The invention relates to a method for the control or closed-loop control of the volume flow of a substance to be sprayed and/or of a gas, of a nozzle which is suitable for spraying substances, in particular dispersions, emulsions, or suspensions, wherein the nozzle comprises a nozzle body which has a nozzle mouthpiece, wherein the nozzle body comprises an inner pipe, said inner pipe being connected to a feed for the substance to be sprayed and comprising an inner wall and an exit opening, and an outer pipe, said outer pipe being distanced to the inner pipe, being connected to a feed for a gas and comprising an exit opening, and the exit opening in the inner pipe and the exit opening of the outer pipe are arranged in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece.
Nozzles or spray nozzles are very often applied in industrial processes, such as for example granulation, the coating of tablets and pellets as well as the direct manufacture of pellets. Hereby, the particles are coated with a layer and/or a film. As a rule, liquids, in which solid matter is dissolved or suspended, are sprayed. These spraying processes can last for several hours. The liquid jet is atomised into small droplets by the atomisation. The droplet size which hereby arises is of huge significance to the manufacturing and/or spraying process. If the droplets are too small, then there is the danger that they dry before they reach their target, and if the droplets are too large, there is the danger of undesirable agglomerates arising. On account of the eddy in front of the nozzle which is inherent of the process—particularly with spraying processes which last for some time—deposits at the nozzle opening, thus a type of dross formation can occur. These deposits influence the symmetry and droplet size of the spray, so that effects upon the process which are not desirable, such as for example spray drying and/or local over-humidification and agglomeration occur. Furthermore, deposits are produced by way of an unsuitable through-flow control and/or closed loop control of the volume flow of the substance to be sprayed in relation to the gas which atomises the substance to be sprayed, in other words the particles are coated with an inadequate spray quality.
The closest state of the art presents technical solutions which prevent or at least minimise the undesirable deposits on the nozzle, in particular on the nozzle mouthpiece.
The European patent specification EP 1 497 034 B1 discloses a self-cleaning spray nozzle and in particular a self-cleaning nozzle for use in a device for the preparation of a particle material by way of a controlled agglomeration method. The self-cleaning spray nozzle comprises a middle pipe which has a middle passage for feeding a liquid, wherein the passage runs out into an opening for discharging a liquid, a second pipe which surrounds the middle pipe, by which means a first passage is formed between the middle pipe and the second pipe for feeding primary air, a nozzle cone which is arranged at the end of the second pipe and forms the outer periphery of a first outlet gap of the first passage, by way of which air which is fed to the first passage is mixed with the liquid, in order to form a liquid/air spraying mist, a third pipe which surrounds the second pipe, by which means a second passage is formed between the second and the third pipe for feeding secondary air, a sleeve which is arranged at the end of the third pipe and which forms the outer periphery of a second outlet gap of the second passage, wherein the nozzle cone is arranged at the end of the second pipe in an adjustable manner for adjusting the size of the first outlet gap.
A self-cleaning nozzle for spraying a fluid with a nozzle housing and with a nozzle head which is arranged therein, is designed in a multi-part manner and encloses a flow channel with an outlet opening for the fluid is described in the international patent application WO 2013/010930 A1, wherein the nozzle head comprises at least one stationary and at least one displaceably mounted head element which each form a section of the exit opening, wherein the displaceable head element the during normal operation is pressed by the fluid pressure against a stop which lies in the flow direction of the fluid and during the self-cleaning at a reduced fluid pressure is pressed by a spring counter to the flow direction.
