Elliptical 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 and require frequent air refilling due to air consumption, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced uptime.
Innovation Solution
The use of elliptical pipe sections made from elastic materials, which can flex under pressure to increase volume and absorb pulsations efficiently, combined with a pipe-in-pipe configuration to enhance damping effectiveness and facilitate cleaning through CIP procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-filled upright tubes are used as pulsation dampers, then damping effect is achieved, but cleaning becomes difficult and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using closed dead-end tubes that trap air, the invention uses open-ended tubes where air can escape. The damping effect is achieved not by trapping air in closed tubes but by allowing air to move freely in and out of open tubes during pressure pulsations, while still providing effective damping through the air cushion effect in the open configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs flexible hose elements that can expand and contract to accommodate pressure variations. These flexible hoses replace the rigid air-filled tubes and provide both damping functionality and cleanability, as the flexible material allows for effective CIP cleaning while maintaining the air cushion damping effect.
2Reliability
If air-filled pulsation dampers are used, then pressure peaks are reduced, but air is consumed over time requiring frequent refilling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to retain air in closed systems, the invention inverts the approach by using open-ended tubes where air is not trapped but continuously available. The damping effect is achieved through the air cushion formed in the open tubes during pressure pulsations, eliminating the need to prevent air escape or refill air periodically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically replenishes air in the dampers during normal operation through the open-ended configuration, eliminating the need for manual air refilling. The air intake is automatic and continuous, allowing the dampers to self-maintain their air cushion without external intervention.
3Reliability
If traditional pulsation dampers are used, then damping is provided, but maintenance costs increase due to frequent cleaning and air refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional closed-tube design to use open-ended tubes, which eliminates the cleaning accessibility problem while maintaining damping function. This structural inversion allows standard CIP procedures to effectively clean the dampers without disassembly, significantly reducing maintenance frequency and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The open-ended tube design enables automatic self-cleaning during CIP operations and automatic air replenishment during operation, reducing the need for manual maintenance interventions. The system essentially maintains itself through normal operational cycles without requiring scheduled shutdowns for air refilling or intensive cleaning procedures.
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 solution provides efficient damping of pressure pulsations, reduces maintenance needs, and maintains hygiene standards while minimizing material usage and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
elliptical pipe sections made from elastic materials, which can flex under pressure to increase volume and absorb pulsations efficiently
Implementation Method 2
when a pressure peak arises the air is compressed, thereby resulting in a damping effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A pulsation damper (702) configured to reduce pressure variations in a pipe system. The pulsation damper (702) comprises a first pipe section (704) and a second pipe section (706). The first pipe section (704) is at least partly placed inside said second pipe section (706) such that a product flow can flow through said first pipe section (704) and then through a space formed between said first pipe section (704) and said second pipe section (706). Due to the increased cross sectional area of the second pipe section (706) pressure variations can be damped efficiently.