High-Pressure Nitrogen Water Pipe Cleaning System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water pipe cleaning methods using compressed air and water pressure are inefficient, especially for longer pipes, as the pressure decreases along the pipe, leading to reduced scale removal efficiency and potential pipe damage due to increased temperature and pressure.

Innovation Solution

A water pipe cleaning system utilizing high-pressure nitrogen, where multiple nitrogen pressure vessels are connected in parallel and controlled by a main control unit to maintain consistent pressure, allowing for efficient cleaning of long pipes with a feed and discharge piping system to manage nitrogen flow and pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If compressed air with wash water is injected into the water pipe to clean scale, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the pressure decreases along longer pipes due to temperature increase and expansion, reducing cleaning efficiency at the opposite end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidnitrogen pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the cleaning medium by using nitrogen instead of compressed air. Nitrogen remains at constant temperature and pressure throughout the pipe, unlike compressed air which heats up and expands. This parameter change allows maintaining high pressure even in long pipes, resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses nitrogen, an inert gas, to create a stable cleaning environment. Nitrogen does not react with pipe materials or contents, and its inert properties prevent temperature increase and pressure fluctuations that occur with compressed air. This creates a consistent high-pressure environment throughout the entire pipe length, enabling effective cleaning at both near and far ends.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Force

If high pressure is supplied to compressed air for effective scale removal, then the cleaning power is improved, but the temperature increases and the air expands, making it impossible to maintain high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning powerVSAvoidcompressed air temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the gas medium from compressed air to nitrogen. Nitrogen's physical properties prevent temperature increase under pressure, allowing high pressure to be maintained without the thermal effects that limit compressed air. This enables sustained high cleaning power throughout the entire pipe system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If wash water with compressed air is used to clean the water pipe, then foreign substances can be removed, but the pressure gradually decreases during the cleaning process, reducing efficiency at the opposite end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescale removal efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning process duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the cleaning medium from compressed air to nitrogen, which maintains constant pressure throughout the pipe. This eliminates the gradual pressure decrease that extends cleaning time, allowing efficient scale removal at both ends of the pipe simultaneously and reducing overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 removes scale and foreign substances from water pipes with high-pressure nitrogen, preventing pipe damage and ensuring safety by maintaining constant pressure, thus improving cleaning efficiency and compatibility with various pipe specifications.

Implementation Method 1

cleaning the inside of a water pipe using high-pressure nitrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

supplying high-pressure nitrogen into one end of a water pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS11779964B2Water pipe cleaning system using high-pressure nitrogen and water pipe cleaning method using same

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 KIM BYUNG JUN

AI summary

A water pipe cleaning system using high-pressure nitrogen and a water pipe cleaning method using the same are provided. The water pipe cleaning system using high-pressure nitrogen includes: nitrogen pressure vessels containing high-pressure nitrogen therein; a main control unit gathering the high-pressure nitrogen from the nitrogen pressure vessels and controlling pressure of the high-pressure nitrogen; a feed piping device connected to an outlet of the main control unit and connected to an inlet of a pipe to be washed; and a discharge piping device connected to an outlet of the pipe and connected to a nitrogen discharging portion to discharge nitrogen discharged from the pipe to the outside. The main control unit is configured such that control modules are stacked on one another. Each of the control modules is configured such that the nitrogen pressure vessels are connected together in parallel, and has an individual outlet.