The patent document DE 43 24 731 A1 discloses a self-cleaning spray nozzle for spraying a fluid from a pressurised medium source, wherein a tubular fitting is provided, said fitting comprising an inner fluid channel which runs in its longitudinal direction, is provided with an inlet and with an outlet and is provided with connection devices for creating a connection to the pressurised medium source; a tubular shank with an inlet and an outlet is provided, through which the fluid can be led, wherein the inlet of the shank reaches partly into the outlet-side end of the fitting in a manner such that the fluid which enters into the fitting flows through the shank in the longitudinal direction, said shank being provided with a flange; a valve seat with a skirt is provided, said skirt having an inner surface which is dimensioned such that it fits around the shank in a slidingly displaceable manner and comprising an outer surface which is dimensioned such that it fits into the outlet of the tubular fitting, in order to fix the radial position of the valve seat, wherein the valve seat furthermore comprises a lip which is dimensioned such that it positions the valve seat on the outlet of the tubular fitting in the longitudinal direction and forms a seal between the valve seat and the outlet of the tubular fitting; devices are provided, by way of which the valve seat is positively held in contact with the fitting, in order to prevent a displacement of the valve seat in the longitudinal direction and in the radial direction; a spray head with fastening devices for fastening the tubular shank is provided, wherein the spray head comprises outlet devices and has a surface which is adapted to the valve seat; a spring is provided, said spring surrounding the shank and being biased against the flange of the shank, in order to produce a fixedly defined biasing force against the valve seat, wherein the spring presses the valve seat against the adapted surface of the spray head, so that a sealing is formed between the valve seat and the adapted surface of the valve head, in order to limit the fluid flow at this sealing and wherein the outlet devices comprise such a channel for the fluid flow that this flow, when the sealing is created, is dispersed or sprayed according to a predefined pattern; wherein a force which is applied upon the spray head and which is sufficient in order to overcome the spring biasing separates the spray head from the valve seat, by which means the sealing effect is lifted and a rinsing of the outlet devices by the fluid is rendered possible.
The patent document DE 101 16 051 B4 discloses a spray nozzle for fluidised bed facilities, consisting of a nozzle body, a nozzle cap, at least one exit opening for a liquid which is subjected to solid materials and of at least one exit opening for a gas, wherein a flexible cleaning cap is arranged around the nozzle cap and a feed conduit which consists of a pressurised air channel which is arranged in the nozzle body and which is for a cleaning air which is subjected to pressurised air is arranged between the nozzle cap and the cleaning cap, wherein the pressured air channel is connected via an annular turned groove in the outer surface of the nozzle body and at least one transverse bore in the nozzle cap to an annular turned groove in the outer surface of the nozzle cap. The cleaning cap bears tightly on the nozzle cap in a direct manner. The feed of cleaning air which is subjected to pressurised air is effected via the pressurised air channel in adjustably different intervals or over a large time period. The cleaning air is fed via the annular turned groove and the transverse bore of the annular turned groove. The cleaning air is fed via the annular turned groove over the complete periphery between the nozzle cap and the cleaning cap. Due to the pressure impulse of the cleaning air, the cleaning cap which consists of an elastic material arches outwards, so that the cleaning air is led between the outer surface of the nozzle cap and the inner surface of the cleaning cap in the direction of the exit opening of the spray nozzle. The cleaning air is led as a pressure jet in an annular manner from all sides onto the nozzle mouth of the spray nozzle, so that the impulse of the jet can be used in a direct manner without losses and swirling can be avoided. Material deposits in the spray nozzle which arise in the direct proximity of the exit opening are blown away by the cleaning air.
The international patent application WO 2002/074 446 A1 discloses an external mixing nozzle for coating pharmaceutical products such as tablets, with dye, wherein the pharmaceutical products are located in a drum which is capable of rotation. The products are coated with the dye by way of the dye mist and due to the products being moved by the drum rotation. The external mixing nozzles which are used for this purpose consist of a nozzle body, to which a flat jet cap is fastened. Additionally, a nozzle needle can be arranged centrally in the nozzle body and centrally in the liquid insert, by way of which nozzle needle the exit opening of the liquid insert is closable.
The disadvantage of the aforementioned technical solutions is the fact that these self-cleaning nozzles which are mentioned in the state of the art each on the one hand have a large number of individual parts which are built together into complex nozzles which are maintenance-intensive, by which means the cited technical solutions are expensive in production and maintenance, and on the other hand there are no suitable methods to spray the substance to be sprayed, in a manner such that no or at least less deposits form on the nozzle mouth and despite this permits the volume flows of the substance to be sprayed and of the gas to be adjusted in a precise manner.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method for a nozzle, in particular self-cleaning nozzle, which remedies the disadvantages of the state of the art.
