Vehicle Wash Dilution Control With Closed-Loop Chemical Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Car washes are labor and equipment intensive due to the increasing concentration of chemicals, which complicates material handling and shipping, and there is a need for efficient control of chemical dilution rates.
Innovation Solution
A fluid management system with integrated valves, metering devices, and a control system that adjusts flow rates and dilution ratios using a closed-loop feedback mechanism to manage chemical dispensing accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If chemical concentration is increased to reduce material handling and shipping costs, then shipping and storage efficiency is improved, but chemical dilution control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the chemical delivery function into separate components: a concentrated chemical storage system, a metering device for precise chemical dosing, and a mixing site where chemical combines with motive fluid. This segmentation allows concentrated chemicals to be stored efficiently while maintaining precise dilution control through the metering device.
Solution Approach 2:
The metering device acts as an intermediary between the concentrated chemical source and the mixing site, precisely controlling the amount of chemical introduced into the motive fluid stream. This intermediary component enables accurate dilution control without requiring handling of large volumes of concentrated chemical.
2Device complexity
If manual chemical mixing is used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but labor intensity and measurement accuracy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-regulating components where the metering device automatically controls chemical flow rate based on integrated valve actuation, and the mixing site automatically combines chemical with motive fluid in the correct proportions. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual mixing while maintaining precise dilution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives feedback from the integrated valve actuation signals and adjusts metering device operation to maintain accurate dilution rates. This feedback loop ensures precise chemical dosing without requiring manual intervention or complex equipment.
3Quantity of substance
If concentrated chemicals are used, then shipping costs are reduced, but material handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary amount of concentrated chemical from the storage system through the metering device, introducing it into the motive fluid stream at the mixing site. This extraction approach minimizes handling of concentrated chemical while maintaining effective dilution, as only small measured quantities are removed from storage at a time.
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 system enables precise control of chemical dilution rates, reducing labor and equipment intensity, and optimizing chemical usage, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing material handling complexities.
Implementation Method 1
The metering device may be configured to adjust an effective orifice area of the chemical line to control the flow rate
Implementation Method 2
mix the motive fluid and the chemical to form a mixture
Implementation Method 3
A control system may include a processor and configured to control a dilution of the chemical into the motive fluid by receiving flow rate data from the at least one flow meter, in response to the received flow rate data, causing the at least one metering device to adjust the flow rate
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling a dilution rate of mixed chemical dispensed by a fluid management system at a vehicle wash location involves, receiving, by a control system comprising a processor, flow rate data from at least one flow meter coupled to a chemical line of at least one mixing site. In response to the received flow rate data, using the control system to cause at least one metering device to adjust a flow rate of chemical passing through the chemical line. The control system further causes at least one integrated valve of a fluid delivery manifold to dispense motive fluid from a fluid outlet of said fluid delivery manifold. The control system controls an effective orifice area at least one of a valve orifice of the integrated valve or of the chemical line to thereby control the dilution rate.