Stabilizer Disc Surface Roughness Foam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluids during transportation and storage often experience agitation, leading to mixing with air, physical separation of components, and the formation of foam, which is difficult to remove and results in additional costs and labor.
Innovation Solution
The use of stabilizer discs with a width greater than the height, a surface roughness within a specific range (0.76 μm to 1.1 μm), and a density less than the fluid's density, allowing them to float on the surface and prevent foam formation through surface tension disruption and vibration dampening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid is transported or stored in containers, then the fluid can be moved and stored, but agitation occurs during transport leading to foam formation and fluid destabilization
Solution Approach 1:
A stabilizer disc is introduced as an intermediary element between the air and the liquid surface. The disc floats on the liquid surface and disrupts the formation of foam by breaking the surface tension continuity, preventing air-liquid mixing and stabilizing the fluid during transport and storage
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer disc is designed with specific parameter ranges: surface roughness Ra of 0.76-1.1 μm, width greater than height, and density less than the liquid density. These parameter optimizations enable the disc to effectively disrupt foam formation while maintaining stability on the liquid surface under various transport conditions
2Ease of operation
If the fluid surface is exposed to air during transport, then the fluid can be easily contained, but mixing with air causes physical separation of components and creation of byproducts
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer disc acts as a physical barrier and intermediary layer at the air-liquid interface, preventing direct contact and mixing between air and liquid. This maintains fluid composition integrity without requiring complex sealed containers or inert atmosphere systems
3Quantity of substance
If foam forms on the liquid surface, then the liquid can be contained, but the foam is difficult to remove and results in additional costs and labor
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer disc applies preliminary anti-action by preventing foam formation in the first place. By disrupting surface tension and blocking air-liquid mixing at the interface, the disc eliminates the need for subsequent foam removal operations, saving time and resources
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 stabilizer discs effectively reduce or eliminate foam formation on the surface of liquids during transport and storage, reducing labor and costs associated with foam removal and maintaining the integrity of the fluid.
Implementation Method 1
a density, wherein the density is less than a density of the liquid... configured to float on a surface of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
prevent foam formation through surface tension disruption and vibration dampening
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilizer disc for a liquid that reduces or prevents the formation of a foam on an upper surface of the liquid. The stabilizer disc has a width and a height, wherein the width is greater than the height. The stabilizer disc further has a surface roughness within a disclosed range of surface roughness (i.e., surface finish) values. Further, a plurality of stabilizer discs may be used to cover a disclosed percentage of a surface area of the fluid. A method for reducing the formation of a foam on the liquid within a container during transport and/or storage is also described.