Given a method of the aforementioned type, this object is achieved in that the inner pipe at least partly is designed of an elastic material and a device which comprises an inlet for a fluid feed and an outlet for a fluid discharge is arranged in the annular gap between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, wherein the device has a closure position for closing the inner pipe and at least one open position, wherein in the at least one open position the substance to be sprayed can flow through at least the fluid channel, and wherein the device is designed in a manner such that the volume of the device can be changed by way of fluid feed or fluid discharge, by which means the device can be brought or is brought from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe and vice versa, wherein on bringing the device from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe, the gas which flows through the annular gap begins to flow through the annular gap at the minimum simultaneously on bringing of the device from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe.
Advantageously, by way of the method, it is ensured that on starting up the spraying procedure, an exit of the substance to be sprayed does not occur at the nozzle mouth which is to say at the exit openings of the inner pipe and outer pipe, without this substance being directly atomised by way of the gas which flows through the annular gap. An atomisation is therefore always ensured. By way of this, on the one hand deposits or a caking on the nozzle mouth, for example given the drying of the substance to be sprayed which has exited too early and on the other hand an agglomeration of the particles to be sprayed on account of the substance to be sprayed not being atomised, do not occur. Further advantageous designs of the preferred nozzle are described in the below embodiments.
According to a further development of the invention in respect to this, on bringing the device from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe, the gas which flows through the annular gap begins to flow through the annular gap before the bringing of the device from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe. By way of this, the addition of the substance to be sprayed is further optimised to the extent that an exit of the substance to be sprayed does not occur without this being atomised in a direct manner by the gas which flows through the annular gap. An atomisation is thus likewise always ensured, wherein the gas—atomisation gas—which flows through the annular gap has already adjusted itself to the correct volume flow for the substance to be sprayed, by which means deposits at the nozzle mouth or agglomerations of particles to be sprayed due to the substance to be sprayed not being atomised are reliably prevented.
It is further advantageous that on bringing the device from the at least one open position of the inner pipe into the one closure position of the inner pipe, the gas which flows through the annular gap stops flowing through the annular gap at the earliest simultaneously with the bringing of the device from the at least one open position of the inner pipe into the one closure position of the inner pipe. Very particularly preferably, on bringing the device from the at least one open position of the inner pipe into the one closure position of the inner pipe, the gas which flows through the annular gap stops flowing through the annular gap at the earliest after the bringing of the device from the at least one open position of the inner pipe into the one closure position of the inner pipe. This method step ensures that even on finishing a spraying procedure, all of the substance which is to be sprayed and which exits out of the exit opening of the inner pipe in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece is always atomised by the gas which flows through the annular gap.
Furthermore, the nozzle advantageously comprises several devices, in particular two devices, wherein the devices closed-loop control or control the substance to be sprayed and the gas, independently of one another. Advantageously, the volume of the device is infinitely changeable or changed way of the fluid feed or fluid discharge or the volumes of the devices are infinitely changeable or changed by way of the fluid feed or fluid discharge.
Particularly preferably, the volumes of the devices are changeable or changed independently of one another by way of the fluid feed or fluid discharge. On account of the infinite adjustability of the volume of the device or devices, it is possible to adjust the volume flows of the substance to be sprayed and of the gas which atomises the substance to be sprayed, in a precise and targeted manner, so that the symmetry and the droplet size of the spray is optimally adjustable or adjusted for the process, in particular a coating process of particles, preferably tablets. On account of the independent adjustability of the volumes of different devices, an optimal adaptation of the volume flow of the substance to be sprayed to the atomisation gas and vice versa is likewise possible. By way of this, one can also react to the smallest of changes in the symmetry or droplet size in the spray.
