Cold Water Spray Control for Exhaust Hood Grease Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exhaust ventilation systems face inefficiencies in grease removal and fire safety due to temperature-related issues in cold water spray systems, where water temperature increases, reducing grease removal efficiency and requiring effective reconditioning, and the need for accurate fire detection to activate the water spray system.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling a cold water spray system in exhaust ventilation by determining the demand load of a cooking appliance and maintaining a low water temperature through temperature management, including spraying, circulating, and draining water based on predetermined thresholds, and activating the system in response to fire safety signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If water is continuously used in the cold water spray system for grease removal, then the system can maintain continuous operation, but the water temperature increases and grease removal efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system drains water from the cold water spray system when its temperature exceeds a first predetermined threshold and replaces it with fresh cold water. This discards heated water that has lost its cooling effectiveness and recovers system performance by introducing fresh cold water, thereby maintaining continuous reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors water temperature in the cold water spray system and uses this feedback to control when to drain and replace water. The temperature sensor provides real-time data that triggers drainage actions when thresholds are exceeded, ensuring the system maintains optimal operating conditions for grease removal.
2Device complexity
If water temperature in the cold water spray system is not controlled, then the system structure remains simple, but grease removal efficiency decreases as temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the temperature parameter of water by draining heated water and replacing it with fresh cold water from a water source. This parameter change restores the cooling effectiveness of the water, maintaining low temperature for efficient grease removal without requiring complex temperature control machinery.
3Reliability
If the cold water spray system is activated for fire suppression, then fire safety response is provided, but water is consumed without contributing to grease removal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cold water spray system serves multiple functions: grease removal during normal operation and fire suppression when needed. The same water spray infrastructure is used for both purposes, making the system universal and eliminating the need for separate fire suppression equipment.
4Reliability
If water is drained and replaced frequently to maintain low temperature, then grease removal efficiency is maintained, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors water temperature and drains/replaces water only when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold. This parameter-based control ensures water is replaced only when necessary, maintaining grease removal efficiency while minimizing unnecessary water consumption.
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 maintains efficient grease removal and enhances fire safety by ensuring the cold water spray system operates effectively, with water temperature management optimizing its performance and the system's ability to respond to fire threats.
Implementation Method 1
Efficiency of grease removal and/or cleaning and/or vapor condensation can depend on the temperature and/or dirt content of the water in the cold water spray system
Implementation Method 2
spraying water from the cold water spray system when the cooking effluent exceeds a first predetermined out-of-bounds temperature threshold. Water spray cools the cooking effluent
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for demand-based control of a cold water spray system of an exhaust ventilation system. Embodiments include determining a demand load of a cooking appliance that generates cooking effluent in a vicinity of an exhaust hood, and determining a temperature of water in the cold water spray system. The cold water spray system is controlled in response to at least one of the determined appliance demand load and the determined temperature of water in the cold water spray system to maintain a low temperature of water in the cold water spray system below a predetermined temperature threshold, thereby enabling efficient removal of contaminants from the exhaust hood by the cold water spray system.