Frequency-Controlled Drive Motors for Container Treatment Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container treatment systems face disruptions and performance fluctuations due to malfunctions, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure and potential time delays when restarting, as they often require significant starting currents and power to restore full operation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing frequency-controlled electric drive motors and pumps, which can be reduced to a waiting mode during malfunctions, maintaining a reduced speed and power range between 40 Hertz and 5 Hertz, and 90% to 5% of nominal power, respectively, to prevent excessive starting currents and ensure smooth restarts without time delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drive motors for pumps are operated at full power during disruptions to ensure immediate restart capability, then the device can restart without delays, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestart capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive motor operates dynamically with different power levels depending on the operational state: full power during normal operation, reduced power during disruptions to maintain minimum fluid flow, and immediate full power restoration upon restart. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing reliability only when necessary while reducing energy consumption during disruption periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters (power level and fluid flow rate) of the drive motor based on the operational state. During disruptions, the power parameter is reduced to a level sufficient for maintaining minimum fluid flow in pipes, rather than maintaining full power. This parameter change enables energy savings while preserving restart capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If drive motors are switched off completely during disruptions to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but restarting requires high starting currents and causes time delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidrestart delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drive motor performs a preliminary action by maintaining operation at reduced power during disruptions, keeping the motor and associated fluid systems in a ready state. This preliminary maintenance of operation eliminates the need for high starting currents and time delays upon restart, as the system is already partially activated and ready for immediate full-power operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining minimum fluid flow through the pipes during disruptions, preventing fluid stagnation and ensuring the system remains in a restart-ready state. This cushioning approach avoids the harsh restart conditions that would otherwise require high starting currents and cause time delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Power

If drive motors operate at full power during disruptions, then pump capacity is immediately available after restart, but starting currents and loads on the power grid increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump capacityVSAvoidstarting currents
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drive motor performs partial action during disruptions by operating at reduced power levels sufficient to maintain minimum fluid flow, rather than full power. This partial operation reduces starting currents and grid loads while providing enough fluid movement to prevent stagnation. Upon restart, the motor can immediately transition to full power without requiring excessive starting currents, as the system is already partially activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2334446B2Device and method for treating containers
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 KHS GMBH
  • EP2334446B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2334446B2 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for treating containers, comprising a drive assembly having at least one electric drive motor for driving units and/or auxiliary units and/or other functional elements of the device, and comprising a means for adapting the rotational speed and/or the power of the at least one drive assembly and/or of the at least one drive motor to the respective operational state of the device and/or of a system comprising said device.