CIP Cleaning Medium Flow Division for Simultaneous Pipeline Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CIP cleaning methods are inefficient due to flow rate limitations, aseptic risks, and the inability to simultaneously clean systems with different pipe cross-sections without cross-contamination, leading to prolonged cleaning times and increased resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A device with a feed pump whose speed and direction can be adjusted, featuring a pressure holding unit and throttle valve in the return line, allowing for divided cleaning medium flow with partial flows reused to optimize temperature, concentration, and volume, enabling simultaneous cleaning of systems with different sizes and flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single CIP line with one pump is used to clean multiple systems, then device complexity is reduced, but cross-contamination occurs between systems with different pipe cross-sections
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cleaning medium flow into multiple partial flows using flow dividers, with each partial flow dedicated to a specific system. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination while maintaining a single CIP line and pump, thus reducing device complexity while eliminating harmful cross-contamination effects.
2Productivity
If the feed pump capacity is increased to provide higher flow rates for mechanical cleaning power, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but pressure surges and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the total flow requirement into multiple partial flows that can be independently regulated. Flow dividers and individual flow control valves allow each partial flow to be optimized for its specific system, achieving adequate mechanical cleaning power without requiring excessive total flow rates that would cause pressure surges.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses variable speed drives on the feed pump and individual flow control valves on each partial flow to dynamically adjust flow distribution. This allows the system to adapt flow rates to actual cleaning needs, maintaining effectiveness while minimizing pressure surges and energy consumption.
3Productivity
If cleaning medium flow is divided into partial flows for multiple systems, then simultaneous cleaning of different systems is enabled, but flow rate to each system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a single feed pump and CIP line that serve multiple systems simultaneously through flow dividers. The universal cleaning medium is distributed to different systems with different pipe cross-sections, enabling one piece of equipment to perform multiple cleaning functions that would traditionally require separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs variable speed drives and individual flow control valves to dynamically balance flow distribution. This allows the system to adjust flow rates to each partial flow based on the specific requirements of each system, maintaining adequate cleaning flow rates even when multiple systems are cleaned simultaneously.
4Productivity
If spray balls are used to increase mechanical cleaning power in tanks, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but aseptic risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mechanical cleaning function from spray balls and transfers it to the flowing cleaning medium itself. By optimizing flow rates and using properly designed pipe configurations, the cleaning medium provides sufficient mechanical cleaning power without requiring spray balls that create aseptic risks.
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 approach enhances mechanical cleaning power, reduces pressure surges, prevents cross-contamination, and allows for simultaneous cleaning of systems with different sizes, while minimizing cleaning medium usage and time, maintaining aseptic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a feed pump whose speed and direction of rotation can be changed
Implementation Method 2
the line for the first partial flow is designed as a pressure holding unit
Implementation Method 3
a throttle valve is arranged in the return line of the partial flows
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a device for simultaneously cleaning several pipelines or pipeline systems, particularly those with different cross-sectional areas, are presented and described. The cleaning is carried out using a liquid cleaning medium, which is drawn from a collection tank by means of a pump (2) and supplied to the systems (A, B) to be cleaned. To reduce the amount of cleaning medium required and the cleaning time without compromising aseptic conditions, the invention provides that the cleaning medium stream (TS2) is supplied to the first system to be cleaned (A) and, after leaving the first system (A), is divided into two partial streams as the cleaning medium stream (TS2'). One partial stream is used to clean the second or subsequent system (B, B'), and the other partial stream is returned to the collection tank (1).