Urea Dissolution Device with Bottom Water Injection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for producing an aqueous solution of urea from solid urea are bulky, have low productivity, and require manual operations, making them unsuitable for efficient and safe use in nitrogen oxide reduction processes.

Innovation Solution

A device that automates the process by using a conveying system to pour solid urea into a tank, where demineralized water is injected at the bottom of the urea pile to dissolve it, eliminating the need for a bulky mixing mechanism and reducing the device's size, while ensuring safe and efficient production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a mixer with rotating mixing blades is used to dissolve solid urea in demineralized water, then the mixing and dissolution of urea is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and requires large footprint space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedissolution effectivenessVSAvoiddevice footprint
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the bulky rotating mixing blades and actuating means from the system. Instead of using mechanical mixing, the patent employs a static tank where demineralized water is injected directly to dissolve solid urea through natural convection and diffusion, eliminating the need for large mixing mechanisms and significantly reducing device footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical mixing system (rotating blades with actuating means) with a non-mechanical dissolution approach. Demineralized water is injected into the tank to dissolve solid urea through fluid dynamics and natural mixing processes, substituting mechanical action with fluid-based dissolution that requires minimal space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual operations are used to introduce solid urea into the mixer, then the process is simple to operate, but productivity is reduced and safety issues arise from manual handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidproduction volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements an automated conveying device that self-services the dissolution process by automatically conveying solid urea from the storage station to the tank and pouring it in. This eliminates the need for manual operations while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control, thereby increasing productivity and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying device acts as an intermediary between the storage station and the dissolution tank. It automatically transfers and pours solid urea into the tank, mediating the material flow without requiring manual intervention. This intermediary system enhances both productivity and safety while keeping the operation simple through automated sequencing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the mixing member dimensions are increased to ensure good mixing of the entire volume, then dissolution effectiveness is improved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing effectivenessVSAvoidmixing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex mixing member with rotating blades and actuating means. Instead, it uses a simple static tank structure where demineralized water is injected to dissolve solid urea through natural convection, diffusion, and fluid motion, achieving effective dissolution without complex mechanical mixing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the complex mechanical mixing system with a fluid-based dissolution approach. Demineralized water injection creates natural convection currents and fluid motion that effectively mix and dissolve solid urea without requiring complex rotating blades or actuating mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Quantity of substance

If a large-volume mixer is used to dissolve solid urea, then sufficient dissolution capacity is achieved, but the device occupies excessive space and has low productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurea solution volumeVSAvoidtank volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the need for a large-volume mechanical mixer with a compact static tank where demineralized water is injected to dissolve solid urea. The fluid injection and natural convection processes enable efficient dissolution in a much smaller tank volume, achieving the same urea solution production capacity with significantly reduced space occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the dissolution parameters by using demineralized water injection at controlled rates and temperatures to enhance dissolution efficiency. This parameter optimization allows for effective urea dissolution in a compact tank volume, achieving high productivity without requiring large device dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables safe, space-efficient, and high-productivity production of an aqueous urea solution that meets ISO22241 standards, reducing manual handling and equipment size, and optimizing water usage and production flow.

Implementation Method 1

a conveying device (14) capable of conveying solid urea from the storage station (2) to the tank (46) and of pouring the solid urea into the tank (46)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

at least one device for dissolving solid urea in demineralised water, in which solid urea is dissolved in demineralised water in order to form an aqueous solution of urea

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3481538B1Device and process for producing an aqueous solution of urea
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 TOTALENERGIES ONETECH
  • EP3481538B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3481538B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3481538B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device and process for producing an aqueous solution of urea. The production device comprises: - at least one device (26) for dissolving solid urea in demineralized water, comprising a tank (42) for receiving the solid urea and the demineralized water and an outlet (62) for recovering the aqueous solution of urea, - a solid urea storage station (2), - a device (14) for transporting the solid urea from the storage station (2) to the dissolving device (26), said transporting device (14) being arranged in order to pour solid urea into the tank (42) of the dissolving device (26). The dissolving device (26) comprises at least one nozzle (54) for injecting demineralized water into the solid urea, arranged in the vicinity of the bottom of the tank (42) in order to create water turbulence below the surface of the solid urea and to dissolve the solid urea in the demineralized water.