Fluidized Bed Spray Nozzle Axial Displacement Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spray nozzles for fluidized bed devices in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries face challenges in cleaning without interrupting the process, especially due to the need to maintain negative pressure and the difficulty in accessing critical components like the central opening for the coating agent and annular opening for atomizing air, leading to increased cleaning complexity and effort.

Innovation Solution

A spray nozzle design featuring an enveloping body with an air pipe connected to an external atomization air source and an axially displaceable nozzle head connected to a liquid coating agent via a flexible pipe, allowing for easy removal and cleaning without dismantling the entire device, utilizing a cleaning needle for blockage removal and minimizing the opening size during cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the entire tubular feed device is removed for cleaning, then the spray nozzle can be cleaned, but the process is interrupted and a large opening is created in the wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessibilityVSAvoidprocess continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The spray nozzle is divided into two main parts: a fixed enveloping body that remains in the wall and a removable nozzle head that can be detached for cleaning. This segmentation allows the nozzle head to be cleaned independently without removing the entire feed device, thus maintaining process continuity while providing cleaning accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle head is extracted as a separate removable component from the enveloping body. This extraction enables the nozzle head to be easily removed through a small opening for cleaning purposes without requiring the removal of the entire tubular feed device, thereby avoiding process interruption and large wall openings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the spray nozzle is cleaned during the ongoing process, then productivity is maintained, but cleaning is limited by negative pressure requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess continuityVSAvoidcleaning feasibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A closure element acts as an intermediary component that seals the opening in the wall when the nozzle head is removed. This closure element with its sealing ring allows the nozzle head to be extracted for cleaning while maintaining the negative pressure requirement in the process space, enabling cleaning during ongoing process without compromising cleaning feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the nozzle head is firmly attached to the air pipe, then connection stability is improved, but cleaning effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidcleaning effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the nozzle head and air pipe is designed to be dynamically adjustable - firmly attached during operation for stability, but easily separable during cleaning. The closure element with sealing ring provides this dynamic characteristic, allowing the nozzle head to be securely connected during the spraying process yet readily removable for cleaning without requiring significant effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables quick and easy cleaning of the spray nozzle without stopping the fluidization process, reducing effort and preventing particle loss, as the nozzle can be cleaned with minimal disruption and without the need for large openings, ensuring efficient operation and safety.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid pipe (10) has a flexible pipe section (12) and is guided centrally within the air pipe (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexibility:

Implementation Method 2

An axially displaceable cleaning needle, which is connected to an actuating device, can also be present within the nozzle head. When at rest, the cleaning needle is in a position in which the liquid outlet is cleared. If this opening becomes blocked, the blockage can be pushed out of the nozzle head by axially moving the cleaning needle.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP1871534B1Spray nozzle for fluidized bed device
Publication Date: 2009.11.18 GLATT GMBH
  • EP1871534B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1871534B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention concerns a spray nozzle for a fluidized bed device, said nozzle comprising a central liquid outlet (15) for a liquid coating agent and an annular air outlet (17) for conveying spraying air coaxially. An enclosing body (1) having a central recess (4) is maintained in a wall of the box of the fluidized bed device. Said enclosing body (1) is connected to a spraying air source through an air duct (6) and an axially mobile nozzle head (14) is centrally mounted inside said enclosing body (1). Said nozzle head (14) is connected to a liquid coating agent source through a liquid duct (10), said liquid duct (10) having a flexible tubular section (12) and being centrally guided inside the air duct (6).