Sheared Antifoam Composition for Refined Oils
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing refinement of lubricating base stocks has reduced the solubility of antifoam agents in oils, making it difficult to maintain their effectiveness in reducing foam and air entrainment without the use of solubilizing agents.
Innovation Solution
A composition of a sheared antifoam solution with a mean particle size ranging from 0.01 to 0.5 microns and a maximum particle size of less than 1 micron, produced by mixing an antifoam with a base stock and subjecting it to shearing using a shear device, such as a shear mixer with a screen having multiple perforations, to enhance suspension and reduce filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating base stocks are highly refined to improve oil quality, then oil purity is improved, but antifoam agent solubility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antifoam agent into extremely fine particles with a mean particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 microns through high-shear mixing. This segmentation allows the antifoam to remain suspended in highly refined oils without requiring solubilizing agents, resolving the solubility issue while maintaining oil purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of antifoam particle size to an extremely fine range (0.01 to 0.5 microns mean particle size). This parameter change enables the antifoam to be effectively suspended in highly refined base stocks with improved oil quality, overcoming the solubility deterioration that occurs with refinement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If antifoam particle size is reduced to improve suspension stability, then foam control is improved, but filtration risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle size parameter to a specific range with mean particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 microns and maximum particle size of less than 1 micron. This precise parameter control achieves sufficient suspension stability for effective foam control while keeping particles large enough to avoid filtration issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses high-shear mixing to achieve extremely fine particle distribution, which provides excessive suspension stability. This ensures that even the finest particles remain suspended effectively, while the controlled maximum particle size of less than 1 micron prevents filtration problems.
3Device complexity
If conventional antifoam formulations are used to maintain simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but antifoam effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter of the antifoam to an extremely fine range (mean 0.01 to 0.5 microns) through high-shear mixing. This single parameter change dramatically improves antifoam effectiveness in highly refined oils without requiring additional solubilizing agents or complex formulation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical solubilizing agents with a mechanical approach using high-shear mixing to create extremely fine particle suspensions. This mechanical substitution maintains formulation simplicity while dramatically improving antifoam effectiveness in refined oils.
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 sheared antifoam composition effectively reduces foam formation and stability in lubricating oils, improving antifoam agent performance by maintaining them in suspension and preventing filtration, as demonstrated by reduced foam tendencies in comparative tests.
Implementation Method 1
shearing the antifoam solution with a shear device to produce a sheared antifoam solution
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising a sheared antifoam solution/mixture with a mean particle size from about 0.01 microns to about 0.5 microns and a maximum particle size of less than about 1 micron. In this composition the sheared antifoam solution/mixture comprises antifoam solution/mixture comprising an antifoam and a base stock.