Multicolor Car Wash Mixing and Foaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing car wash systems using premixed colored detergents lack user control over color intensity and foaming adjustment, which is further complicated by varying wash lengths, leading to inefficient and uneconomical operations.
Innovation Solution
A system with multiple mixing and foaming systems that combine concentrated color compositions with water streams to create diluted colored cleaning compositions, allowing for adjustable color intensity and foaming, and includes a fragrance delivery system, with the concentrated color compositions being essentially free of cleaning surfactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If premixed colored detergents are used, then the car wash provides aesthetic appeal with colored foam, but the user has no control over color intensity and foaming adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detergent delivery into separate streams: a concentrated color composition stream and a cleaning composition stream. These streams are segmented and can be independently controlled through separate valves and delivery mechanisms, allowing precise adjustment of color intensity without affecting the cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the concentration parameter of the color composition by varying the flow rate ratio between the concentrated color stream and the cleaning composition stream. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the user can control color intensity independently while maintaining proper foaming characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If concentrated color compositions free of surfactants are used, then color intensity control is improved, but the system requires multiple separate delivery systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the concentrated color composition stream with the cleaning composition stream at a mixing point just before application. This combining allows the surfactant-free color concentrate to be integrated with the foaming cleaning composition, achieving both precise color control and proper foaming in a unified delivery system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition acts as an intermediary that carries the concentrated color composition to the application point. This intermediary stream provides the necessary surfactants and foaming agents while transporting the color concentrate, enabling separate control of color intensity without requiring independent foaming systems.
3Productivity
If multiple colored detergents are premixed, then aesthetic appeal is provided, but the operation becomes uneconomical with fixed color ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic control through independently adjustable valves on each color stream and the cleaning composition stream. This allows real-time adjustment of the mixing ratios based on wash length, vehicle type, and customer preferences, making the operation adaptable and economically efficient rather than fixed and rigid.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentrated color composition can be universally applied across different wash scenarios by simply adjusting the flow rate ratio. The same concentrated color stream can serve multiple purposes (different colors, different intensities, different wash lengths) without requiring separate premixed detergents for each scenario, enhancing versatility and operational efficiency.
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
Enables precise control over color intensity and foaming levels, improving the aesthetic appeal and operational efficiency of car washes, while allowing for user-adjustable settings to accommodate different wash lengths and preferences.
Implementation Method 1
a first mixing system for combining a first cleaning composition stream, a first concentrated color composition, and a first water stream to form a first diluted colored cleaning composition
Implementation Method 2
combining concentrated color compositions with water streams to create diluted colored cleaning compositions
Implementation Method 3
A first foaming system receives the first diluted colored cleaning composition. The first foam system delivers the first diluted cleaning colored composition to the vehicle
Implementation Method 4
The first foaming system receives the first diluted colored cleaning composition. The first foam system delivers the first diluted cleaning colored composition to the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cleaning an automobile having at least two colored cleaning streams includes a first mixing system for combining a first cleaning composition stream, a first concentrated color composition, and a first water stream to form a first diluted colored cleaning composition. A second mixing system combines a second cleaning composition stream, a second concentrated color composition, and a second water stream to form a second diluted colored cleaning composition. A first foaming system receives the first diluted colored cleaning composition. The first foam system delivers the first diluted colored cleaning composition to the vehicle. A second foaming system receives the second diluted colored cleaning composition. The second foam system delivers the second diluted colored cleaning composition to the vehicle.