Multi-Inlet Tank Process for Liquid Temperature Uniformization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for uniformizing the temperature of liquids from discontinuous industrial processes are inefficient, requiring large storage tanks and resulting in significant temperature fluctuations, making energy recovery difficult and costly.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a tank with multiple inlets and outlets, where the liquid flow is distributed based on sinusoidal wave decomposition to achieve a constant or approximately constant temperature profile, using the Fourier theorem to determine optimal inlet configurations and flow rates, allowing for efficient temperature uniformization in a smaller tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional storage tank is used to uniformize the temperature of liquid from discontinuous industrial processes, then the temperature peaks are reduced, but the temperature fluctuation remains considerable and large tank size is required
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is divided into multiple compartments (first tank, second tank, third tank) with separate inlets and outlets for different liquid streams. Each compartment handles a specific portion of the temperature uniformization task, allowing the system to achieve better temperature control without requiring a single large tank volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-mixes liquids from different inlets before they enter the main tank volume. By combining hot and cold liquid streams in controlled ratios within smaller compartments first, the temperature uniformization occurs progressively, reducing the required size of the final storage tank while maintaining temperature stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a large storage tank is used to reduce temperature fluctuations, then temperature uniformity improves, but the distance between inlet and outlet must be large and the tank becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple simple tank compartments with straightforward inlet-outlet configurations rather than one complex large tank. Each compartment has a simple structure with limited inlets and outlets, reducing overall system complexity while achieving temperature stability through the combined effect of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing tank volume in a single dimension, the system achieves temperature stability by adding temporal dimension through controlled mixing sequences and spatial dimension through multiple parallel compartments. This multi-dimensional approach provides temperature stability without requiring a single large, complex tank structure.
3Loss of energy
If conventional tank systems are used for temperature uniformization, then some temperature control is achieved, but expensive insulating coatings are required and energy recovery efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple liquid streams from different sources and temperature zones within the tank compartments, allowing heat exchange between streams. This internal heat recovery mechanism reduces energy loss without requiring expensive external insulating coatings, as the heat transfer occurs within the tank structure itself through the combined liquid flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank compartments act as intermediary zones where hot and cold liquid streams mix and exchange heat before reaching the final outlet. This intermediary mixing process recovers energy internally, reducing the need for expensive insulation while improving overall energy recovery efficiency of 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 approach effectively reduces temperature fluctuations, achieving a stable temperature trend over time, enabling more efficient energy recovery and reducing tank size and implementation costs.
Implementation Method 1
a tank is provided, defining a longitudinal axis, having a lower zone and an upper zone, and provided with at least two inlets arranged in a succession between the lower zone and the upper zone... distributing the total flow rate Qtot between said two inlets so that the respective partial flow rates are equal to Q2 = Q1 = Qtot/2
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Process for uniformizing the temperature of a liquid coming from a conduit with a constant total flow rate (Qtot), said temperature having a periodic trend in time defined by a first waveform, in which a tank (100) is provided, defining a longitudinal axis, having a lower zone (11) and an upper zone (12), and provided with at least two inlets arranged in a succession between the lower zone (11) and the upper zone (12), with a first inlet (1) proximal to the upper zone (12) and an n- th inlet (n) proximal to the lower zone (11), and provided with at least one outlet (9) arranged between the first inlet (1) and the upper zone (12), and wherein each inlet is arranged at a predetermined distance from the next one along said longitudinal axis.