Micro Dry Ice Nozzle Protrusion and Hydrophobic Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry ice snow spray cleaning technologies damage sensitive surfaces during the manufacturing of flat panel displays due to the growth of large dry ice particles and high consumption of liquid carbon dioxide, especially when cleaning large areas.
Innovation Solution
A micro dry ice snow spray device that adiabatically expands liquid carbon dioxide to generate sublimable dry ice particles, which are carried on high-speed carrier gas and sprayed onto the surface, with a design where the liquid carbon dioxide nozzle protrudes beyond the carrier gas nozzle to minimize particle growth and water droplet formation, and features a hydrophobic coating to prevent damage and reduce CO2 consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional dry ice snow spray cleaning is used to clean large areas, then cleaning coverage is improved, but liquid carbon dioxide consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cleaning system into multiple independent nozzle units (first nozzle unit, second nozzle unit, etc.), each capable of cleaning a specific zone. This segmentation allows the system to cover large areas without requiring a single large nozzle that would consume excessive CO2, as each micro-nozzle operates efficiently with minimal CO2 usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle units are arranged in a nested or overlapping configuration where multiple nozzles work cooperatively to cover the entire cleaning area. This nesting approach ensures complete coverage of large surfaces while maintaining the efficiency of individual micro-nozzles, preventing the need for excessive CO2 consumption that would occur with a single large-scale nozzle.
2Quantity of substance
If liquid carbon dioxide nozzle temperature is reduced to improve particle generation, then dry ice particle formation is enhanced, but water droplet formation increases causing surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention carefully controls the temperature parameter of the liquid carbon dioxide nozzle, maintaining it within an optimal range that enables sufficient dry ice particle generation while preventing excessive cooling that would cause water droplet formation. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between particle generation efficiency and surface safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a temperature control mechanism as an intermediary between the liquid carbon dioxide supply and the nozzle, regulating the temperature to prevent harmful water droplet formation while maintaining effective dry ice particle generation. This intermediary control system balances particle production with surface protection.
3Force
If dry ice particles are allowed to grow larger for better cleaning power, then collision energy increases, but surface damage risk increases due to mass effect
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the size parameter of dry ice particles by controlling generation conditions, maintaining particles within an optimal size range that provides sufficient collision energy for effective cleaning while preventing excessive mass that would cause surface damage. This parameter control balances cleaning power with surface protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a few large particles, the invention employs multiple smaller particles that collectively provide the necessary cleaning force. This approach replicates the cleaning effect of large particles while avoiding their harmful mass effect, distributing the collision energy across numerous smaller impacts.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If air-blowing cleaning is used for soft surfaces, then surface damage is minimized, but particle removal effectiveness is insufficient for modern small pixel sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the cleaning mechanism from gentle air-blowing to controlled dry ice particle impact by adjusting parameters such as particle size, velocity, and density. This parameter transformation enables effective removal of fine particles from modern displays while maintaining surface safety through precise control, overcoming the limitations of conventional air-blowing methods.
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
Effectively prevents surface damage and reduces liquid carbon dioxide consumption by minimizing dry ice particle growth and water droplet formation, allowing for efficient cleaning of large areas with reduced CO2 usage.
Implementation Method 1
adiabatically expanding liquid carbon dioxide to generate sublimable dry ice particles
Implementation Method 2
generate sublimable dry ice particles
Implementation Method 3
features a hydrophobic coating to prevent damage and reduce CO2 consumption
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a dry cleaning technology for a cleaning a surface of an object to be cleaned by adiabatically expanding liquid carbon dioxide to generate sublimable dry ice particles and carrying the dry ice particles on high-speed carrier gas to be sprayed onto the surface of the object to be cleaned, wherein an end of a liquid carbon dioxide nozzle further protrudes to the outside relative to an end of a carrier gas nozzle to prevent a growth of dry ice particles in the carrier gas nozzle, a hydrophobic coating is formed on a surface of the liquid carbon dioxide nozzle to prevent a formation of water droplets and to prevent an occurrence of irregular dry ice particles, thereby effectively preventing damage to a surface of an object to be cleaned and being advantageous in an economical aspect by significantly reducing consumption of liquid carbon dioxide.