Electrolytic Treatment Apparatus With Venturi Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing surface electrolytic treatment methods by immersion face challenges in efficiently removing waste products, residues, and reaction products, such as metal powders, scales, and gases, which can lead to energy inefficiency and electrode damage due to buildup on the metal semi-finished products and electrodes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a containment tank with a 'discontinuous' electrode structure and inletting and agitation means featuring Venturi-type ducts and nozzles that create turbulence, promoting the removal of waste and reaction products without additional energy consumption, enhancing solution circulation and treatment efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrolytic treatment is carried out by immersion in a containment tank, then continuous treatment of metal semi-finished products is achieved, but waste products, reaction products, and heat build up on the product and electrodes preventing continuous contact and correct current passage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts harmful waste products, reaction products, and gases from the electrolytic treatment system by equipping electrode pairs with specific configurations that facilitate removal. The containment tank design includes waste removal mechanisms that continuously extract accumulated byproducts, preventing them from interfering with the electrolytic process and maintaining reliable electrode contact throughout continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic elements to the immersion system, including movable electrode components and agitation mechanisms that adapt to the accumulating waste products. The system dynamically adjusts electrode positions and solution flow to maintain effective treatment despite the continuous generation of waste materials during prolonged operation.
2Productivity
If waste products and reaction products accumulate on electrodes and metal semi-finished products, then treatment efficiency decreases, but energy consumption increases due to disrupted current passage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful accumulation of waste products into a beneficial removal mechanism. By designing electrodes and containment structures that leverage waste accumulation patterns to drive natural convection currents and facilitate waste evacuation, the system transforms what would be a harmful effect into a useful mechanism for maintaining treatment efficiency without additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolytic treatment system performs self-cleaning and waste removal through its own operational characteristics. The electric current and electrochemical reactions inherent to the process create conditions that naturally promote waste product separation and removal, eliminating the need for separate high-energy cleaning systems and maintaining efficient operation throughout continuous treatment.
3Area of stationary object
If electrodes are arranged continuously to treat metal semi-finished products, then treatment coverage is improved, but waste removal becomes more difficult due to increased accumulation zones
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the continuous electrode structure into segmented sections, each with independent waste removal capabilities. By breaking down the large continuous electrode area into smaller modular units, the system maintains comprehensive treatment coverage while creating multiple accessible points for waste product evacuation, preventing accumulation in any single zone and simplifying overall waste management.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to waste removal by designing electrode configurations that promote three-dimensional waste product evacuation. Instead of relying solely on horizontal waste removal across the electrode surface, the system utilizes vertical flow paths and multi-level electrode arrangements that enable waste products to be removed through multiple spatial dimensions, effectively managing waste accumulation across large treatment areas.
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 configuration increases current density up to 4-5 times conventional levels, improves treatment efficiency by 10-50%, and reduces energy consumption by 20-30% while maintaining effective cleaning and waste removal.
Implementation Method 1
inletting and agitation means, featuring Venturi-type ducts and nozzles that create turbulence
Implementation Method 2
surface electrolytic treatment... any electrolytic treatment for cleaning, preparing, finishing and coating the surfaces of metal semi-finished products
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for the surface electrolytic treatment in continuous of metal semi-finished products, in particular flat metal semi-finished products, comprising a containment tank (12) containing an electrolytic solution (SE) and inside which a metal semi-finished product (11) is made to advance in continuous along an advancement plane, immersion means (31, 32, 33) for immersing the semi-finished product (11) in the electrolytic solution, at least one pair of electrodes (14) opposite to each other and between which the metal semi-finished product (11) is made to advance in continuous, wherein the pair of electrodes (14) comprises at least one first electrode (15) facing one of the two opposite plane faces of the advancement plane and at a defined distance from the metal semi¬ finished product (11) so as to define with it a first interspace (16) and at least one second electrode (17) facing the other one of the two opposite plane faces of the advancement plane and at a defined distance from the metal semi-finished product (11) so as to define with it a second interspace (18) and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes (14) is immersed in the electrolytic solution and is associable with an electric power supply group, inletting and agitation means (19) for inletting and agitating the electrolytic solution in the tank (12) which comprise at least one duct (20) arranged at at least one pair of electrodes (14) and provided with a delivery end (20a) facing one of the two opposite plane faces at respectively the first interspace (16) or the second interspace (18) and with a suction end (20b) that is opposite the delivery end (20a) and open and immersed in the electrolytic solution contained in the tank (12) and at least one inletting nozzle (21) for inletting electrolytic solution which is associable with feeding means (22) for feeding the solution and the outlet mouth (21a) of which is arranged at said suction end (20b) of the duct (20), wherein the suction end (20b) of the at least one duct (20) has a portion that is free from the at least one nozzle (21) and which is immersed in the electrolytic solution contained in the tank (12) and wherein the jet of electrolytic solution emitted by the nozzle (21) draws from the inside of the tank (12) an electrolytic solution current that enters into the duct (20) through the free portion of the suction end (20b), the jet and the current mixed together exiting from the delivery end (20a) at the first interspace (16) or the second interspace (18).