Particularly preferably, the nozzle comprises an inlay, wherein the inlay is brought into oscillation by way of the substance to be sprayed which exits through the exit opening of the inner pipe and/or by way of the gas which exits through the exit opening of the outer pipe. Advantageously, the inlay is arranged on the inner pipe or on the outer pipe, wherein the inlay is arranged such that it can be or is brought into motion, in particular oscillation or the like, in particular into a high-frequency oscillation, by way of the substance to be sprayed, in particular a liquid, which exits out of the exit opening of the inner pipe, and/or by way of the gas, in particular atomisation air, which flows out of the exit opening of the outer pipe, in order to minimise or prevent deposits in the exit region of the substance to be sprayed and/or of the gas. Preferably, the oscillation has a frequency of 5 Hz to 1500 Hz, particularly preferably between 25 Hz and 500 Hz, very particularly preferably between 25 Hz and 250 Hz. On account of the high-frequency movement of the inlay, vibrations at a certain frequency arise at the inlay, by which means a caking of the material to be atomised, preferably of a liquid, very particularly preferably of a dispersion, at the nozzle mouthpiece is prevented. Thus the symmetry and the droplet size of the spray are not influenced by deposits of the substance to the spayed during the manufacture and/or spraying process, so that an undesirable spray drying or a local over-humidification and agglomeration do not occur.
A part-section of the inlay is preferably changeable in length. On account of the length changeability of the part-section of the inlay which projects at least partly out of the inner pipe or the outer pipe of the nozzle, it is possible to change the movability of the part-section, in particular the frequency of the vibration of the part-section of the inlay and to adapt it for example to changed process conditions during the manufacturing process and/or spraying process. By way of this, one can influence the manufacturing process and/or spraying process in a direct manner by way of the vibration frequency of the inlay being adapted or adaptable to the substance to be sprayed, in particular liquid, for example a highly viscous fluid or a suspension, emulsion or the like. By way of this, one prevents deposits arising at the nozzle mouthpiece. If the nozzles, in particular their nozzle mouthpiece is monitored by sensor devices, such as for example a camera, then it is furthermore possible to change the frequency online during the running process, so that caking-on can be prevented.
Furthermore, with regard to a method of the aforementioned type, this object is achieved in that the inner pipe at least partly is designed of an elastic material and a device which comprises an inlet for fluid feed and an outlet for a fluid discharge is arranged in the annular gap between the inner pipe and the outer pipe, wherein the device has a closure position for closing the inner pipe and at least one open position, wherein in the at least one open position the substance to be sprayed can flow through at least the fluid channel, and wherein the device is designed in a manner such that the volume of the device can be changed by way of fluid feed or fluid discharge, by which means the device can be brought or is brought from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe and vice versa, wherein fluid is discharged out of the device so that its volume is reduced, for bringing the device from the one closure position of the inner pipe into the at least one open position of the inner pipe, or fluid is fed to the device so that its volume increases, for bringing the device from the at least one open position of the inner pipe into the one closure position of the inner pipe. The advantage of this embodiment of the method according to the invention is the fact that the volume flow of the substance to be sprayed can be optimally adapted to the process, in particular to the coating method in the pharmaceutics industry. Further advantageously, the volume of the device is infinitely changeable by way of the fluid feed and fluid discharge. Very particularly preferably, the volume of the device is hereby adjusted by way of the fluid feed or fluid discharge by a control device or closed-loop control device.
The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of the accompanying drawings. They are shown in
A nozzle 1 which is known from the state of the art is represented in
The inner pipe 2 comprises a fluid channel 5 which is designed for feeding the substance to be sprayed, preferably a liquid, very particularly preferably a dispersion, suspension, or emulsion.
This fluid channel runs out in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 6 into an exit opening 7 of the inner pipe 2. In the region which is away from the exit opening 7 of the inner pipe 2, the inner pipe 2 comprises a connection location 10 for a feed conduit for the substance to be sprayed, said feed conduit not being represented.
