Nozzle Heating Control for Uniform Fat Pulverization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nozzle installations for pulverizing substances, especially those with high melting points, often clog due to solidification, leading to fluctuations in pressure and nonuniform particle size distribution, causing process interruptions.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle installation with a heating line that maintains the substance at a temperature above its melting point, combined with a control unit regulating heating power based on temperature sensors, prevents clogging and ensures uniform particle size distribution by ensuring the substance remains in a liquid state during spraying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the substance is sprayed without heating, then the energy consumption is low, but the nozzle becomes clogged due to solidification of the substance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle operation continuityVSAvoidheating energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating line heats the substance before it reaches the nozzle outlet, maintaining it above the melting point. This preliminary heating action prevents solidification at the nozzle, ensuring continuous operation without clogging while managing energy consumption efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating line acts as an intermediary element between the substance source and the nozzle outlet. It provides thermal energy to the substance, preventing solidification without requiring the entire spraying system to be heated, thus balancing reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the nozzle is partially clogged, then the substance can still be sprayed, but pressure fluctuations occur leading to nonuniform particle size distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size uniformityVSAvoidpressure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating line preemptively maintains the substance temperature above the melting point before it reaches the nozzle, preventing solidification and partial clogging. This ensures stable pressure conditions and uniform particle size distribution from the outset, avoiding the need to deal with clogging issues during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If heating is applied to prevent clogging, then the nozzle remains clear, but the temperature control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenozzle clogging preventionVSAvoidtemperature control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit receives temperature signals from the temperature sensor at the nozzle outlet and adjusts the heating power accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains simple temperature control by automatically regulating heating based on actual temperature conditions, preventing both clogging and overheating without complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is self-regulating through the feedback control. The temperature sensor monitors the outlet temperature and the control unit automatically adjusts heating power, making the system self-service and reducing operational complexity while ensuring reliable clogging prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution effectively prevents nozzle clogging and ensures a uniform particle size distribution, enhancing process reliability and efficiency by maintaining the substance in a liquid state during pulverization, allowing for continuous operation and consistent product quality.

Implementation Method 1

a heating line (5) that is configured in a spiral manner and is arranged such that the substance can be heated between the first inlet (2) and the outlet (4) by the heating line (5)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a control unit (9) that is configured for controlling the heating power of the heating line (5) based on a first temperature measured by the first temperature sensor (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature control: Feedback

Implementation Method 3

a nozzle installation (1) for spraying a substance that is supposed to be pulverized

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray: Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3772285B1Pulverization of a substance
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 AIR LIQUIDE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3772285B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3772285B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3772285B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4B

AI summary

Nozzle installation (1) for spraying a substance that is supposed to be pulverized, comprising: - a first inlet (2) for the substance, - a second inlet (3) for a driving medium, - an outlet (4), through which the substance can be driven by the driving medium, - a heating line (5) that is arranged such that the substance can be heated between the first inlet (2) and the outlet (4) by the heating line (5), - a first temperature sensor (6) arranged at the outlet (4), and - a control unit (9) configured for controlling the heating power of the heating line (5) based on a first temperature measured by the first temperature sensor (6). By means of the described methods, the described nozzle installation (1) and the described device (11), pulverization of a substance such as a fat can be performed in a particularly reliable manner. Due to a controlled heating of the substance prior to spraying the substance into a spray tower (12), a particular uniform particle size distribution can be achieved and clogging of a nozzle installation (1) can be prevented.