Pulsed Gas Cleaning of Liquid Pipes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cleaning liquid-carrying lines, particularly in long flushing sections and complex systems, face challenges in maintaining consistent pressure and cleaning effectiveness, leading to reduced removal of stubborn deposits and biofilms, especially at the end of the flushing section, and require high energy and additional chemical agents.
Innovation Solution
A method that optimizes cleaning by maintaining pressure differences through a phased approach with an initial quiescent phase, a running-in phase, and a pulse phase, where sequences of gas or gas mixtures are introduced with pause phases to maintain pressure curves, using pressure sensors to adjust parameters like pulse number, duration, and interval, ensuring consistent cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional water rinsing or simple gas-water pulse methods are used, then the cleaning process is simple and energy consumption is low, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient especially for stubborn deposits and biofilms in long flushing sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic gas supply in sequences with multiple impulses separated by pause phases. The gas is supplied in a defined sequence comprising several impulses with pause phases between sequences, creating periodic pressure waves that propagate through the flushing section. This periodic action maintains pressure peaks throughout the section while removing deposits and biofilms, achieving reliable cleaning without continuous high energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process is segmented into sequences of multiple impulses rather than continuous gas supply. Each sequence contains several individual impulses separated by pause phases, allowing the pressure waves to propagate and reflect multiple times through the flushing section. This segmentation enables thorough cleaning of long sections by breaking down the cleaning action into manageable periodic pulses.
2Reliability
If high pressure or large number of impulses are applied to clean long flushing sections, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but strain on the line increases and energy consumption rises significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying continuous high pressure, the patent uses periodic gas supply in sequences with multiple impulses and pause phases. The pressure peaks are maintained throughout the flushing section through the periodic propagation and reflection of pressure waves, achieving effective cleaning without subjecting the line to excessive continuous strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas supply parameters (pressure, flow rate, impulse duration) are dynamically adjusted based on the line characteristics and cleaning requirements. The sequence of impulses with pause phases allows the system to adapt the pressure profile to maintain effectiveness while minimizing strain on the line infrastructure.
3Reliability
If conventional pulse methods are used, then the process is simple to operate, but pressure peaks are not maintained throughout the flushing section leading to reduced cleaning at the end section
Solution Approach 1:
The gas is supplied in a defined sequence comprising several impulses with pause phases between sequences. This periodic action creates multiple pressure peaks that propagate through the entire flushing section, maintaining pressure at the end section through wave reflection and multiple passes, ensuring consistent cleaning throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates pressure sensors at the beginning and/or end of the flushing section to detect pressure peaks. This feedback information is used to evaluate the cleaning process and adjust gas supply parameters to maintain pressure peaks throughout the section, ensuring consistent cleaning effectiveness.
4Reliability
If multiple sequences of gas impulses are applied, then pressure peaks are maintained throughout the flushing section improving cleaning consistency, but control and parameter adjustment become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply is organized into sequences of impulses with defined pause phases, creating a periodic pattern that maintains pressure peaks throughout the flushing section. This structured periodic approach simplifies control compared to continuous adjustment, as the sequence parameters can be set once and repeated.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors provide feedback on the pressure peaks in the flushing section, allowing automated or semi-automated adjustment of gas supply parameters. This feedback mechanism simplifies the control of multiple sequences by using pressure data to automatically optimize the impulse parameters for maintaining pressure consistency.
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
This method effectively maintains pressure peaks throughout the flushing section, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reproducibility, allowing for the complete removal of deposits even in long sections, without the need for excessive energy or chemical agents.
Implementation Method 1
A strong turbulence of the mixture of water and gas bubbles is aimed at in order to achieve a strong rubbing effect
Implementation Method 2
progressive water and nitrogen bubbles develop in the pipeline, which, due to the very similar flow velocities, lead to strong eddy formation, which results in the detachment of deposits in the pipeline
Implementation Method 3
The effect of the flushing process is mainly based on the introduction of larger compressed air bubbles into flowing water and on cavitation
Implementation Method 4
The mixing takes place under turbulent conditions and with the formation of vortices, which cause cavitation phenomena, which leads to the detachment of loose deposits in the pipeline
Implementation Method 5
The mixing takes place under turbulent conditions and with the formation of vortices
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A method and device for optimizing the cleaning of liquid-filled pipes or systems along a flushing section. In this method, at the beginning of the flushing section, at the injection point, the pipe, which is at least partially filled with liquid, is pulsed with a gas or a gas mixture. The method comprises: - an initial rest phase in which the flushing section is filled or becomes filled with liquid, - a start-up phase in which the flushing section is partially emptied, - a pulse phase in which the flushing section is exposed to the gas or gas mixture in several sequences of at least two pulses, wherein a pause phase (P) is introduced at the end of each sequence until the beginning of the next sequence, during which pressure is reduced and the flushing section is partially refilled.