The outer pipe 3 is arranged distanced to the inner pipe 2, by which means an annular gap 8 for feeding the gas, in particular atomisation air forms. The annular gap 8 runs out into an exit opening 9 of the outer pipe 3 in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 6. In the region which is away from the exit opening 9 of the outer pipe 3, the outer pipe 3 comprises a connection location 11 for a feed conduit for the gas, said feed conduit not represented.
The inner pipe 102 comprises an inlay 113. The inlay 113 in
The part-section 117 of the inlay 113 bears on the inner wall 114 of the inner pipe 102 of the preferred nozzle 101 and is connected to the part-section 118 of the inlay 113. The part-section 118 of the inlay 113 projects at least partly out of the exit opening 107 of the inner pipe 102 of the preferred nozzle. 101. The part-section 118 of the inlay 113 is preferably changeable in length.
The length changeability is represented by the dotted line which is adjacent to the part-section 118. The length change can either be effected in a direct manner by way of exchanging the inlay 113, by way of adjusting the holding point of the inlay 113 on the inner pipe 102 and/or any other change of the arrangement of the inlay 113 in the nozzle 101.
An inner pressure 119 acts upon the inlay 113 by way of the substance to be sprayed, preferably a liquid, particularly preferably a dispersion, suspension, or emulsion, which is conveyed in the fluid channel 105 in the direction of the exit opening 107 through the inner pipe 102 which comprises an inlay 113. The inlay 113 is pressed against the inner wall 114 of the inner pipe 102 by way of the inner pressure 119 which acts upon the inlay 113. In the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 106, in particular in the region of the exit opening 107 of the inner pipe 102, a force which moves the inlay 113 away from the axis X-X likewise acts upon the part-section 118 of the inlay 113 by way of the inner pressure 119 which acts upon the inlay 113.
Furthermore, a force 120 which acts in the direction of the axis X-X acts upon the part-section 118 of the inlay 113 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 107 of the inner pipe 102. The force 120 which acts in the direction of the axis X-X is created by the gas, in particular atomisation air, which exits from the exit opening 109 out of the annular gap 108.
By way of this, the inlay 113 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 107 of the inner pipe 102 is moved, advantageously in a high-frequency manner, by the liquid which exits out of the preferred nozzle 101 into the exit region 112 of the nozzle 101 and/or by the gas, in particular atomisation gas which exits out of the preferred nozzle 101 into the exit region 112 of the nozzle 101. Due to this advantageously high-frequency movement of the inlay 113 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 107 of the inner pipe 102, deposits of the liquid to be atomised, on the nozzle mouthpiece 106, in particular in the exit region 112, or their agglomeration, is prevented. The symmetry and droplet size of the spray is therefore not influenced during the manufacturing and/or spraying process, so that an undesirable spray drying and/or a local over-humidification and agglomeration does not occur.
The vibration frequency of the part section 118 of the inlay 113 can be additionally changed for example by way of the length changeability of the part-section 118 of the inlay 113. By way of this, one can have a direct influence upon the manufacturing and spraying process. A further change of the vibration frequency is possible for example by way of adapting the pressures of the substance or gas which is to be sprayed. A change of the onflow angle α of the gas, in particular of the atomisation air also effects a change of the vibration frequency of the inlay 113 and therefore has an influence upon the spray and its quality, in particular with regard to the symmetry and the particle size. The arrangement of the outer pipe 103 and the inner pipe 102 to one another is to be adapted, in particular in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 106, for changing the onflow angle α of the gas. Furthermore, the onflow of the inlay 113 can also be adapted by way of a changed flow guidance in the annular gap 108. Very preferably, it is only the annular gap 108 which is adapted, so that this has a different onflow angle with respect to the part-section 118 of the inlay 113.
