Ozone Sanitization System for Pneumatic Convey Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convey lines in pneumatic conveying systems face challenges in sanitizing bacteria growth due to the difficulty in removing wet cleaning mediums, which are effective but hard to remove, while dry methods that are easy to remove are ineffective in killing bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A sanitization system utilizing an ozone gas stream, including an ozone generation and delivery module, compressed air source, air flow control system, and ozone measurement and destruction module, to effectively kill bacteria and easily remove the sanitizing agent from the convey line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wet cleaning mediums are used to kill bacteria, then sanitization effectiveness is improved, but removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the cleaning medium from liquid (wet) to gas (ozone). This allows the sanitizing agent to maintain effectiveness while being easily removable through evaporation and atmospheric dissipation, resolving the contradiction between sanitization effectiveness and removal difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical wet cleaning methods with a chemical/gas-based ozone sanitization system. The ozone gas performs sanitization through chemical oxidation rather than mechanical wet cleaning, enabling easy removal while maintaining effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If dry cleaning mediums are used to ease removal, then removal difficulty is improved, but sanitization effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cleaning medium from dry solid/powder forms to ozone gas. This gaseous form is easily removable through atmospheric dissipation while maintaining strong sanitization effectiveness through chemical oxidation, resolving the contradiction between removal ease and sanitization effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If convey lines are cleaned in place, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical removal methods with ozone gas sanitization. The gas can be introduced through existing convey line openings without requiring disassembly or complex installation, achieving effective sanitization while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ozone gas as an intermediary sanitizing agent that can penetrate through existing convey line structures. This allows in-place cleaning without requiring physical disassembly or complex installation equipment, maintaining both simplicity and effectiveness.
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 ozone-based sanitization system significantly reduces bacteria like E-coli, Salmonella, and Listeria on convey line surfaces, with ozone dissipating harmlessly into the atmosphere and its effectiveness enhanced by moisture, achieving sanitization from 2-3 log count to below detectable levels.
Implementation Method 1
The ozone generator concentrates atmospheric oxygen or oxygen from an oxygen supply and converts it to ozone
Implementation Method 2
The ozone-based sanitization system significantly reduces bacteria like E-coli, Salmonella, and Listeria on convey line surfaces
Implementation Method 3
The effectiveness of ozone as a sanitizing agent increases dramatically in the presence of moisture provided by the humidifier
Implementation Method 4
The ozone destructor converts the ozone at the end of the convey line back into oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitization system for sanitizing a convey line broadly includes an ozone generation and delivery module, a compressed air source, and an air flow control system, and an ozone measurement and destruction module. The ozone generation and delivery module includes ozone generator, an ozone flow meter, a first ozone analyzer, a humidifier, and a humidity sensor and introduces a measured ozone gas stream into the convey line so that the ozone disinfects the inner surfaces of the convey line. The humidifier introduces moisture into the convey line to increase the effectiveness of the ozone as a disinfection agent. The ozone measurement and destruction module includes a second ozone analyzer, an ozone destructor, and an ozone monitor and removes ozone from the gas stream. The ozone measurement and destruction module also ensures that a desired amount of ozone reaches the end of the convey line.