Fabric Treatment Tank Recirculation Layout for Low-Bath Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machines for treating fabrics face issues with air aspiration and cavitation due to uneven head losses in treatment liquid recirculation, which are exacerbated by smaller production batches requiring lower liquid flow rates, leading to inefficient operation and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The machine design features symmetrical collecting ducts and a self-priming centrifugal turbopump with a priming propeller and duct to equalize head losses, allowing for even liquid distribution and reduced bath levels, while maintaining efficient recirculation and minimizing cavitation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of treatment liquid circulating in the machine is increased to maintain adequate bath level, then air aspiration and cavitation are prevented, but energy consumption increases and the machine cannot operate efficiently with smaller production batches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the collecting pipes at different heights relative to the tank bottom. Specifically, one collecting pipe is positioned closer to the tank bottom while another is positioned higher, creating asymmetric flow paths that equalize head losses despite different flow distances. This asymmetric arrangement allows adequate bath levels to be maintained without requiring excessive liquid circulation, thus preventing air aspiration and cavitation while reducing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the bath level in the treatment chamber is reduced to accommodate smaller production batches, then energy consumption decreases, but air aspiration into the collecting pipes and cavitation in the pump increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions collecting pipes asymmetrically at different heights from the tank bottom. The pipe closer to the bottom experiences greater head loss due to longer flow path, while the higher pipe experiences less head loss. This asymmetric configuration equalizes the effective head losses, allowing the system to operate at lower bath levels suitable for small batches without causing air aspiration or pump cavitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the collecting pipes by positioning them at different elevations. By varying the vertical position parameter of each collecting pipe, the system optimizes the head loss distribution across multiple collection points, enabling reliable operation at reduced bath levels that match smaller production batch requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If collecting pipes are positioned asymmetrically in the treatment chamber, then head losses are equalized and bath level can be reduced, but the system becomes more complex to design and implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a relatively simple asymmetric configuration where collecting pipes are positioned at different heights from the tank bottom. This straightforward geometric asymmetry equalizes head losses without requiring complex piping arrangements, making the design easy to implement while reducing the quantity of treatment liquid needed in the system.
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 design enables the machine to operate with significantly lower bath levels, reducing energy consumption and preventing air aspiration, while maintaining effective recirculation and treatment performance, even at lower liquid flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculation pump (11') of the self-priming type with a priming effect
Implementation Method 2
self-priming centrifugal turbopump
Implementation Method 3
the head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes along the different collecting ducts (37A, 37B) between the treatment tank (3) and the relative entry nozzle (370A, 370B) into the collector (39) mutually differ at most by ± 5% of the losses themselves
Implementation Method 4
the head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes along the different collecting ducts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The machine (1) for the treatment of fabrics according to the invention comprises a treatment tank (3) arranged for containing the fabric or other material to be treated (TC) and a treatment liquid. The head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes along the different collecting ducts (37A, 37B) between the treatment tank (3) and the relative entry nozzle (370A, 370B) in the collector (39) mutually differ at most of ± 10% of the losses themselves. The head losses that the treatment liquid undergoes between each entry nozzle (370A, 370B) in the collector (39) and the entry (410) in the chamber (41) of the pump impeller differ at most of ± 10% between the various entry nozzles (370A, 370B). The level of liquid on the bottom of the tank (3) is more even, and it is thus possible to make the machine (30) work with very low bath levels.