Transportable Plant for On-Site Chemical Mixing and Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemical production processes are centralized, leading to high production costs, poor traceability of raw materials, increased risk of counterfeiting, and hazardous transport and storage issues, particularly for commodity chemicals.
Innovation Solution
A transportable plant with a mixing device comprising a main pipe, static mixing elements, and a control unit that allows flexible mixing and chemical reactions at user premises, enabling precise tracking of raw materials and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If production is concentrated in a limited number of large plants to reduce production costs, then production efficiency is improved, but safety risks and transport hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the centralized production system into distributed modular mixing units that can be deployed at multiple locations. Each mixing unit is a self-contained module with mixing chamber, pumps, and control systems, allowing production to be segmented across different sites rather than concentrated in one large plant, thereby reducing safety risks and transport hazards while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single centralized production site to a multi-location distributed network of mixing units. By adding the spatial dimension of distribution across multiple sites, the system maintains total production output while eliminating the need for large-scale hazardous material storage and transport associated with centralized plants.
2Productivity
If production is concentrated in centralized plants, then production costs are reduced, but traceability of raw materials deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing units are equipped with control systems that automatically record and track raw material inputs, mixing parameters, and product outputs. This feedback mechanism ensures complete traceability of raw materials through each production batch, allowing full visibility of material flow while maintaining cost efficiency through automated process control and reduced manual intervention.
3Loss of information
If production is decentralized to user premises, then traceability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing units are designed as universal, multi-functional modules that can be deployed at various user premises for different production needs. Each unit integrates multiple functions (mixing, pumping, heating, control, and tracking) into a single standardized platform, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from customizing separate systems for each location while maintaining full traceability capabilities.
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
Enables on-site production of high-quality mixtures and products while minimizing counterfeiting risks and hazardous material handling, ensuring better traceability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a main feed pump configured to feed a predetermined flow of the main ingredient at a predetermined pressure through the main pipe
Implementation Method 2
a pressurization device arranged to maintain said or each further ingredient at a predetermined pressure in the at least one further pipe
Implementation Method 3
a main pipe containing a static mixing element, wherein along the main pipe at least one inlet opening for at least one further ingredient is provided
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
A transportable plant (100) for obtaining a mixture (m) of a main ingredient (x) and at least one further ingredient (a-e), wherein a first and a second container (101, 102) configured to be juxtaposed with each other respectively house a mixing device (1) and a filling device (90) connected to each other by a connecting duct (89) extending between the inner spaces of the two containers, wherein the mixing device comprises a main pipe (10) having an end feedable with the main ingredient (x) by means of a main pump (4), along which at least one inlet light (16a-e, 26a-e, 36a-e, 46a-e) is provided to feed said or each further ingredient and containing at least one static mixer (31, 32, 33, 34) arranged downstream of the at least one inlet light; at least one further pipe (10a-e) feedable with a respective further ingredient, in particular, by means of a respective further pump (4a-e) preferably pneumatically actuated diaphragm pump; a flow-regulating organ (2a-e) of the flow of the at least one further ingredient being arranged along the at least one further pipe, provided by the respective further pump or consisting of a regulating valve (3a-e) preferably pneumatically actuated (8a-e); a control unit (30) configured to store a composition recipe (R) of the mixture and to generate a flow-regulating signal (41a-e) for the at least one further ingredient based on the recipe (R), and preferably also based on a flow data (F) of the main ingredient, obtainable from a flow meter (50), and transfer it to the control unit. Preferably, the mixing device comprises a plurality of rectilinear portions (11, 12, 13, 14) in series, each comprising at least one respective static mixing element and at least one respective inlet port light upstream thereof.