Solid Product Dispenser with Turbulent Flow for Concentration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solid block chemical dispensers face challenges in controlling the concentration of chemical solutions due to variable erosion rates influenced by solvent temperature, application time, and volume, leading to inconsistent chemical concentrations, especially when producing small volumes of working solution.
Innovation Solution
A solid product dispenser is designed to indirectly apply pressurized fluid to a solid chemical concentrate, creating a consistent erosion rate through turbulent flow, ensuring controlled release and consistent chemical concentration across the dispense cycle, and includes features like built-in backflow prevention and modular connectivity for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If solid block chemical concentrate is dissolved by spraying solvent directly on the block, then the dispense process is simple and quick, but the chemical concentration in the working solution becomes inconsistent due to variable erosion rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary chamber between the fluid supply inlet and the solid chemical concentrate. The pressurized fluid is discharged into this chamber first, allowing it to build pressure and then flow upward through the porous platform where the solid concentrate rests. This intermediary chamber mediates the interaction between fluid and solid, ensuring consistent erosion rates and chemical concentration in the working solution.
2Manufacturing precision
If large volumes of working solution are generated, then the variability in chemical concentration during dispense is averaged away and negligible, but storage requirements and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow parameters of the solvent by using pressurized fluid discharged into a chamber, creating turbulent flow that consistently erodes the solid chemical concentrate. This parameter change in fluid delivery method ensures that even small volumes of working solution have consistent chemical concentration, eliminating the need to generate large volumes to average out variability.
3Productivity
If pressurized fluid is directed directly at the solid chemical concentrate, then erosion rate is high and dispense is fast, but control over chemical concentration is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of fluid delivery by discharging pressurized fluid horizontally into a chamber rather than directly at the solid concentrate. The fluid then travels vertically downward under pressure and flows upward through the porous platform, creating a controlled turbulent flow that maintains both high dispense speed and precise chemical concentration control.
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 dispenser consistently generates chemical solutions with controlled concentrations, suitable for various application volumes, from small handheld bottles to larger containers, without the need for separate backflow devices and allows for easy connection of multiple units, enhancing operational efficiency and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
When fluid is discharged under pressure into the housing, the fluid may travel vertically downward under a pressure greater than gravity force until the fluid is redirected generally horizontally towards the platform
Implementation Method 2
The pressurized fluid can flow across and upwardly through the platform, providing turbulent flow of pressurized fluid that erodes the surface of the solid chemical concentrate positioned on the platform
Implementation Method 3
providing turbulent flow of pressurized fluid that erodes the surface of the solid chemical concentrate positioned on the platform
Implementation Method 4
a solid product dispenser is configured to generate a dilute aqueous solution from a solid chemical concentrate by indirectly applying pressurized fluid to the solid chemical concentrate
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A solid product dispenser can be used to form a dilute liquid solution from a block of solid concentrate. In cases where only a small amount of liquid solution is needed, the solid product dispenser may dissolve the block of solid concentrate quickly and substantially uniformly to provide a solution of controlled concentration. This can be contrast with larger dispensing applications where a dispenser may dissolve a block of concentrate slowly at the start and more rapidly as the dispensing progresses, producing a solution with an average concentration higher than if only a small amount of solution were produced using the dispenser. In one example, the solid product dispenser includes a fluid distribution reservoir and a solid product reservoir positioned inside of the fluid distribution reservoir and over a platform on which the solid product sits. High pressure fluid flows between the two reservoirs, turbulently contacting the solid product.