Double-Bottom Tank IBC Emptying Station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating solutions for IBC containers are inefficient in uniformly heating viscous fluids, as they heat the container walls rather than the fluid directly, leading to temperature gradients and prolonged heating times, and existing emptying stations lack effective thermal efficiency and safety measures for operators.
Innovation Solution
A station with a double-bottom tank system that uses thermal fluid heating, controlled by a temperature-regulating system and a funnel-shaped spout for efficient fluid transfer, ensuring uniform heating and compliance with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If thermal liners are used to heat the container walls, then the container structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heating efficiency is low and uniform heating of the fluid is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal fluid as an intermediary medium that circulates between the heating element and the bulk fluid. The thermal fluid absorbs heat from the heating element and transfers it to the bulk fluid through convection, achieving uniform heating without direct contact between the heating element and the bulk fluid. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving heating efficiency and uniformity.
2Loss of energy
If rods or pins with electric resistances are submerged in the contents, then direct heating of the fluid is achieved, but the heat does not reach the contents away from the resistance for very viscous fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal fluid as an intermediary that circulates throughout the container, carrying heat from the heating element to all parts of the bulk fluid. This convection-based heat transfer mechanism ensures that even distant and viscous portions of the fluid receive adequate heating, resolving the limitation of direct resistance heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating approach from direct contact heating to indirect heating through a circulating thermal fluid. This parameter change in the heating mechanism enables uniform temperature distribution throughout the bulk fluid, including viscous regions that would otherwise remain cool.
3Device complexity
If conventional emptying stations are used, then the structure is simple, but thermal efficiency is lacking and safety measures for operators are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating system with the emptying station structure. The heating element, thermal fluid circulation system, and emptying mechanism are integrated into a single unified structure. This combination achieves high thermal efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity and providing safety features, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and performance.
4Loss of energy
If the container is heated uniformly, then the heating process is efficient, but the heating time is prolonged for very viscous fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the bulk fluid by circulating thermal fluid at controlled temperatures and flow rates. This parameter control enables efficient heat transfer to viscous fluids, reducing heating time while maintaining energy efficiency. The system can adjust thermal fluid temperature and flow to optimize heating speed without excessive energy consumption.
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 proposed station efficiently heats the fluid as it is extracted from the IBC, ensuring faster and safer emptying operations while maintaining operator safety and improving thermal efficiency compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the heat supplied by the resistance is only transferred to the medium surrounding the resistance and does not reach the contents away from the resistance
Implementation Method 2
the temperature gradient changes when moving away from the walls of the container such that the fluid mass contained in the center of the container does not reach or takes a long time to reach the desired temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a station (1) for emptying a bulk fluid or pasty product container (2), particularly an IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container), comprising a frame (18) with legs (3) prepared for receiving thereon the stable support of the container (17) and comprising, below the container (2), a double bottom tank (4): the first bottom (5) of which is a funnel (16) and ends in a spout (6) and the second bottom (7) together with the first bottom (5) determines a lower chamber (8) containing a thermal fluid (10), the spout (6) through which the contents of the container (2) can be transferred to the outside after passing through the tank (4) goes through said lower chamber (8). The station (1) further comprises heating means (9) for heating the lower chamber (8) containing the thermal fluid (10).