Dry Ice Hopper Segmentation and Heat Bypass for Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry ice blast cleaning systems face issues with clogging and reduced efficiency due to ambient humidity, which causes dry ice pieces to adhere and form ice, leading to bridging and safety hazards, especially when operating in high-humidity environments.
Innovation Solution
A dry ice blast cleaning system with a hopper designed to reduce bridging, featuring a smooth interior and anti-bridging fingers, combined with a heat by-pass system that diverts pressurized gas to prevent ice formation and maintain system functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dry ice pieces are stored in a conventional hopper with welded portions, then the hopper can store and feed dry ice pieces, but the weld lines accumulate residue causing bridging and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into multiple sections with removable walls between them. This segmentation allows each section to be independently cleaned and prevents residue accumulation at fixed weld lines, eliminating the bridging problem while maintaining storage capacity and flow characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper walls are made removable rather than fixed, transforming the static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the hopper configuration to be changed or cleaned as needed, preventing the accumulation of dry ice residue that causes bridging in conventional fixed焊hopper designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dry ice pieces are stored in high humidity environments, then the system can operate in adverse conditions, but moisture condenses around dry ice pieces causing them to adhere and clog the system
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is segmented into removable sections that can be easily cleaned of moisture and ice accumulation. This segmentation prevents continuous adhesion of dry ice pieces in humid environments by allowing regular maintenance and preventing the buildup that leads to system clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system design allows operators to easily access and clean the hopper sections themselves without requiring specialized tools or procedures. The removable wall design enables users to manually remove accumulated moisture and ice, maintaining reliable operation in humid conditions through simple self-maintenance.
3Productivity
If users chisel out bridged dry ice residue from the hopper, then the flow can be restored, but this creates safety hazards and risks of bodily harm and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hopper into removable sections, the design eliminates the need for dangerous chiseling operations. Users can simply remove the affected section and clear residue safely, restoring flow without exposing themselves to the hazards of working with active dry ice and metal tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable wall design allows users to prevent bridging by regularly accessing and cleaning sections before severe accumulation occurs. This preliminary maintenance action avoids the need for emergency chiseling operations and their associated safety risks.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If dry ice nuggets are used instead of smaller pieces, then shelf life is extended, but the larger size must be reduced for efficient use in the blast cleaning system
Solution Approach 1:
The removable wall sections allow the hopper to accommodate different dry ice sizes and shapes dynamically. Large nuggets can be loaded and then broken down into smaller pieces within the segmented sections, or selectively fed to the blast gun, providing flexibility to optimize between shelf life and cleaning efficiency based on operational needs.
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 system enhances the flow of dry ice pieces, reduces clogging, and improves user safety by preventing ice buildup, ensuring efficient operation even in adverse atmospheric conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat by-pass system that diverts pressurized gas to prevent ice formation
Implementation Method 2
After the dry ice pieces collide with the surface, the dry ice pieces sublimate into gaseous CO2 and become part of the ambient atmosphere
Data Source
AI summary
A dry ice blast cleaning system is disclosed. The system includes a dry ice feed apparatus, a mixing head, a supply of pressurized gas and a dispensing device. The apparatus has a hopper configured to store a supply of dry ice pieces with an anti-bridging device. A heat by-pass system is provided to heat the mixing head to prevent icing in the mixing head.