Pressure-Modulated Bubble Cleaning for Complex Pipe Wall Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in liquid-carrying systems, such as pipelines and fittings, are inefficient and often require aggressive chemicals or mechanical means that are either ineffective or undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a pressure modulation chamber that reduces pressure in a cleaning fluid to form gas bubbles, which adhere to and lift away dirt from the wall sections, using fluids that outgas or evaporate under pressure changes, optionally combined with heating or cooling to enhance bubble formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pipe pigs are used to clean liquid-carrying areas, then mechanical cleaning of wall sections is achieved, but cleaning is limited to areas with constant cross-section and cannot effectively clean fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pipe pig system with a cavitation-based cleaning system. Gas bubbles are introduced into the cleaning fluid and collapse to generate cleaning action, eliminating the need for physical contact with the wall surface and enabling effective cleaning of complex geometries including fittings and crevices that are inaccessible to mechanical devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of gas bubbles from formation to collapse (cavitation) as the cleaning mechanism. Gas is introduced into the liquid cleaning fluid, forms bubbles that travel to the wall surface, and collapses to generate high-pressure jets and shock waves that remove contaminants from complex geometries without mechanical contact
2Productivity
If aggressive cleaning agents are used to remove stubborn dirt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and potential harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces aggressive chemical cleaning agents with a physical cavitation mechanism. Gas bubble collapse generates high-pressure liquid jets and shock waves that mechanically remove stubborn contaminants without requiring harsh chemicals, thereby eliminating harmful chemical effects while maintaining high cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the oxidative potential of cavitation bubbles and the cleaning fluid to enhance dirt removal. The cavitation process and cleaning fluid work together to break down and remove contaminants through a combination of mechanical force and chemical action, reducing the need for aggressive standalone chemical agents
3Ease of operation
If mechanical cleaning methods are used, then direct contact cleaning is achieved, but hard-to-reach areas such as crevices and rough surfaces cannot be effectively cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact cleaning with cavitation-based cleaning. Gas bubbles are introduced into the cleaning fluid and collapse to generate cleaning action that can penetrate into crevices, rough surfaces, and other hard-to-reach areas, expanding the effective cleaning coverage beyond what mechanical devices can access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of gas bubbles to achieve cleaning in hard-to-reach areas. The bubbles can penetrate into crevices and rough surfaces where mechanical devices cannot reach, and their collapse generates localized high-pressure cleaning action that effectively removes contaminants from these difficult-to-access regions
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
Effectively cleans difficult-to-access areas, including crevices and rough surfaces, by forming gas bubbles that collapse to remove stubborn dirt with minimal system modifications, suitable for various industrial plants.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure in the pressure modulation chamber is reduced. Due to the fluidic communication with the cleaning fluid, the pressure of the cleaning fluid also decreases as a result of the pressure reduction in the pressure modulation chamber. This leads to the formation of gas bubbles in the cleaning fluid
Implementation Method 2
The formation of gas bubbles can occur through evaporation of the cleaning fluid (due to a drop in pressure), also known as spontaneous boiling
Implementation Method 3
and/or through the outgassing of a substance dissolved in the cleaning fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cleaning wall sections (5) of liquid-carrying regions (2); an installation (1) and a method for cleaning objects (32), wherein the cleaning effect is based on gas bubbles (19) formed by the pressure of a cleaning liquid (18) being lowered.