Container Drying Apparatus Dynamic Fluid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying apparatuses for containers, such as cans, consume excessive energy due to oversized fluid flow in the cooling portion, leading to inefficient cooling and increased ecological footprint.
Innovation Solution
A drying apparatus and method that adjust the fluid flow according to the container properties, such as temperature and conveying velocity, to precisely cool the containers, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluid flow is set to a predefined value based on maximum can volume to ensure reliable cooling, then the cooling reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to oversized fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow is made dynamically adjustable based on actual container properties (volume, surface area, material) rather than using a fixed predefined value. The system adapts the cooling intensity to match the actual cooling demand of each container, eliminating unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining reliable cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fluid flow parameters (flow rate, velocity, distribution pattern) based on detected container properties. By adjusting these parameters dynamically according to the actual container characteristics, the system achieves optimal cooling efficiency without wasting energy on oversized flow for smaller containers.
2Speed
If the fluid flow is increased to cool containers faster, then the cooling speed is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts fluid flow parameters dynamically based on the actual cooling requirements of each container. Instead of using a constant high flow rate, the system optimizes the flow parameters to match the container's thermal mass, surface area, and material properties, achieving fast cooling when needed while minimizing energy consumption when less cooling is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid flow system transitions from a static, fixed-flow design to a dynamic, adjustable flow system that responds to actual container properties. This enables the system to provide high cooling speed for containers that require it while reducing flow to minimize energy consumption for containers with lower cooling demands.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the fluid flow is reduced to save energy, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the cooling reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes fluid flow parameters based on detected container properties to ensure sufficient cooling capacity is maintained. By adjusting flow rate, distribution pattern, and contact time according to the actual container characteristics, the system achieves energy-efficient operation while guaranteeing that the cooling process remains reliable and meets all cooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor container properties and adjust fluid flow accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the fluid flow is optimized to maintain reliable cooling performance while minimizing energy consumption, preventing both over-cooling and under-cooling scenarios.
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
The solution enables more energy-efficient cooling of containers, reducing the energy required for each can production and minimizing the ecological footprint of the drying process.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow device (144) arranged and designed to act on the container (1) with a fluid flow (150, 150') within the cooling portion (142)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drying apparatus for drying containers having at least one container property, the drying apparatus including a cooling portion in which the containers can be cooled, a fluid flow device that is arranged and designed to apply a fluid flow to the containers within the cooling portion, and a control device that is designed to control the fluid flow device according to the at least one container property in such a way that the containers are cooled by the fluid flow.