Container Flushing via Vacuum-Assisted Inert Gas Rinsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for flushing containers with inert gas are inefficient, leading to high consumption of flushing gas and potential stress on containers due to high pressure fluctuations, which also result in oxygen uptake during filling.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a two-step process where the container is evacuated to a negative pressure and then flushed with inert gas while remaining connected to the vacuum source, minimizing pressure increase and reducing gas consumption by up to five times compared to traditional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If traditional pressure filling methods are used to flush containers, then filling can proceed, but high consumption of flushing gas occurs and oxygen uptake during filling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container interior is evacuated to create a vacuum before filling begins. This preliminary removal of air and gases creates a low-pressure environment that eliminates the need for extensive flushing gas consumption during subsequent filling operations, directly addressing the high gas consumption problem while maintaining filling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment (inert atmosphere) inside the container before filling. This vacuum state prevents oxygen uptake during filling and eliminates the need for continuous flushing gas supply, thereby reducing flushing gas consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional pressure filling methods
2Manufacturing precision
If high pressure is used to flush the container interior, then rinsing effectiveness improves, but stress on containers increases and may cause deformation or destruction
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying positive pressure to flush the container (traditional method), the patent applies negative pressure by evacuating the container to create a vacuum. This inverted approach achieves effective rinsing by drawing out contaminants rather than forcing them out with high pressure, thereby eliminating container stress and deformation risks while maintaining container integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure-based flushing system with a vacuum-based evacuation system. By substituting positive pressure mechanics with negative pressure vacuum technology, the system achieves effective container rinsing without subjecting containers to high stress that could cause deformation or destruction
3Loss of substance
If the container is evacuated to vacuum, then gas consumption is reduced, but container stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The container is evacuated to vacuum as a preliminary step before filling. This preliminary action removes air and gases from the container interior, creating a stable vacuum environment that minimizes gas consumption during filling while the controlled vacuum level maintains container structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the vacuum pressure parameter within specific ranges (e.g., 0.05-0.4 bar absolute pressure) to optimize both gas consumption reduction and container stability. By adjusting the vacuum level parameter, the system achieves effective rinsing with minimal gas consumption while preventing container deformation or damage
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 achieves effective container rinsing with significantly lower gas consumption, reducing stress on containers and minimizing oxygen uptake during filling, thereby offering cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the interior of the container is evacuated by connecting it to a vacuum source
Implementation Method 2
the actual rinsing of the container takes place by injecting the rinsing gas, with the interior of the container remaining connected to the vacuum source, so that the rinsing gas is injected into a vacuum or high vacuum within the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for processing containers includes introducing flushing gas into a container's interior while the interior remains connected to a vacuum source, and adjusting flow of the flushing gas and an underpressure of the vacuum source such that, while flushing gas flows through the interior, a flushing pressure in the interior lies between 0.46 and 0.9 bar.