Dehumidifier Wheel Sanitization Before Contamination-Free Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dehumidifier wheels face contamination risks from organic substances like moulds and bacteria during prolonged shutdowns, which can be reintroduced when the system is restarted, potentially affecting users, especially in industries like food and pharmaceuticals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a sanitization method that involves rotating the dehumidifier wheel with regenerating air heated to 120°C to 145°C for 3 to 6 revolutions to kill organic substances before restarting, and optionally using a valve to divert process air externally during sanitization to prevent re-introduction of contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the dehumidifier wheel is shutdown for prolonged periods, then energy consumption is reduced, but organic substances like moulds and bacteria proliferate in the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a sanitization cycle before normal operation resumes after shutdown. This preliminary action heats the drying material to a temperature sufficient to kill organic substances (moulds and bacteria) that may have proliferated during the shutdown period, ensuring safe operation upon restart without requiring prolonged pre-heating
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the drying material during sanitization to a specific range (above ambient but below degradation temperatures) that is sufficient to eliminate organic contaminants. This controlled parameter change allows effective sanitization while preserving the integrity of the drying material
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the drying material is heated to high temperatures to kill organic substances, then contamination is reduced, but the drying material may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system precisely controls the temperature parameter within a specific range that is sufficient to kill organic substances but remains below the degradation threshold of the drying material. This optimized parameter selection achieves sanitization without compromising material strength
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains the drying material at the sanitization temperature for a sufficient duration to ensure complete elimination of organic substances throughout the material bulk, then promptly cools it below degradation temperatures to preserve material integrity
3Productivity
If the dehumidifier wheel is restarted immediately after shutdown, then operational continuity is maintained, but contaminants are reintroduced to the process air
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a rapid sanitization cycle that eliminates organic substances from the drying material before normal operation resumes. This preliminary sanitization action prevents contaminant re-introduction into the process air upon restart, achieving both operational continuity and air quality safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a rapid heating and cooling cycle that quickly sanitizes the drying material and returns it to operational temperature. This rushed-through process minimizes the time the system is non-operational while ensuring complete contaminant elimination before process air contact
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
Effectively reduces the risk of user contamination by eliminating organic substances during the sanitization process, ensuring a safer restart of the dehumidifier wheel and maintaining air quality.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged for heating the regenerating air before it traverses the regeneration sector
Implementation Method 2
the sector that, at a given moment, is traversed by the flow of process air, is known as the absorption sector... the humidity of the flow of process air traversing the drying material is absorbed by the drying material
Implementation Method 3
the sector that, at a given moment, is traversed by the flow of regenerating air is known as the regeneration sector... the humidity previously absorbed by the drying material is evaporated from the drying material by the flow of regenerating air
Implementation Method 4
a first cooling battery is present, known as a condensing battery, having the function of saturating the process air entering the absorption sector
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Control method for controlling a dehumidifier wheel (2) comprising sanitizing the dehumidifier wheel (2) before restarting the dehumidifier wheel (2) after a shutdown.