Floor scrubber cleaning system using coolant for heating a cleaning solution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor scrubbing machines face challenges in effectively heating the cleaning solution to enhance cleaning efficiency, as previous methods using exhaust heat or electric heaters are insufficient in achieving the required temperature and energy transfer for large volumes of solution.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a heat exchanger with the engine cooling system, utilizing engine coolant as a heat source to rapidly heat the cleaning solution through thermodynamic heat transfer, leveraging the surplus thermal energy from the coolant to efficiently raise the solution's temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If exhaust heat or electric heaters are used to heat the cleaning solution, then the cleaning solution temperature can be increased, but the heating system is insufficient to heat large volumes of solution to the required temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the engine's own coolant system to heat the cleaning solution, allowing the machine to heat large volumes of solution using its inherent thermal resources rather than external heating systems. The coolant circulating through the engine absorbs excess heat and transfers it to the cleaning solution through a heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the waste heat from the engine coolant into a useful resource for heating the cleaning solution. The coolant, which would otherwise carry away excess heat to the radiator, is redirected through a heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy to the cleaning solution, turning a thermal loss into a heating advantage.
2Quantity of substance
If a robust heating system is designed to heat large volumes of cleaning solution, then the heating capacity increases, but the system complexity and design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The engine coolant system serves multiple functions: it cools the engine and simultaneously heats the cleaning solution through the heat exchanger. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the capability to heat large volumes of solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cooling and heating functions into a single integrated system. The coolant loop that normally only cools the engine is combined with a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy to the cleaning solution, creating a unified thermal management system that handles both cooling and heating requirements.
3Temperature
If the cleaning solution temperature is raised to enhance cleaning effectiveness, then the cleaning performance improves, but the risk of the solution becoming too hot increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that monitor the cleaning solution temperature and regulate heat transfer from the coolant. When the solution reaches the desired temperature threshold, the system automatically reduces or stops heat transfer, preventing the solution from becoming excessively hot while maintaining optimal cleaning effectiveness.
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 approach allows for a more efficient and consistent heating of the cleaning solution, ensuring it reaches effective temperatures early in the cleaning cycle, even during engine idle, resulting in improved dirt removal and overall cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
Integrating a heat exchanger with the engine cooling system, utilizing engine coolant as a heat source to rapidly heat the cleaning solution through thermodynamic heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A floor scrubber cleaning system includes a combustion engine powered floor scrubber using at least one rotating scrubbing brush/pad. A tank or reservoir is used for supplying a cleaning solution to the scrubbing brush/pad for cleaning a floor. A heat exchanger uses coolant from the combustion engine to heat the cleaning solution where it is dispensed directly onto the floor.