Drum Cleaning Cycle Using Solid Particles to Cut Water and Detergent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aqueous washing processes face challenges in reducing water and detergent consumption while maintaining effective mechanical action for cleaning, leading to inefficiencies and environmental concerns, and there is a need for improved distribution and interaction of solid particulate materials within the cleaning apparatus to enhance cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum where the drum is rotated to create an annular path for the soiled substrates, allowing solid particulate material to be introduced into the central portion, enhancing distribution and mechanical interaction, and a two-stage cleaning cycle with varying G-forces and detergent use to optimize cleaning without increasing detergent quantities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water usage level is increased to improve mechanical action during washing, then cleaning performance is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional aqueous washing system with a dry cleaning system using supercritical carbon dioxide as the cleaning medium. This substitution eliminates the need for large volumes of water while maintaining effective cleaning through the unique properties of supercritical CO2, which provides both solvent action and mechanical cleaning capability without the water consumption associated with traditional drum washing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the cleaning medium by using supercritical carbon dioxide instead of liquid water. By operating at supercritical conditions (temperature above 31°C and pressure above 73 atm), the CO2 achieves a state that combines gas-like diffusivity with liquid-like density, enabling effective cleaning without the mechanical action requirements that demand high water usage in conventional systems.
2Productivity
If energy consumption is increased to improve cleaning efficacy, then cleaning performance is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of carbon dioxide between supercritical and gaseous states to achieve cleaning without high energy input. The supercritical CO2 penetrates and cleans the substrate, then simply depressurizing causes it to transition back to gas phase for easy removal. This phase change mechanism replaces energy-intensive heating and mechanical agitation required in conventional washing, achieving effective cleaning with lower energy consumption.
3Productivity
If detergent dosage is increased to achieve desired cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but detergent consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces detergent-based chemical cleaning with supercritical carbon dioxide as the primary cleaning medium. The supercritical CO2 provides solvent action that dissolves and removes soils and stains without requiring additional detergent chemicals. This substitution eliminates or significantly reduces detergent dosage while maintaining or improving cleaning performance through the physical-chemical properties of supercritical fluid.
4Loss of energy
If water usage is reduced to improve efficiency, then resource efficiency is improved, but mechanical action on fabric deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cleaning medium to supercritical state, which provides both solvent penetration and mechanical cleaning action. The supercritical CO2 achieves effective mechanical action through its high density and diffusivity, enabling it to penetrate fabric structures and provide cleaning force without requiring the large water volumes needed in conventional systems to generate adequate mechanical action.
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 reduces water and detergent usage while maintaining or improving cleaning efficiency, providing enhanced mechanical interaction and distribution of solid particulate material, thus achieving better cleaning performance with reduced environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
rotating the drum such that said at least one soiled substrate describes an annular path whereby a central portion of the drum is not occupied by any soiled substrate
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for cleaning at least one soiled substrate in a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum of a cleaning apparatus with a multiplicity of solid particles comprising the steps of: a) agitating said at least one soiled substrate in said drum with wash liquor and said multiplicity of solid particles for a first cleaning cycle wherein said wash liquor comprises at least one cleaning agent; b) draining said wash liquor from said cleaning apparatus; and c) introducing an aqueous non-detergent medium into said cleaning apparatus and agitating said at least one soiled substrate with said multiplicity of solid particles in said drum for a second cleaning cycle. The invention further discloses a method for cleaning at least one soiled substrate in a rotatably mounted drum of a cleaning apparatus, the method comprising rotating the drum such that said at least one soiled substrate moves about a generally circular path and introducing a multiplicity of solid particles into the drum as said drum rotates wherein said multiplicity of solid particles are introduced through an annulus defined by the generally circular path. Apparatus configured for carrying out the methods are also disclosed.