Elastic Pipe Pulsation Damper for Hygienic CIP Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulsation dampers for piston pumps in processing systems are difficult to clean automatically using CIP procedures and require frequent air refilling due to air consumption, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced uptime.
Innovation Solution
A pulsation damper with an elastic pipe section that changes volume and cross-sectional area, featuring an elliptical cross section in a small volume state and a more circular cross section in a large volume state, allowing for efficient damping and easy cleaning through automatic CIP processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-filled upright tubes are used as pulsation dampers, then pressure peaks are reduced effectively, but the dampers cannot be cleaned automatically using CIP procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic pipe section is divided into several elastic sub-sections, which allows the damper to be cleaned automatically while maintaining its pressure peak reduction function. The segmentation enables cleaning fluid to pass through all sections effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe section is made elastic and flexible rather than rigid, allowing it to change volume and shape dynamically in response to pressure variations. This dynamic structure enables both effective damping and automatic cleaning capability.
2Reliability
If air-filled upright tubes are used as pulsation dampers, then pressure peaks are reduced effectively, but air is consumed over time requiring frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The damper uses the elasticity of the pipe section itself rather than relying on compressed air. The elastic material stores and releases energy mechanically, eliminating the need for air filling and refilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic modulus and physical state of the pipe material are utilized to create a passive damping system that does not require consumable materials like compressed air, thereby eliminating air consumption losses.
3Ease of operation
If the elastic pipe section has a large cross sectional area to improve cleaning efficiency, then CIP procedures become more effective, but the damping volume increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic pipe section dynamically changes its cross-sectional area and volume in response to pressure variations. During normal operation, it maintains a compact form with controlled volume, while during cleaning operations, it can expand to allow effective cleaning fluid flow.
4Ease of operation
If the elastic pipe section is divided into several sub-sections, then automatic cleaning is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic pipe section is divided into several elastic sub-sections that are connected in series. This segmentation enables cleaning fluid to pass through all sections effectively while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex additional components.
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 pulsation damper effectively reduces pressure peaks while enabling efficient automatic cleaning, reducing maintenance costs and downtime, and maintaining robustness and hygiene standards.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic pipe section arranged to be in a small volume state or a large volume state... The elastic pipe section is divided in several elastic sub-sections
Implementation Method 2
The elastic pipe section may have an elliptical cross section in said small volume state... At least in one point of said elastic pipe section a cross sectional area may be larger when said elastic pipe section is in said large volume state
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5
AI summary
A pulsation damper (302a; 302b) configured to reduce pressure peaks in a pipe system. The pulsation damper (302a; 302b) comprises an elastic pipe section (308a; 308b) arranged to be in a small volume state or a large volume state. A first volume VI held in said elastic pipe section (308a; 308b) in said large volume state is greater than a second volume V2 held in said elastic pipe section in said small volume state. The elastic pipe section has an elliptical cross section in said small volume state. A ratio between a major axis and a minor axis of said elastic pipe section is in the range 1,05 to 10,0, such as 1,1 to 1,5.