Carbon Dioxide Snow Metering with Adjustable Dual-Floor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for dosing carbon dioxide snow face challenges in precise metering, as they are prone to carbon dioxide snow caking and moisture freezing, leading to impaired functionality and turbulence from gas flow, making it difficult to deliver defined but varying volumes of carbon dioxide snow without scattering.
Innovation Solution
A device with a dispensing unit featuring a horizontally movable sliding floor and a separating floor, which can be actuated to control the dispensing opening, allowing for precise release of carbon dioxide snow without gas flow interference, and adjustable to varying volumes by changing the vertical distance between the floors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid carbon dioxide is expanded using the Joule-Thomson effect to produce carbon dioxide snow, then the snow particles can be generated and applied to cool surfaces, but the strong current of carbon dioxide gas causes the light snow particles to be swirled and scattered widely
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the generation of carbon dioxide snow from its application by using a storage container to collect the snow particles, allowing the gas and snow to be separated. The snow can then be dispensed independently from the generation location, controlling where it is applied without the interfering gas current.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the carbon dioxide snow from the gas current by collecting it in a storage container after expansion. This separates the useful snow particles from the harmful gas flow, allowing controlled application without the swirling effect that causes unwanted scattering.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical devices such as funnels or baffles are used to focus the snow particles more strongly, then the scattering of snow particles can be reduced, but the carbon dioxide snow tends to cake on the mechanical devices and impairs operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage container as an intermediary between the snow generation and application points. This intermediary collects and holds the snow particles, allowing them to be dispensed without requiring direct mechanical focusing devices that would be prone to caking and operational impairment.
3Ease of operation
If a screw conveyor is arranged between the expansion chamber and discharge opening to separate gas flow from carbon dioxide snow, then the snow can be transported precisely without turbulence, but the device is only suitable to a limited extent for targeted cooling of individual products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable dispensing unit that can be dynamically positioned and adjusted. This allows the system to adapt to different cooling requirements and product locations, providing both precise snow delivery and flexibility for targeted cooling of individual products on conveyor belts or in storage containers.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with a versatile dispensing unit that can serve multiple functions: it can dispense snow precisely to individual products, cool entire storage containers, or apply snow to products on conveyor belts. This multi-functionality makes the system adaptable to various cooling scenarios without requiring separate specialized equipment.
4Ease of operation
If wire mesh or perforated plates are used to hold back carbon dioxide snow, then the snow can be pressed through to fall onto the product surface, but carbon dioxide snow will cake inside the meshes or perforations and moisture will freeze on them
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container acts as an intermediary that collects snow particles in a controlled environment away from the mesh structures. By dispensing snow from this storage location rather than forcing it through meshes, the system avoids the caking and freezing problems that would impair mesh functionality and require maintenance.
5Measurement precision
If two vertically spaced slide valves are provided on the storage tank to separate a precisely defined volume of snow, then dosing can be achieved, but defined but different amounts of snow cannot be delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed slide valves with a movable dispensing unit that can be dynamically positioned at different locations on the storage container. This allows the dosed volume to be varied by changing the dispensing position, enabling different amounts of snow to be delivered while maintaining precise control through the defined geometry of the storage container sections.
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
Enables precise and controlled dosing of carbon dioxide snow, minimizing caking and moisture issues, with the ability to adjust the volume according to specific cooling requirements, ensuring efficient and targeted application without turbulence.
Implementation Method 1
carbon dioxide snow is produced by expanding liquid carbon dioxide using the Joule-Thomson effect
Implementation Method 2
The carbon dioxide snow falls down in the funnel under the action of gravity onto a surface to be cooled
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 2e~2f
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for metering carbon dioxide snow comprising a storage container and a discharge opening arranged in the base of the storage container. A horizontally moveable sliding base is arranged in the region of the discharge opening, by means of which the discharge opening can be opened and closed. a horizontally moveable separation base is positioned vertically at a distance from the sliding base, which can be moved inside the storage container. After filling the storage container with carbon dioxide snow, a metered amount of carbon dioxide snow between the separation base and the sliding base is separated by means of the separation base, which amount is discharged via movement of the sliding base into the open position thereof. The invention permits the discharge of a precisely metered amount of carbon dioxide snow.