Two-Fluid Spray System for Dust Suppression and Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current spraying systems used in mining and tunnel construction are inadequate in suppressing dust and ensuring cooling of work equipment, leading to frequent work interruptions and reduced tunneling performance.

Innovation Solution

A spraying system with two-component nozzles, supplied with air and water at a pressure ratio of 1:1 to 2:1, featuring a frame construction with overlapping spray cones to enclose the work area, utilizing a spiral nozzle design for optimal atomization and control, and a central control unit for adjustable spray patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional spraying systems are used, then dust suppression is attempted, but the dust suppression effectiveness is insufficient and work interruptions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust suppression effectivenessVSAvoidwork interruptions
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system is divided into multiple nozzles arranged in a specific pattern, each nozzle contributing to a portion of the overall spray coverage. This segmentation allows comprehensive dust suppression across the working area while maintaining continuous operation without work interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges spray coverage from multiple nozzles to create overlapping spray cones that completely envelop the working area. This combined approach ensures no dust escape zones exist, eliminating the need for work interruptions while maintaining continuous effective dust suppression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If spraying systems are used for dust control, then dust binding is attempted, but cooling effectiveness of machinery is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust bindingVSAvoidmachinery cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The spray system performs multiple functions simultaneously: dust binding through water droplet capture and cooling of machinery through evaporative and conductive cooling. The same spray infrastructure serves both purposes, eliminating the need for separate systems and ensuring both dust control and temperature management are effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If spraying systems are used, then cooling of work area is attempted, but dust suppression performance remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework area coolingVSAvoiddust suppression performance
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides locally optimized spray characteristics through specifically designed nozzles with particular spray patterns and droplet size distributions. Each nozzle is configured to deliver appropriate spray quality for its location, ensuring both effective cooling and dust suppression in different zones of the working area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively suppresses dust and provides efficient cooling, minimizing work interruptions and improving the working environment for tunneling operations.

Implementation Method 1

two-fluid nozzles to which air and water are supplied in a pressure ratio of 1 : 1 to 2 : 1... the spray is emitted from the mixing chamber of each nozzle in a cone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

two-fluid nozzles to which air and water are supplied... water supply of each nozzle is arranged axially and leads into a nozzle element arranged in a mixing chamber, the air supply leads into the mixing chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir entrainment: Air Entrainment

Implementation Method 3

spraying systems... for cooling machines or workpieces... provides efficient cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporative cooling: Evaporative Cooler

Implementation Method 4

spraying system... primarily serves to bind and suppress dust... Effectively suppresses dust

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3064704B1Spray system
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 BETE DEUT GMBH
  • EP3064704B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3064704B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP3064704B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a spraying system, in particular for binding dust, with a plurality of nozzles (20), wherein the nozzles (20) are arranged such that the spray cones (40) of adjacent nozzles (20) partially overlap, characterized in that the nozzles (20) are two-material nozzles to which air and water are supplied in a pressure ratio of 1:1 to 2:1, wherein the water supply (22) of each nozzle (20) is arranged axially and leads into a nozzle element (24) arranged in a mixing chamber (27), the air supply (21) leads into the mixing chamber (27) and the spray is emitted from the mixing chamber (27) in a cone (40).