Gravity Separator for Impregnating Agent Residue Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impregnation processes result in the enrichment of washing water with impregnating agent residues, leading to contamination and the need for frequent bath changes, as well as inefficient recycling of excess impregnating agent due to incomplete separation in gravity separators.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a gravity separator arranged under the receiving space, utilizing a surfactant-containing cleaning liquid with low solubility in impregnating agents, and a skimming device for efficient separation and recycling of impregnating agent residues, allowing for repeated cleaning cycles without a separate separation device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If water-soluble monomers are added to the impregnating agent to facilitate dissolution of excess agent, then the impregnating agent becomes easier to wash off, but the washing water becomes enriched with impregnating agent residues leading to contamination and frequent bath changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solubility parameter of the impregnating agent by using water-insoluble monomers instead of water-soluble ones. This fundamental parameter change allows the impregnating agent to be easily separated from washing water through gravity separation, preventing water enrichment while maintaining ease of washing through controlled application and removal processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery system where impregnating agent residues separated in the gravity separator are collected and reused. The cleaned washing water is also retained and reused for subsequent cleaning operations, transforming what would be waste streams into reusable resources and eliminating frequent bath changes
2Loss of substance
If the gravity separator is designed to separate impregnating agent residues from washing water, then water enrichment is reduced, but the separation efficiency is insufficient when resin is continuously loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The gravity separator is divided into distinct functional zones: a separation volume for initial gravity separation, a storage volume for accumulated impregnating agent residues, and a return line system. This segmentation allows continuous operation by separating the functions of separation, storage, and return, preventing overload and maintaining efficiency under continuous loading conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary gravity separation in the gravity separator before the washing water proceeds to the hot water bath. This preliminary action removes the bulk of impregnating agent residues early in the process, preventing water enrichment and reducing the load on subsequent processing stages
3Loss of substance
If resin is pumped from the surface of the water bath into the gravity separator, then resin can be separated, but the pumping action remixes the resin with water reducing separation completeness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the impregnating agent residues from the washing water in the gravity separator through gravity-based phase separation. The separated residues are then removed from the system via the return line, completely extracting the harmful component without requiring remixing that would compromise separation completeness
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 long-term use of washing water, complete separation of impregnating agent residues, and their effective recycling, reducing contamination and bath changes, while maintaining the quality of the impregnating agent for reuse.
Implementation Method 1
a gravity separator for separating the impregnating agent residues removed from the workpiece from the cleaning liquid, the gravity separator being arranged in the direction of gravity under the receiving space for the workpiece
Implementation Method 2
the impregnating agent residues removed from the workpiece from the cleaning liquid
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a surfactant-containing cleaning liquid with low solubility in impregnating agents
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for removing impregnating agent residues from a workpiece (12) using a cleaning fluid (14), with a supply device (16) for supplying the cleaning fluid (14) to the workpiece (12), a receiving space (18) for receiving the workpiece (12) during the cleaning operation, and a gravity separator (20) for separating the impregnating agent residues, which have been removed from the workpiece (12), from the cleaning fluid (14), wherein the gravity separator (20) is arranged below the receiving space (18) for the workpiece (12) in the direction of gravity.