Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Sealing Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency of liquid ring vacuum pumps in container filling systems due to heating of the sealing liquid, leading to increased energy consumption and environmental pollution, as conventional cooling methods require significant fresh water usage or dissipate heat, causing operational and environmental costs.
Innovation Solution
A closed cooling circuit with a heat exchanger where the sealing liquid is cooled by the filling material, which is preheated using waste heat from other system components, such as pasteurization or cleaning systems, to prevent condensation and reduce energy costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a liquid ring vacuum pump is used to generate vacuum for container evacuation, then the required negative pressure is achieved, but the sealing liquid is heated due to friction, reducing system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful thermal energy generated by friction in the vacuum pump into a useful resource by directing the heated sealing liquid through a heat exchanger to preheat the filling material. This prevents condensation on cold containers while simultaneously cooling the sealing liquid for reuse, transforming waste heat into a beneficial preheating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the sealing liquid by implementing a closed-loop cooling system with heat exchange. The sealing liquid temperature is dynamically adjusted through heat transfer with the filling material, maintaining optimal operating temperature despite continuous frictional heating during vacuum generation.
2Temperature
If the sealing liquid is continuously cooled using conventional methods, then the temperature is maintained, but significant fresh water consumption occurs, increasing operating costs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the heated sealing liquid to environment or using fresh water for continuous cooling, the invention recovers the thermal energy from the heated sealing liquid through a heat exchanger. The recovered heat is used to preheat the filling material, while the cooled sealing liquid is returned to the vacuum pump for continuous reuse, eliminating fresh water consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling material serves a dual function: it is both the product being filled and the cooling medium for the sealing liquid. By routing the filling material through the heat exchanger, it automatically absorbs excess heat from the sealing liquid, providing self-cooling without requiring external cooling systems or fresh water input.
3Temperature
If the sealing liquid is cooled by dissipating heat to the environment, then the temperature is controlled, but environmental pollution occurs and additional cooling equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful waste heat that would be discharged to the environment into a useful resource for preheating the filling material. By implementing internal heat recovery through the heat exchanger, the system eliminates thermal pollution while reducing the temperature difference between sealing liquid and environment, minimizing cooling fan requirements and associated energy consumption.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the filling material is used to cool the sealing liquid without preheating, then energy consumption is reduced, but condensation forms on the filling material causing quality issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial heating to the filling material - just enough to raise its temperature to prevent condensation, but not so much as to waste energy. The heat exchanger provides controlled thermal transfer from the sealing liquid, delivering the precise amount of heat needed to elevate the filling material temperature above the dew point while maintaining overall energy efficiency.
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
This method effectively reduces operating costs by utilizing the filling material's thermal energy for cooling the sealing liquid and preheating the filling material, minimizing fresh water consumption and preventing condensation-related issues like label detachment and metal corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
A closed cooling circuit is provided for the sealing liquid which contains at least one heat exchanger, the primary side of which is flowed through by the sealing liquid and via which the cooling of the sealing liquid takes place
Implementation Method 2
at least one vacuum pump designed as a liquid or water ring pump, which is operated to seal the transition between a rotating, blade-like pump rotor and the inner surface of a pump housing
Data Source
AI summary
Method for filling bottles or similar containers (2) with liquid contents using a filling machine (3), to which the liquid contents are fed once they have been preheated to a filling temperature, wherein the containers (2), prior to filling, are at least partially evacuated, to be precise using a negative pressure supplied from at least one vacuum pump in the form of a liquid or water-ring pump (6) operated with a sealing liquid.