Bottle Cleaning Device Heat Pump Water Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle cleaning devices face challenges in optimizing water and heat consumption, as they require significant amounts of fresh water for rinsing and recooling, which cannot be further reduced without compromising the effectiveness of cleaning and surfactant removal.
Innovation Solution
The bottle cleaning device incorporates a closed cooling circuit with a heat pump, multiple spray zones with temperature-controlled water, and a system for reusing water between collecting basins to minimize fresh water usage and optimize heat management, including a fresh water treatment apparatus to prepare water for subsequent processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fresh water is used for rinsing and recooling bottles, then cleaning effectiveness and surfactant removal are maintained, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a water recovery system where rinse water from the rinsing zone is collected and reused for pre-rinsing bottles in the pre-rinsing zone. This closed-loop approach recovers up to 50% of fresh water consumption by redirecting rinse water back into the cleaning process, thereby reducing overall water demand while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through controlled water quality management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate water treatment system between the rinsing zone and pre-rinsing zone that includes filtration and temperature adjustment mechanisms. This intermediary treatment ensures that recovered rinse water meets the quality requirements for pre-rinsing, enabling water reuse without compromising cleaning performance.
2Reliability
If hot water is used for cleaning bottles, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but heat consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous heat exchange system where heat from hot water in the rinsing zone is transferred to incoming fresh water for pre-rinsing through heat exchangers. This continuous thermal energy recovery maintains hot water availability for cleaning while reducing the energy required to heat fresh water, thereby reducing overall heat consumption while preserving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temperature gradient management across different zones, using progressively cooler water from the hot water supply through the cleaning and rinsing zones. This parameter optimization ensures that each zone receives water at the appropriate temperature for its function, maximizing cleaning effectiveness while minimizing the total heat energy required.
3Loss of energy
If multiple spray zones with temperature control are implemented, then water and heat usage is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the spray zones and collection basins to serve multiple functions: cleaning, rinsing, heat exchange, and water recovery. Each component is integrated into a unified system where collection basins from one zone supply water to pre-rinsing zones, and heat exchangers simultaneously cool incoming water while pre-heating rinse water. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby optimizing water and heat usage without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 solution reduces fresh water consumption by up to 50% while maintaining effective cleaning and surfactant removal, achieving efficient water and heat usage through the reuse and recycling of water within the system.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator designed to cool the cooling medium in the cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
a condenser, which is designed to heat the caustic solution
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a bottle cleaning device comprising a hot water spray region (41) that is arranged downstream of the main lye basin (3) in a bottle transport direction and comprises at least one spray zone (5, 6, 7), each of which comprises a paired collection basin arranged below the spray zone. An overflow (18, 19) which transports water out of the collection basins in a water transport direction is provided between a respective pair of collection basins arranged successively in the bottle transport direction. The bottle cleaning device is also provided with a fresh water spray region (42, 43), which is arranged downstream of the hot water spray region and comprises a first (8) and second freshwater spray zone (9) and a collection device (14, 15, 39) arranged below the spray zone, and an additional overflow (17, 40) between the collection device and the next collection basin, said overflow transporting water out of the collection device in the water transport direction. By means of a heat pump (23) with an evaporator (22) and a condenser (28), a coolant is cooled in a cooling circuit (21), which runs through the collection device and the collection basins, and lye of the main lye basin is heated.