to the inner peripheral surface thereof so that the deformation or corrosion of the drum 1 due to heat are prevented, making it possible to extend the use lifetime of the drum 1 and seucre the stabe dehydrating work.

    [0065] Therefore, the disadvantage of the conventional electroosmotic dehydrator that the drum 1 not having a separate cooling means is heated by high temperature heat generated while the electrical field is formed between the drum 1 and the caterpillar 2 so that it is easily corroded or deformed can be solved.

    [0066] When the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 are mounted to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 1, without performing the welding as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of bolts 9, which are screw-connected to the drum at a constant interval by penetrating through the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6, is used.

    [0067] Since the welding damages the coating agent 5 coated on the titanim plate 6, this is for closely mounting the drum 1 to the copper plate 4 and the titanium plate 6 without causing a gap therebetween while preventing the damage of the coating agent.

    Industrial Applicability



    [0068] The present invention proposes to solve the aforementioned problems. The copper plate is mounted to the outer side surface of the drum and the titanium plate coated with a coating agent of platinum-based metal is mounted to the outer side surface of the copper plate to increase durability and electrical conductivity of the drum so that the use lifetime of the drum is extended according to the durability reinforce of the drum and the electrical conductivity of the drum to reduce the maintenance cost of the dehydrator 100 and the electric field is effectively generated and the power consumption is reduced to improve the hydration performance and secure the stable dehydrating work.


    Claims

    1. An electroosmotic dehydrator comprising:

    a drum (1) applied with + or -pole;

    a caterpillar (2) or an electrode plate applied with + or -pole by being mounted to be spaced by a constant space portion from the drum (1); and

    a filter cloth belt (3) wound for transfer and dehydration of sludge between the drum (1) and the caterpillar (2) or the electrode plate,

    characterized in that

    an outer side surface of the drum (1) is covered along its length by a combination of a copper plate (4) and a titanium plate (6) such that the copper plate (4) is mounted to an outer side surface of the drum (1) and the titanium plate (6) is coated with a coating agent (5) of platinum-based metal to an outer side surface of the copper plate (4), wherein the copper plate (4) and the titanium plate (6) are mounted to the drum (1) without being spaced from each other by means of a plurality of bolts (9) whose heads are coated with the coating agent (5) of platinum-based metal and penetrate through the copper plate (4) and the titanium plate (6) to be screw-connected to the drum (1).


     
    2. The electroosmotic dehydrator according to claim 1, wherein an inner side surface of the drum (1) is mounted with a water cooling jacket (8) having a space within which cooling water is circulated.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Elektroosmotischer Dehydrator umfassend:

    eine mit einem Plus- oder Minus-Pol versehene Trommel (1);

    eine mit einem Plus- oder Minus-Pol versehene und mit einem konstanten Abstand zu der Trommel (1) angeordnete Gleiskette (2) oder Elektrodenplatte; und

    einen Filter-Stoffgurt (3), welcher für den Transfer und die Dehydration von Schlamm zwischen der Trommel (1) und der Gleiskette (2) oder der Elektrodenplatte gewickelt ist,

    dadurch gekennzeichnet,

    dass eine äußere Seitenoberfläche der Trommel (1) entlang ihrer Länge von einer Kombination aus einer Kupferplatte (4) und einer Titaniumplatte (6) derart bedeckt ist, dass die Kupferplatte (4) an einer äußeren Seitenoberfläche der Trommel (1) angebracht und die Titaniumplatte (6) mit einem Beschichtungsmittel (5) eines Platin-basierten Metals beschichtet und an einer äußeren Seitenoberfläche der Kupferplatte (4) angebracht ist, wobei die Kupferplatte (4) und die Titaniumplatte (6) mit Hilfe von mehreren Bolzen (9), deren Köpfe mit dem Beschichtungsmittel (5) des Platin-basierten Metals beschichtet sind und welche durch die Kupferplatte (4) und die Titaniumplatte (6) verlaufen, um mit der Trommel (1) verschraubt zu werden, ohne Abstand zueinander an der Trommel (1) angebracht sind.


     
    2. Elektroosmotischer Dehydrator nach Anspruch 1, wobei an einer inneren Seitenoberfläche der Trommel (1) ein Wasserkühlmantel (8) mit einem Freiraum, in dem Kühlwasser zirkuliert, angebracht ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Déshydrateur électro-osmotique, comprenant :

    un tambour (1) appliqué avec un pôle + ou un pôle - ;

    une chenille (2) ou une plaque d'électrode appliquée avec un pôle + ou un pôle - en étant montée de façon à être séparée par une partie d'espacement constante du tambour (1) ; et

    un ruban de toile filtrante (3) enroulé pour transférer et déshydrater une boue entre le tambour (1) et la chenille (2) ou la plaque d'électrode,

    caractérisée en ce

    qu'une surface latérale externe du tambour (1) est recouverte le long de sa longueur par une combinaison de plaque de cuivre (4) et de plaque de titane (6), de telle sorte que la plaque de cuivre (4) est montée sur une surface latérale externe du tambour (1), et la plaque de titane (6) est revêtue d'un agent de revêtement (5) de métal à base de platine sur une surface latérale externe de la plaque de cuivre (4), dans lequel la plaque de cuivre (4) et la plaque de titane (6) sont montées sur le tambour (1) sans être espacées l'une de l'autre au moyen d'une pluralité de boulons (9) dont les têtes sont revêtues de l'agent de revêtement (5) de métal à base de titane et pénètrent à travers la plaque de cuivre (4) et la plaque de titane (6) pour être fixées au tambour (1) avec des vis.


     
    2. Déshydrateur électro-osmotique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une surface latérale interne du tambour (1) est montée avec une chemise de refroidissement à eau (8) possédant un espace au sein duquel l'eau de refroidissement circule.
     




    Drawing











    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description