Spray Device Thermal Cleaning Method
Solution Overview
Problem
Devices for spraying liquid used in supermarkets to hydrate produce often become dirty due to biofilms and bacteria, leading to potential health risks and malfunctioning, requiring burdensome cleaning processes that can disrupt operations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating the liquid in the vessel to a temperature above 60°C, preferably between 65°C to 80°C, and draining it to create a thermal shock for decontamination, eliminating biofilms and bacteria without mechanical cleaning or dismantling the device, which can be repeated frequently to prevent bacterial growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cleaning methods are used to remove biofilms and bacteria, then the device can be decontaminated, but the cleaning process is burdensome and requires dismantling the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning operations (dismantling, brushing, manual scrubbing) with a thermal cleaning system. A heating element raises the water temperature to 60-80°C, and this thermal energy automatically cleans the device by eliminating biofilms and bacteria, with drainage removing the contaminants without any mechanical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-cleaning through an automated thermal process. The heating element, temperature sensor, and drainage system work together to automatically heat the water to cleaning temperatures, maintain it for a specified duration, and then drain it, all without requiring operator intervention or device dismantling.
2Reliability
If mechanical cleaning with brushes is used, then biofilms can be removed, but the cleaning process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of water temperature from ambient to elevated (60-80°C). This thermal parameter change enables rapid biofilm elimination through thermal shock and pasteurization effects, replacing the time-consuming mechanical brushing process with a faster thermal treatment that takes only a few hours.
3Reliability
If the device is cleaned frequently to prevent bacterial growth, then hygiene is improved, but maintenance costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing parameter variation in water temperature (heating to 60-80°C) to achieve cleaning. By leveraging this temperature parameter change, the system accomplishes both hygiene maintenance and energy-efficient operation, as the heating requirement is already part of the device's normal water heating capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses its own heating system and circulation pump to perform cleaning, converting normal operational components into cleaning tools. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cleaning equipment or external interventions, reducing overall maintenance costs despite frequent cleaning cycles.
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 eliminates biofilms and bacteria, including Legionella, without interfering with normal operations, ensuring hygiene and preventing device clogging, while being energy-efficient and easily automated, allowing for more frequent cleaning without increasing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
heating a liquid in the vessel up to a predetermined temperature, preferably higher than 60° C., in particular lying in the range 65° C. to 80° C.
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasound emitter suitable for emitting ultrasound waves into the liquid in order to spray it
Data Source
AI summary
The device for diffusing sprayed liquid in a reception zone includes a vessel suitable for containing a liquid for spraying and at least one diffuser of sprayed liquid that is arranged in the vessel. The diffuser includes in particular an ultrasound emitter. The cleaning method is such that during a stage of operation of the device in which the device is not diffusing liquid in the reception zone, the following steps are performed: heating a liquid in the vessel up to a predetermined temperature, preferably higher than 60° C., in particular lying in the range 65° C. to 80° C.; and draining the liquid from the vessel via a pipe of the device that is situated outside a circuit for diffusing sprayed liquid in the reception zone.