Nitrogen Enriched Paint Recycling System

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for recycling and reusing water-based paint are inefficient due to paint reaction with atmospheric oxygen, requiring multiple stages of filtration and additive dosing, and lack a method to maintain paint stability during the recycling process.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a recovery tank, flat belt recovery system, low pressure tank, paint pump, and Nitrogen generator, where Nitrogen gas is used to prevent paint reaction with oxygen by enriching Nitrogen levels inside the low pressure tank, allowing only oxygen to escape through a membrane, maintaining a stable environment for recycling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If overspray paint is recovered and processed through multiple stages of filtration and additive dosing, then paint recycling efficiency is improved, but paint stability deteriorates due to reaction with atmospheric oxygen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaint recycling efficiencyVSAvoidpaint stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a nitrogen-enriched atmosphere in the recovery tank to prevent oxidation of water-based paint during the recycling process. The nitrogen gas displaces atmospheric oxygen, creating an inert environment that maintains paint stability while allowing complete recycling operations including filtration and additive dosing to proceed without degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses nitrogen gas as an intermediary substance between the paint and atmospheric oxygen. The nitrogen acts as a protective medium that allows the paint to be processed through multiple filtration and dosing stages without direct exposure to oxygen, thus preventing polymerization and maintaining paint quality throughout the recycling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If paint is exposed to atmospheric oxygen during recovery and processing, then processing operations can proceed, but paint polymerization begins and stability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing operation feasibilityVSAvoidpaint stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains a nitrogen-enriched atmosphere throughout the paint recovery and processing operations, allowing filtration, additive dosing, and other processing steps to be performed without paint exposure to oxygen. This inert environment prevents polymerization while enabling complete processing operations to be completed successfully.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Device complexity

If conventional recovery systems are used without nitrogen enrichment, then system complexity is reduced, but paint reaction with oxygen occurs and recycling completeness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidrecycling completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a nitrogen generation system that connects to the paint recovery tank, creating a nitrogen-enriched atmosphere that prevents oxidation. This relatively simple addition of nitrogen supply infrastructure enables complete and effective paint recycling by preventing polymerization throughout the entire processing sequence, from recovery through filtration and additive dosing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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

The system effectively prevents paint reaction with oxygen, allowing for complete recycling and reuse of water-based paint by maintaining a higher Nitrogen concentration, enabling stable processing and efficient recycling through filtering and additive addition.

Implementation Method 1

The Nitrogen generator is provided for supplying Nitrogen gas to the low pressure tank in order to prevent water based paint reaction with atmospheric oxygen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInert atmosphere:

Implementation Method 2

the outlet valve includes a membrane for allowing oxygen gas to move faster than Nitrogen gas from the low pressure tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelective permeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3398690B1Nitrogen enriched water based paint recycling and reusing system and method
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 VESTEL ELEKTRONIK SANAYI & TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
  • EP3398690B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3398690B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention refers to a system for recycling and reusing of water based paint using Nitrogen preferably comprises of a recovery tank (3), a flat belt recovery system (100), a low pressure tank (5), a paint pump (4) and a Nitrogen generator (7). The recovery tank (3) is provided for recovering overspray paint (2) from the flat belt recovery system (100). The low pressure tank (5) is provided to collect the overspray paint (2) through the paint pump (4) from the recovery tank (3). The Nitrogen generator 7 is provided for supplying Nitrogen gas to the low pressure tank (5). The low pressure tank (5) comprises of an outlet valve (8), a Nitrogen opening valve (9) and a pressure sensor (6). The outlet valve (8) includes a membrane for allowing oxygen gas to move faster than Nitrogen gas from the low pressure tank (5) in order to prevent water based paint reaction with atmospheric oxygen.