A section through a second embodiment of a preferred nozzle 201 with an optional attachment part 220 in the annular gap 208 in the form of a swirl plate for the guidance of the gas is represented in
The preferred nozzle 201 according to the second embodiment in its basic construction corresponds to the first embodiment of the preferred nozzle 101 which is shown in
The attachment part 221 can likewise be designed in the form of swirl bodies, e.g., flow guide plates or the like, for leading the gas. The attachment part 222 is preferably fixedly connected to the inner pipe 202 and to the outer pipe 203. By way of this, the stability of the nozzle 201 in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 206 is increased. Furthermore, due to the installation of an attachment part 221 in the form of swirl bodies, swirl plates or the like, the leading of the flow of the gas, in particular of the atomisation air, at the nozzle mouthpiece 206, in particular in the exit region 212 of the nozzle 201 is influenced, by which means the movement behaviour of the inlay 213 which projects at least partly out of the inner pipe 202, in particular the vibration frequency of the part-section of the inlay 213, can be changed. The vibration frequency is therefore adjustable to the manufacturing and/or spraying process to an improved extent. Additionally, by way of this, the spray symmetry, and the droplet size of the spray, i.e., of the substance to be atomised, preferably of a liquid, very particularly preferably of a dispersion, emulsion or suspension can be adjusted in a direct manner. Furthermore, on installing, the inner pipe 202 is led in outer pipe 203 and always held in the desired position, in
The outer pipe 303 is arranged in a manner distanced to the inner pipe 302, by which means an annular gap 308 for feeding the gas, in particular atomisation air, forms. The annular gap 308 runs out into an exit opening 309 of the outer pipe 303 in the region of the nozzle mouthpiece 306. In the region which is away from the exit opening 309 of the outer pipe 303, the outer pipe 303 comprises a coupling location 311 for a feed conduit for the gas, said feed conduit not being shown.
An attachment part 321 which comprises an opening 322 is arranged between the inner pipe 302 and the outer pipe 303. The attachment part 321 connects the inner pipe 302 and outer pipe 303 to one another, preferably in a fixed manner. By way of the attachment part 321, a swirl is imparted upon the gas, in particular the atomisation air, which flows through the annular gap 308. The frequency of the inlay 313 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 309 of the out pipe 303 is influenced by way of the swirling. The inlay 313 is arranged on the outer wall 323 in the annular gap 308 and bears on the outer wall 33.
The inlay 313 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 309 of the outer pipe 303 into the exit region 312 comprises four part-sections 315, 316, 317 and 318. Part-section 315 is fixed, for example clamped in a groove 324 which is arranged on the outer wall 323. The part-sections 316 and 317 connect the part-sections 315 and 318. The length of the inlay 313 is changeable, in particular the length of the part section 318 of the inlay 313 is adaptable to the parameters of the manufacturing and/or spraying process. Furthermore, the wall thickness of the inlay 313 which projects at least partly out of the exit opening 309 of the outer pipe 303 into the exit region 312, in particular the wall thickness of the part section 318 of the inlay 313 is adaptable to the process parameters with regard to method technology. In
Hereby, a section through a fourth embodiment of a preferred nozzle 401 is shown in
A section through the fifth embodiment of a preferred nozzle 510 is shown in
A section through a sixth embodiment of a preferred nozzle 601 is represented in
All embodiments 101 to 701 can comprise an optional attachment part 101 to 701 for leading the flow in the annular gap 108 to 708. Furthermore, there is the possibility of the arrangement of an inlay 113 to 713 on the inner pipe 102 to 702 and of an additional inlay 113 to 713 on the outer pipe 103 to 703, so that the preferred nozzles 101 to 701 comprise two inlay 113 to 713.
A section through a preferred nozzle 901 is shown in
It should always be noted that the substance to be sprayed, in particular the liquid should not exit from the nozzle 1001 in a non-atomised state. For this, it is to be ensured that at the beginning of each spraying procedure, it is firstly gas, in particular atomisation gas which flows through the annular gap 1008 and thus out of the nozzle 1001 and subsequently the substance to be sprayed, in particular the liquid. On completing the spraying procedure, firstly the feed of the substance to be sprayed is to be stropped or interrupted and subsequently that of the gas. By way of this, it is ensured at all times than given a spraying procedure, the substance to be sprayed is atomised and that no substance to be sprayed drips out of the nozzle, possibly onto (coated) material to be treated, in a non-atomised state at the end of each spraying procedure. On starting or ending a spraying procedure, this can be ensured for example by way of an automatic “leading” and “trailing” of the gas.
