Granular Ice Blasting for Chemical-Free Container Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning methods for containers in the drinks industry require significant amounts of water and chemicals, leading to high energy consumption and costs, as well as potential residual chemical contamination that can result in additional costs during product recalls.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning machine that uses chemical-free granular material, such as metal, plastic, sand, or ice, irradiated under pressure for intensive cleaning, achieving effective dirt removal without thermal energy or chemicals, and ozone for disinfection without heat, reducing water usage and chemical residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional cleaning methods using chemicals and water are used, then cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but water consumption and chemical usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning mechanisms with a mechanical cleaning system using a blasting nozzle that propels granular cleaning material (such as glass beads or plastic granules) at high velocity against the container surface. This mechanical impact effectively removes dirt and labels without requiring large quantities of water or chemicals, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced substance consumption and maintained cleaning effectiveness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If chemicals are used for cleaning, then cleaning power is improved, but energy consumption for heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention substitutes thermal energy-based chemical cleaning with kinetic energy-based mechanical blasting. The blasting nozzle propels cleaning granules at high velocity using compressed air or other propellant gases, creating mechanical impact forces that effectively remove contaminants without requiring heat generation. This eliminates the energy consumption associated with heating chemicals while maintaining strong cleaning power through mechanical means.
3Reliability
If intensive chemical cleaning is applied to all containers, then cleaning thoroughness is ensured, but cleaning costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the cleaning medium from chemical solutions to solid granular material. The blasting nozzle delivers controlled streams of granules with adjustable velocity and density, providing thorough cleaning through mechanical impact. Since the granular material can be reused and recycled, and does not require expensive chemical formulations or disposal systems, cleaning costs are significantly reduced while maintaining high cleaning thoroughness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If chemicals are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but risk of chemical residue contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning agents with purely mechanical granular blasting. The cleaning granules physically impact and remove contaminants through friction and impact forces, leaving no chemical residues on the container surface. This mechanical substitution eliminates the harmful factor of chemical residue contamination entirely while preserving cleaning effectiveness through the physical removal of dirt, labels, and other contaminants.
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
Significantly reduces cleaning costs and energy consumption while ensuring thorough container cleaning and sterility, minimizing the risk of chemical residues and product recalls, with efficient use of water and minimal environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A cleaning machine is proposed in which the containers are cleaned, at least intensively, by means of a blasting nozzle with granular material, for example glass beads or plastic granules
Implementation Method 2
The granular material is conveyed by means of a carrier medium, in particular compressed air or water, to the blasting nozzle and blasted with the granular material onto the containers to be cleaned
Implementation Method 3
The containers are then disinfected, for example by means of ozone, without the use of heat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The method involves making a cleaning medium to impact on containers (B) to be conveyed e.g. bottles, by a cleaning machine (W), where the bottles are made of plastic or glass. The containers are intensively cleaned in a station (5) prior to a final cleaning effect and/or in a process step using only chemical-free cleaning medium, where the process step is selected with respect to the final cleaning effect. An inner surface of the container is cleaned by granular ice. Dry ice is radiated or injected as the granular ice and formed from carbon dioxide or water ice such as slurry ice.