Design and Numerical Investigation of a Modular Gravity-Driven Cleaning Device for Floating Solid Waste in Rural Water Bodies

Abstract

A modular and automated cleaning device for floating solid waste was developed to tackle the problems of low collection efficiency, high energy consumption, and frequent clogging in rural ditches and ponds. According to field monitoring data, the inlet velocity and filter mesh size were determined. The device comprises a cleaning module, a collection module, and a bottom filter connected in series, which is driven mainly by gravity with low-power electric control as assistance. CFD and FEA were employed to simulate the flow field around the cleaning roller, the stress of the retention plate, and the head loss of the bottom filter. The results demonstrate that the flow field on the cleaning roller is stable, and the maximum velocity exhibits a linear relationship with the inlet velocity. The maximum equivalent stress of the retention plate is 38.6 MPa, and the rubber head can absorb more than 80% of the impact energy. With a 3 mm aperture for the bottom filter, the head loss is about 26 mm at the designed flow rate, achieving a good balance between interception efficiency and low flow resistance. The device can effectively intercept floating waste such as plastics and straws, making it suitable for routine cleaning of small rural water bodies.