Milking Apparatus Vacuum Pump Buffer Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid ring vacuum pumps in milking installations consume significant resources due to the constant replacement of operating liquids for cooling and heat dissipation, leading to inefficiencies in resource usage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buffer tank system that recirculates the rinsing liquid as the operating liquid for the vacuum pump, allowing for reduced fresh liquid consumption and efficient heat management through evaporation, with excess liquid being drained and reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the operating liquid is constantly replaced to dissipate heat from the pump, then heat dissipation is improved, but liquid consumption increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers the flushing liquid after it has performed its cleaning function and reuses it as operating liquid for the vacuum pump. The buffer tank stores this recovered liquid, and the operating liquid line transports it to the pump, transforming a waste stream into a useful resource for heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own flushing liquid to serve the dual purpose of cleaning and subsequent cooling of the pump. The flushing liquid self-generates its second life as operating liquid, eliminating the need for separate fresh water supply and reducing overall liquid consumption.
2Loss of substance
If the flushing liquid is used as operating liquid for the vacuum pump, then liquid consumption is reduced, but the flushing liquid must be available in sufficient quantity and quality
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tank is filled with flushing liquid before the pump operation begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that sufficient operating liquid is available when the pump needs to run, eliminating concerns about liquid availability during critical milking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing liquid is designed to serve multiple functions: first as a cleaning agent for the milking system, then as a cooling medium for the vacuum pump. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate liquid supplies and maintains reliability by using a proven cleaning liquid for cooling purposes.
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 approach significantly reduces resource consumption by utilizing the rinsing liquid for pump operation, minimizing waste and maintaining effective temperature control through evaporation, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the milking installation.
Implementation Method 1
Liquid ring vacuum pumps require an operating liquid in order to be able to form the liquid ring
Implementation Method 2
When the boiling point of the liquid is reached, the liquid begins to evaporate and the temperature does not rise any further
Implementation Method 3
the milking installation includes a buffer tank for an operating liquid of the liquid ring vacuum pump
Implementation Method 4
a liquid ring vacuum pump for applying a negative pressure to the teat cup
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a milking system comprising a milk tank (19), a teat cup (17) connected to the milk tank (19), a rinsing port (21) for introducing a rinsing fluid into the milking system, and a liquid ring vacuum pump (25) for applying a vacuum to the teat cup (17). According to the invention, the milking system includes a buffer tank (27) for an operating fluid of the liquid ring vacuum pump (25). A rinsing channel (15, 18, 31) extends from the rinsing port (21) to the buffer tank (27). The invention also relates to a milking method. With this invention, the rinsing fluid is used as the operating fluid for the liquid ring vacuum pump (25).