Metering Line Blockage Prevention via Auxiliary Medium Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chemicals in powder or granular form, such as activated carbon or calcium hypochlorite, pose a risk of clogging when introduced into liquid media, leading to blockages in metering lines and valves due to their form and composition.
Innovation Solution
A device uses an auxiliary medium, like tap water, to dissolve the chemicals, and incorporates a flushing process with the same auxiliary medium to prevent blockages, utilizing three-way valves and a circulating pump to flush the metering line components without introducing chemicals into the flushing medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If chemicals in powder or granular form are introduced directly into the liquid medium, then the distribution process is simple, but the metering lines and valves become clogged
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical is dissolved in an auxiliary medium (water) in a container before being fed into the target medium. This preliminary dissolution action prevents clogging in the metering line and valve by ensuring the chemical is in liquid form during transportation and dosing, while maintaining a simple distribution process
Solution Approach 2:
An auxiliary medium (water) is introduced as an intermediary to dissolve the chemical before it enters the target medium. This intermediary step allows the chemical to be transported through the metering line without clogging, while the flushing line uses the same auxiliary medium to clean the system
2Reliability
If a flushing process is implemented to prevent blockages, then the metering line components remain free of blockages, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary medium (water) serves multiple functions: it dissolves the chemical in the container, transports it through the metering line, and flushes the metering line and valve to prevent blockages. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate flushing systems, maintaining simple device complexity while ensuring reliable blockage prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own auxiliary medium (water) for self-flushing of the metering line and valve. The circulating pump and three-way valve enable the system to automatically flush itself without requiring external resources or complex additional systems, achieving reliable blockage prevention with minimal added complexity
3Reliability
If external rinsing medium is used for flushing, then the flushing effectiveness is high, but the loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own auxiliary medium (water) that is already part of the process for flushing the metering line and valve. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external rinsing media, maintaining high flushing effectiveness while avoiding additional substance loss, as the same water is reused throughout the system
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 effectively keeps the metering line components free of blockages by using the auxiliary medium for flushing, eliminating the need for external rinsing media and ensuring even distribution of chemicals into the target medium.
Implementation Method 1
comprising at least one metering line routed via a circulating pump for feeding the auxiliary medium from the container into the medium
Implementation Method 2
Outside the container is the three-way valve provided according to the invention, which serves a flushing line for the auxiliary medium
Implementation Method 3
an auxiliary medium, for example tap water, is used in order to initially dissolve the chemical
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
In a device for metering at least one chemical into a medium, comprising a container (1) for an auxiliary medium for initially dissolving the chemical, and comprising at least one metering line (5) guided by a circulating pump for supplying the auxiliary medium from the container (1) into the medium, preferably water, and comprising a supply line (2) for the auxiliary medium into the container, it is provided that at least one three-way valve (7) is inserted into the supply line (2) for the auxiliary medium to the container (1), from which at least one flushing line (6) extends to the metering line (5). In this device, the components of the metering line can be easily kept free of blockages caused by the dissolved chemicals.