Dialysis Apparatus Deaeration Tank Air Bubble Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dialysis apparatuses face issues with air bubbles generated during the cleaning of the dialysate circuit with heated hot water, which can lead to pump malfunction due to air entrainment, and conventional deaeration devices cause circuit depressurization, increasing air bubble generation and reducing the pump's ability to feed liquid.
Innovation Solution
A dialysis apparatus with a deaeration tank that stores air bubbles in a gas storage unit, preventing them from entering the pump and using a gas storage tank to manage air discharge, ensuring the pump can operate reliably by separating air from the cleaning liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dialysate circuit is cleaned by circulating hot water therethrough, then the cleaning effect is improved, but air bubbles are generated from the hot water which can be entrained in the pump causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts air bubbles from the cleaning liquid by introducing the liquid into a deaeration tank where air bubbles rise and are discharged through a gas discharge port, preventing them from entering the pump and causing malfunction
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the existing deaeration device is used to remove air bubbles during cleaning, then air bubbles are removed, but the dialysate circuit is gradually depressurized which decreases the boiling point of hot water and increases air bubble generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cleaning liquid into the deaeration tank before circulating it through the dialysate circuit, allowing air bubbles to be removed in advance while maintaining circuit pressure, thereby preventing increased air bubble generation from depressurization
3Productivity
If hot water is circulated through the dialysate circuit for cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the pump becomes unable to feed liquid when air bubbles are entrained therein
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a deaeration tank as an intermediary device between the cleaning liquid source and the dialysate circuit, where air bubbles are removed from the cleaning liquid before it enters the pump and circulates through the circuit, ensuring continuous reliable operation
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 effectively prevents air bubbles from entraining in the pump, ensuring continuous liquid feeding and efficient cleaning of the dialysate circuit by storing and managing air bubbles outside the pump, thus maintaining the pump's functionality during the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
hot water heated by a heating device 9 is circulated through the liquid circuit
Implementation Method 2
when the heated hot water serving as the cleaning liquid is circulated through the liquid circuit, air bubbles are generated from the hot water
Implementation Method 3
a deaeration tank that is provided in the liquid supply passage and removes gas from the liquid within the liquid supply passage
Implementation Method 4
a pump that is provided in the liquid supply passage and feeds the liquid in the liquid supply passage toward the downstream side
Data Source
AI summary
A dialysis apparatus has a dialysate circuit 4 which is cleaned after dialysis by both opening/closing valves V101 and V102 being closed after a dialysate in the dialysate circuit 4 is replaced with a cleaning liquid. The opening/closing valve V12 is opened, and the cleaning liquid is circulated by pumps P1 and P4 while being heated by a heater H1, to clean the inside of the dialysate circuit 4. A deaeration tank 31 is provided downstream of the pump P1. Air bubbles generated from the cleaning liquid serving as hot water are deaerated by the deaeration tank 31 and are then discharged into a gas storage tank 48 via a deaeration passage 32. The pumps P1 and P4 can be reliably prevented from being unable to operate with the air bubbles generated from the cleaning liquid.