Intermediate Bulk Container Cleaning System with Automated Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) pose challenges in safely and effectively removing chemical residues and cleaning the interior without risking human health or environmental contamination, as residual chemicals become difficult to clean over time.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system for IBCs comprising a chemical tank, pumps, a dispensing valve, a water tank, and a topside washing assembly, which uses a combination of chemical and water pumps, hoses, and spray heads, along with a printed circuit board and liquid crystal display for controlled operation, to facilitate safe and efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cleaning methods are used for IBC chemical residues, then operators can access the container interior, but human health risks and environmental contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cleaning system with pumps, spray heads, and hoses as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the chemical residues. The system allows cleaning to be performed remotely through automated fluid delivery, eliminating the need for operators to directly access or contact hazardous chemicals inside the container.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning operations with an automated fluid-based system. Instead of operators physically entering and manually cleaning the container, the system uses chemical pumps, water pumps, and spray assemblies to deliver cleaning agents and rinse water through hoses and dispensing valves, substituting human labor with automated mechanical systems.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If chemical residues are left in the IBC for extended periods, then storage time is increased, but cleaning difficulty increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a chemical pump system that can apply cleaning chemicals to the container interior before residues become difficult to remove. The system allows for preliminary chemical treatment that breaks down or loosens residues while they are still relatively easy to clean, preventing the exponential increase in cleaning difficulty that occurs with prolonged storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses chemical pumps to alter the chemical and physical parameters of the cleaning process. By controlling the delivery of cleaning agents through the chemical pump system, the treatment can be optimized for different residue types and storage durations, changing the effectiveness parameters of the cleaning process to match the specific contamination conditions.
3Device complexity
If a simple cleaning system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness and control capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning system into distinct functional segments: a chemical pump system for applying cleaning agents, a water pump system for rinsing, spray heads for distribution, and a control system with display and input interfaces. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability and effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a control system with a display and input interface that provides feedback capability. This allows operators to monitor and control the cleaning process parameters, ensuring that the chemical and water pump systems operate effectively. The feedback mechanism enables adjustment of cleaning parameters to maintain optimal cleaning effectiveness while managing system complexity.
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
The system enables safe and efficient removal of chemical residues from IBCs, reducing the risk to operators and the environment by allowing controlled dispensing and rinsing of chemical fluids, ensuring thorough cleaning and minimizing residual contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The first chemical pump and the second chemical pump can apply head to a chemical fluid in the chemical tank which is then pumped out of the dispensing valve
Implementation Method 2
The topside washing assembly disperses water from the water tank in order to clean the chemical tank
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning system can be used on an intermediate bulk container. The cleaning system includes a chemical tank, filled with a chemical liquid. A first chemical pump and a second chemical pump, are mechanically coupled to the chemical tank and configured to pump the contents of the chemical tank. A dispensing valve is mechanically coupled to the first chemical pump and the second chemical pump and configured to dispense the chemical liquid. A water tank, is filled with water. A first water pump and a second water pump are mechanically coupled to the water tank and configured to dispense the water. A topside washing assembly is attached to the chemical tank and mechanically coupled to the first chemical pump and the second chemical pump. The topside washing assembly disperses water from the water tank in order to clean the chemical tank.