Float-Controlled Dosing Device for Solid Treatment Agent Concentration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing systems for solid treatment agents in commercial cleaning processes face challenges in maintaining consistent concentrations and stability, particularly when the concentration falls below a certain level or fluctuates, leading to inefficiencies and microbiological instability.

Innovation Solution

A dosing device that uses a float-controlled system to circulate and spray a solid treatment agent with a fluid, allowing for adjustable concentration settings between 3% and 45% by varying the filling quantity of the float, which actuates a pump when a desired density is reached, ensuring continuous adjustment and storage of the treatment agent solution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor electronics are used to generate treatment agent concentration in real-time, then the system operates accurately only at low concentrations (0.5-10 g/l), but cannot maintain stability at higher concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentration control accuracyVSAvoidmicrobiological stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment agent solution is prepared in advance at the desired concentration (3-45% w/v range) and stored in a storage container, rather than being generated in real-time. This preliminary preparation allows for stable, concentrated solutions to be created under controlled conditions, then dosed as needed without microbiological degradation during storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If solid treatment agent is dissolved in a defined quantity of fluid in a single dissolving process, then complete dissolution is achieved, but the system lacks flexibility for concentration adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution completenessVSAvoidconcentration adjustability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a storage container that can hold concentrated treatment agent solutions at various concentration levels (3-45% w/v). A dosing device then dynamically adjusts the concentration delivered to the cleaning machine by controlling the dosing rate, allowing flexible adaptation to different cleaning requirements while maintaining complete dissolution of the solid agent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If treatment agent concentration fluctuates or falls below a certain level, then dosing efficiency decreases, but continuous monitoring increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing efficiencyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a sensor that continuously monitors the concentration of treatment agent in the storage container and provides feedback to a control unit. The control unit adjusts the dosing rate accordingly to maintain optimal concentration levels, ensuring consistent dosing efficiency without requiring complex manual monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If liquid treatment agents are used in multi-dosing systems, then cost-effective and reliable dosing is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing cost-effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the physical state of the treatment agent from liquid to solid form, which can be stored in concentrated form without microbiological degradation. This allows for longer storage periods and reduced maintenance frequency, as solid treatment agents do not require the same level of monitoring and replenishment as liquid agents, while still enabling cost-effective dosing through the storage and controlled dissolution system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for precise control and adjustment of treatment agent concentrations, ensuring consistent and stable solutions are maintained, reducing the need for continuous monitoring and improving the reliability and efficiency of the dosing process.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid is stored in a dissolving/storage container (40) which is circulated by means of a pump (45)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCirculation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

through which the solid treatment agent is sprayed via a spray nozzle (47)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Implementation Method 3

The pump is actuated by a hollow float or a solid float which rises or falls depending on the concentration of the dissolved solid treatment agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 4

completely dissolves a provided treatment agent in powder, tablet, block, or gel form in a predetermined quantity in a defined quantity of fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3384979B1Method and device for dissolving a treatment agent
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 I CLEAN TECH
  • EP3384979B1 patent drawingFigure 1.1~1.2
  • EP3384979B1 patent drawingFigure 2.1~2.2
  • EP3384979B1 patent drawingFigure 3.1~3.2

AI summary

The invention relates to a metering device (10) for dissolving a solids treatment agent (50) with a dissolving/storage container (40) in which a fluid is stored. The fluid flows in via a water inlet (41) and is circulated by a pump (45, 68). This pump acts on a line (46) through which the solids treatment agent (50) is directed to a spray nozzle (47), from which it exits and dissolves the solids treatment agent (50). The pump (45, 68) is controlled by a hollow float (20) or a solid float (31), which rises or falls depending on the concentration of the dissolved solids treatment agent (50) in the treatment agent/fluid mixture (48) in the dissolving/storage container (40).