All positions, in which fluid can flow through the annular gap 1008 and/or the fluid channel 1005 are denoted as an open position. By way of this, it is possible to provide an infinite adjustment of the volume flow with a through-flow of 0% and 100% for the gas and for the substance to be sprayed, wherein the adjustment of the volume flows is dependent on one another given only one device 1033. With the application of several, in particular two devices 1033, specifically each for the substance which is to be spayed which is conveyed in the fluid channel 1005 and the gas which is conveyed in the annular gap 1008, the volume flows of the substance to be sprayed in the fluid channel 1005 of the inner pipe 1002 and of the gas in the annular gap 1008 can be adjustable independently of one another and can be adjusted independently of one another, specifically by way of volumes of the applied devices 1033 which can be changed independently of one another by way of fluid feed or fluid discharge. By way of the independent adjustability of the volumes of different devices 1033, an optimal adaption of the volume flow of the substance to be sprayed to the atomisation gas and vice versa is likewise possible. By way of this, one can also react to the smallest changes of symmetry or particle size in the spray. The devices 1033 for the substance to be sprayed and for the gas are closed-loop controlled and/or controlled independently of one another by way of control devices and/or closed-loop control devices which are not shown here.
The device 1033 is preferably arranged concentrically around the conduit 1032 and is enclosed by the outer pipe 1003, wherein a part-section 1018 projects at least partly out of the exit opening 1009 of the outer pipe 1003 into the exit region 1012. In
The device 1033 is preferably connected to a closed-loop control or control device which is not shown here and which closed-loop controls or controls the fluid feed or fluid discharge to and from the device 1033, so that the volume of the device 1033 can be set or is set. Very particularly preferably, the volume of the device 1033 is infinitely changed or infinitely changeable by way of the fluid feed or the fluid discharge or the volumes of the devices 1033 are infinitely changeable or changed by way of the fluid feed or fluid discharge. By way of the infinite adjustability of the volume of the device 1033 or of the devices 1033, it is possible to adjust the volume flows of the substance to be sprayed and of the gas which atomises the substance to be sprayed, to one another in a precise and targeted manner, so that the symmetry and the droplet size of the spray is set or can be set in an optimal manner for the process, in particular for the coating process of particles, preferably tablets. In
The preferred nozzle 1001 with a volume of the device 1003 which is enlarged in comparison to the open position according to
In the present embodiment example, the conduit 1032, in particular the part-sections 1017 and 1018 which are arranged in the nozzle mouthpiece 1006, as well as the annular gap 1008 are sealed off by way of the enlarged volume of the device 1033. The conduit 1032, here the part-sections 1018 are pressed together and the exit opening 1009 additionally closed due to the enlarged volume, so that a fluid can flow neither through the fluid channel 1005 nor through the annular gap 1008. By way of this, for example in the case of the filling of a granulator, a coater, in particular a drum coater, or a fluidisation apparatus, one succeeds in no pellets or particles being able to penetrate into the exits openings 1007, 1009 of the nozzle 1001 and therefore blocking these already before the beginning of the manufacturing process. Further developments of the preferred nozzle 1001 which comprises a device 1033 which is changeable in its volume are conceivable. For example, there is the possibility of the nozzle 1001 comprising several devices 1033, in particular two devices 1003. Preferably, these are separated from one another by devices such as plates or the like, so that these can be operated independently of one another. Advantageously, the nozzle 1001 comprises a first device 1033 for the closure of the annular gap 1008 and a second device 1033 for the closure of the fluid channel 1005. Hereby, the two devices 1033 are preferably to be separated by way of a plate or the like which functions as a separating wall, so that the volume change of a first device 1033 closes or opens the fluid channel 1005 and the volume change of a second device 1033 closes or opens the annular gap 1008, without a volume change of the one device 1033 influencing the other device 1033. By way of this, it is possible to provide an infinite adjustment of the volume flow with a through-flow of 0% and 100% for the atomisation gas as well as for the substance to be sprayed, wherein the adjustment of the volume flows can be effected independently of one another or in a manner depending on one another.
