Hyper-concentrate Dispenser with On-site Water Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The chemical and petrochemical industry faces challenges with the storage, transportation, and disposal of large, oversized containers of industrial cleaners and degreasers, which occupy space, pose spill risks, and incur high costs due to their ready-to-use, non-concentrated state, necessitating a more efficient delivery and dispensing system for hyper-concentrated chemicals.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a primary liquid supply, a hyper-concentrated chemical, a dispenser unit, and hoses that allow for on-site mixing and dispensing of the chemicals, enabling the creation of a ready-to-use solution using the user's own water supply, reducing the need for large storage containers and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If industrial cleaners and degreasers are purchased in ready-to-use non-concentrated state, then the cleaners are immediately available for use, but large oversized bulk tanks and totes are required which occupy space and pose spill risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the storage requirement into two separate components: a small hyper-concentrate tank (5-50 gallons) and a separate water supply source. This segmentation eliminates the need for large bulk storage tanks while ensuring immediate availability of cleaner through on-site mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of the chemical storage from diluted ready-to-use state to hyper-concentrated state. This parameter change reduces the volume of storage required by a factor of 5-10 times while maintaining the same cleaning capability through automated dilution.
2Productivity
If industrial cleaners are transported in oversized bulk tanks, then transportation efficiency is improved, but the risk of substantial chemical spill increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the chemical transportation into two phases: transport of small-volume hyper-concentrate (low risk) and on-site mixing with water (no spill risk). This eliminates the hazard of transporting large volumes of ready-to-use chemical while maintaining transportation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of water contamination during transport into a benefit by using water as the dilution medium at the point of use. The hyper-concentrate form is inherently safer for transport, and water addition at destination transforms the previously harmful concentration issue into a controlled dilution process.
3Volume of stationary object
If hyper-concentrated chemicals are stored in smaller containers, then storage space is reduced, but additional mixing equipment and water supply connection are required
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser unit serves multiple functions: it acts as a storage tank for hyper-concentrate, a pump for chemical delivery, a mixing chamber for dilution, and a control system for ratio management. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be complex separate systems into a single integrated unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-mixing by automatically drawing water from the facility's existing water supply through the dispenser unit. The system self-regulates the mixing ratio and eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex external mixing equipment.
4Loss of time
If ready-to-use cleaners are purchased in large quantities, then frequent purchasing trips are reduced, but disposal costs of empty oversized containers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the concentration parameter to hyper-concentrated form, which extends the usable life of the chemical container by 5-10 times. This allows facilities to purchase less frequently while using smaller containers, thereby reducing both time loss from purchasing trips and disposal costs of empty containers.
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 system allows for efficient use of hyper-concentrated chemicals, reducing storage and transportation costs, minimizing space requirements, and eliminating the need for large water volumes in ready-to-use chemicals, while ensuring safety and ease of relocation.
Implementation Method 1
The pump may then draw water from the water supply into the mixing chamber or area and then draw or suck the hyper-concentrated chemical from the container
Implementation Method 2
The dispenser unit of the present invention may be a pump capable of extracting various amounts of the hyper-concentrated chemicals from a hyper-concentrated chemical supply and then moving or displacing the hyper-concentrated chemicals into a mixing chamber
Implementation Method 3
where the hyper-concentrated chemical can be mixed with the primary liquid supply, which may be water, to create an appropriately user-defined ready-to-use chemical mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for delivering hyper-concentrated chemicals in a ready to use non-concentrated state. The present invention affords users with the ability to dispense the hyper-concentrated chemicals in a safe electrical free environment as the system operates from fluid force. The present invention may work off a water supply being used as the primary power supply that is also used to dilute the hyper-concentrated chemical. The present invention may be configured for use in any number of environments, such as refineries, off-shore platforms, food processing facilities, agriculture facilities, and the like.