Thermally Insulated Shielding Bodies for Sterilization Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization methods for containers in the beverage industry, such as chemical substances and radiation, require high energy consumption and long process times for heating thick shielding materials, and pose challenges with lead toxicity and mechanical vulnerability, as well as radiation protection.
Innovation Solution
A device with a transport system and sterilization units using charge carriers, featuring thermally insulated shielding bodies with a gap between them, where only the shielding body facing the transport path is heated, reducing energy consumption and process time, and utilizing thinner metal sheets for radiation protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thick shielding plates (steel or cast iron) are used to ensure radiation protection, then radiation shielding effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and process time for heating increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device is divided into multiple shielding bodies (first shielding body, second shielding body, third shielding body) arranged in series. Each shielding body provides partial radiation attenuation, so that the cumulative effect achieves the required shielding effectiveness without requiring any single body to be excessively thick, thereby reducing the total heating energy required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different shielding bodies are positioned at different locations along the radiation path, with each optimized for its specific position. The first shielding body is placed closer to the radiation source where radiation intensity is highest, providing stronger shielding, while subsequent bodies provide progressively less shielding as radiation intensity decreases, optimizing the overall energy-efficiency balance.
2Reliability
If thick shielding plates are used to ensure radiation protection, then radiation shielding effectiveness is improved, but process time for heating increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding function is segmented across multiple thinner shielding bodies rather than using one thick plate. This segmentation reduces the total thermal mass that must be heated, thereby significantly reducing the heating process time while maintaining equivalent radiation shielding effectiveness through the cumulative attenuation of multiple bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single shielding body with excessive thickness, the solution applies partial action through multiple shielding bodies of moderate thickness. Each body provides sufficient shielding for its position in the sequence, and together they achieve the required overall shielding level with reduced heating time.
3Reliability
If lead is used for shielding, then radiation shielding effectiveness is improved, but toxicity and mechanical vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, toxic, and vulnerable lead shielding with more durable and safe materials such as steel or cast iron. These alternative materials, while requiring different design considerations, provide equivalent or superior shielding effectiveness without the harmful properties of lead, making them suitable for food packaging applications.
4Reliability
If chemical substances are used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but additional rinsing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces chemical sterilization methods with physical sterilization using electron beams or other ionizing radiation. This substitution eliminates the need for chemical rinsing steps, as radiation sterilization leaves no residual chemicals that would require removal, thereby simplifying the overall process while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
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 solution reduces energy consumption and process time for heating while ensuring effective radiation shielding and minimizing lead exposure, enhancing safety and reducing corrosion risks.
Implementation Method 1
The shielding bodies are arranged relative to one another in such a way that one shielding body is on the side facing the transport path and one shielding body is on the side facing away from it... used to shield from unwanted radiation and in particular from radiation produced during the sterilization process
Implementation Method 2
The shielding bodies are thermally insulated from one another. This thermal insulation is advantageously achieved with the aid of a gap, which preferably runs at least in sections between the shielding bodies
Data Source
AI summary
A device (1) for sterilizing containers (10) comprising a transport device (2) which transports the containers (10) along a predetermined transport path (P), a sterilization device (4, 6a, 6b) which applies charge carriers to at least one area of the containers (10) during sterilization, and a shielding device (22) for shielding radiation from the environment, comprising at least two shielding bodies (220, 222) arranged such that one shielding body (220) is located on the side of the shielding device facing the transport path (P) and one shielding body (222) is located on the side facing away from it. According to the invention, the shielding bodies are thermally insulated from each other.