Damper Ring Main Filling Line Pressure Fluctuations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure fluctuations in filling lines with multiple filling machines can cause interference, leading to production stoppages, as existing systems are not effectively designed to manage these fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A filling line with a ring main and at least one damper to dampen pressure fluctuations, allowing for the use of multiple filling machines of different types or speeds, with a valve configuration enabling bidirectional product flow and an air cushion to mitigate pressure peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple filling machines are used in the same filling line, then productivity is improved, but pressure fluctuations occur causing machines to interfere with each other and go out of production
Solution Approach 1:
A damper is introduced as an intermediary component in the ring main piping between the tank and filling machines. The damper absorbs pressure fluctuations and acts as a buffer, preventing direct interference between multiple filling machines while maintaining stable product supply to all machines simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper utilizes pneumatic principles by incorporating an air cushion or gas-filled chamber that compresses and expands to absorb pressure peaks and valleys. This hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism stabilizes pressure in the liquid product flow, enabling multiple filling machines to operate reliably without mutual interference.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different types of filling machines are combined in the same filling line, then adaptability is improved, but pressure fluctuations increase causing production interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The damper serves as a mediating element that decouples the pressure variations generated by different filling machine types and speeds. By placing the damper in the ring main, it absorbs the cumulative pressure effects from multiple machines with different operational characteristics, allowing diverse machine configurations to work together reliably.
3Productivity
If a ring main is used to supply product to multiple filling machines, then productivity is improved, but pressure fluctuations are not effectively dampened without additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is integrated into the existing ring main structure as an additional intermediary component. While it increases device complexity slightly, it effectively dampens pressure fluctuations in the ring main system, enabling stable high-productivity operation of multiple filling machines without requiring complete system redesign.
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
Significantly reduces pressure fluctuations, enabling the operation of multiple filling machines without production interruptions and allowing for a broader range of machine configurations, as demonstrated by simulations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one damper provided on the ring main and adapted to dampen pressure fluctuations
Implementation Method 2
The damper may for example have an upside-down U-shape. The damper may be filled with sterile air when draining the tank after sterilization, and during production the air in the damper provides an (upper) air cushion which dampens pressure peaks
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a filling line (10) for a liquid or semi-liquid food product. The filling line comprises: a tank (12) adapted to contain amounts of the liquid or semi-liquid food product (14); at least two filling machines (16a-b) adapted to fill said product into packages; piping including a ring main (18) for supplying said product from the tank to the at least two filling machines; and at least one damper (26) provided on the ring main and adapted to dampen pressure fluctuations.