Apparatus for and operation of a liquid flow circuit containing a chemical additive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed circuit heating and cooling systems face issues when drained for maintenance, as they are often refilled with water only, leading to a lack or incorrect chemical inhibitors, increasing the risk of corrosion and scale formation.
Innovation Solution
A dosing device with an RFID system that monitors and manages the introduction of chemical additives, ensuring the right concentration and type of inhibitor is maintained in the system, featuring a communication device for data exchange, automatic dispensing, and alerts for replacement, integrated with a pressurized liquid flow circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the system is drained for maintenance and refilled with water only, then the system can be easily maintained and refilled, but the chemical inhibitor concentration is lost or diluted, increasing the risk of corrosion and scale formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting when the circuit is drained and preemptively dosing the correct amount of inhibitor before the system is refilled, ensuring protection is restored before normal operation resumes
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from level sensors and dosing monitors to track inhibitor concentration and system volume, automatically adjusting dosing to maintain correct inhibitor levels after draining and refilling operations
2Reliability
If a dosing device with RFID monitoring and automatic dispensing is implemented, then the correct inhibitor concentration and type are maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing device performs self-service by automatically detecting container identity via RFID, calculating required dosing amounts based on system parameters, and dispensing the correct inhibitor concentration without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by integrating multiple functions into a single dosing device: RFID container identification, communication with external systems, automatic dosing control, and concentration monitoring, all managed by one multi-functional unit
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
Ensures the correct concentration and type of inhibitor are maintained, reducing the risk of corrosion and scale formation, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the system.
Implementation Method 1
The RFID device may, for example, store data related to one or more of the identity of chemical within the container, date of filling of the container, pressure of chemical in the container, volume of the container
Implementation Method 2
A part of the system, for example the communication device or the dosing device, may comprise a charging circuit operable to provide power to the RFID device by electromagnetic induction
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid flow system (10) comprises a dosing device (18) for introduction of a chemical additive into a liquid flow circuit, said dosing device comprising an inlet port (25) in fluid communication with the liquid flow circuit and a container (30) of chemical additive secured or adapted to be secured to said inlet port, said container comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) device (50,51) which stores data of a parameter related to the correct operation of the liquid flow circuit, and the system comprising a communication device (33) to receive data from the container whereby the liquid flow system is responsive to data received by the communication device.