Stripping Apparatus Foam Suppression via Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stripping processes for removing unreacted vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) often generate excessive foam, leading to inefficiencies and quality degradation, particularly due to the use of antifoamers, and lack economic feasibility.
Innovation Solution
A stripping apparatus and method that minimize the temperature difference between the PVC and steam during the stripping process, using a temperature range of 5°C to 30°C, to suppress foam generation and enhance the efficiency of VCM removal, while also reducing the need for antifoamers and maintaining product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If steam stripping is performed with conventional temperature difference, then stripping efficiency is improved, but excessive foam generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by minimizing the temperature difference between steam and raw material (specifically controlling it to 5-30°C), which fundamentally alters the stripping mechanism from thermal-driven to mass-transfer-driven, thereby reducing foam generation while maintaining stripping efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic cleansing cycles to remove accumulated foam from the stripping apparatus, allowing continuous operation while managing foam buildup. The cycle includes stopping the apparatus, removing foam, and resuming operation, which maintains productivity while controlling harmful foam effects
2Object-generated harmful factors
If antifoamer is used to remove foams, then foam control is improved, but product quality degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of foam generation into a beneficial outcome by using the minimized temperature difference approach that reduces foam formation at its source, thereby eliminating the need for antifoamers and avoiding product quality degradation from chemical additives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes the antifoamer substance from the process entirely by addressing the root cause of foam generation through temperature control, thereby preventing product quality issues associated with antifoamer contamination
3Loss of substance
If conventional stripping process is used, then VCM removal is performed, but economic feasibility deteriorates due to excessive foam and antifoamer usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the stripping process to be self-regulating by minimizing temperature difference, which naturally suppresses foam generation and reduces the need for additional chemicals and intervention, thereby improving economic feasibility through reduced operational costs
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the temperature parameter to minimize the temperature difference between steam and raw material, the patent achieves both effective VCM removal and reduced foam generation, eliminating the need for antifoamers and improving overall process economics
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 approach effectively increases the efficiency of VCM removal, reduces foam generation, and enhances the economic viability of the process by minimizing the use of antifoamers and preventing product degradation.
Implementation Method 1
a stripping process using steam
Implementation Method 2
a temperature difference between a raw material including a target substance to be removed and steam is minimized
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a method for removing an unreacted vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). According to an illustrative stripping apparatus and a stripping method using the stripping apparatus of the present application, in a stripping process using steam, a temperature difference between a raw material including a target substance to be removed and steam is minimized to suppress foam generation in the stripping process, thereby increasing efficiency of removing the target substance to be removed, particularly, an unreacted VCM in PVC. In addition, a cleansing cycle to remove foams generated in the stripping apparatus can be reduced, thereby not only securing economic feasibility of the process, but also preventing degradation in quality of a final product that may occur when an antifoamer to remove the foams is used.