On using at least two devices 1033, it is to be noted that the substance to be sprayed, in particular the liquid cannot exit out of the nozzle 1001 in a non-atomised manner, since otherwise a product rejection can occur, for example by way of agglomerated tablets. For this, it is to be ensured that at the beginning of each spraying procedure, it is firstly the gas, in particular the atomisation gas which flows through the annular gap 1008 and thus out of the nozzle 1001 and subsequently the substance to be sprayed, in particular the liquid. On completing the spraying procedure, the feed of the substance to be sprayed is firstly to be stopped and subsequently that of the gas. A closed-loop control or control device can accomplish this. By way of this, it is ensured at all times that the substance to be sprayed is always atomised given a spraying procedure and that no substance to be spayed drips out of the nozzle possibly onto material to be treated (coated), at the end of each spraying procedure.
It is always to be ensured than on bringing the device 1033 from the one closure position of the inner pipe 1002 into the at least one open position of the inner pipe 1002, the gas which flows through the annular gap 1008 begins to flow through the annular gap at least simultaneously with the bringing of the device 1003 from the one closure position of the inner pipe 1002 into the at least one open position of to inner pipe 1002. It is further advantageous that on bringing the device 1033 from the at least one open position of the inner pipe 1002 into the one closure position of the inner pipe 1002, the gas which flows through the annular gap 1008 stops flowing through the annular gap 1008 at the earliest simultaneously on bringing the device 1033 from the at least one open position of the inner pipe 1002 into the one closure position of the inner pipe 1002.
Advantageously, on starting up or ending the spraying procedure, by way of this method it is ensured that no exit of the substance to be sprayed occurs at the nozzle mouth, which is to say at the exit openings 1007, 1009 of the inner pipe 1002 and the outer pipe 1003, without this substance being atomised directly by the gas which flows through the annular gap 1008. An atomisation of the substance to be sprayed is therefore always ensured by the method. By way of this, on the one hand deposits on the nozzle mouth for example given the drying of the substance to be sprayed which has exited too early and on the other hand an agglomeration of particles to be sprayed on account of the non-atomised substance to be sprayed do not occur.
The monitoring of the nozzle mouthpiece with regard to deposits by way of the sensor 134 in the embodiment example of
Furthermore, the construction for the first method comprises a sensor 134, in particular an optical sensor, very particularly preferably an imaging sensor, for example a camera or an ultrasound sensor, or a sensor which detects a physical measuring variable, for example a pressure sensor, very particularly preferably a differential pressure sensor. The sensor 134 detects the nozzle 101, in particular the nozzle mouthpiece 106, very particularly preferably the exit openings 107, 109 of the inner pipe 102 and/or of the outer pipe 103 in the exit region 112 of the nozzle 101. The sensor 134 is sampled at a defined, adjustable rate. The sensor 134 is connected to a control unit 135, in particular to a data-processing computer, for example an industrial PC or to be embedded PC or the like. The data which is detected by the sensor 134 is transmitted to the control unit 135. The control unit 135 evaluates the data of the sensor 134. The control unit 135 therefore determines, for example by way of an algorithm or the like, whether deposits form or have formed on the nozzle 101, in particular the nozzle mouthpiece 106, very particularly preferably the exit openings 107, 109 in the exit region 112 of the nozzle 101. Such deposits compromise the quality of the spray, in particular the symmetry and/or the droplet size during the manufacturing and/or spraying process.
As soon as a certain stored limit values has been exceeded, for example due to deposits, by which means the symmetry and droplet size of the spray is compromised during the manufacturing and/or spraying process, the control unit 135 transmits a signal to be device 136. In the embodiment example of
The monitoring of the nozzle mouthpiece 106 by the sensor 134 with regard to deposits is effected by a sensor 134 which is arranged within the nozzle 101 in the embodiment example of
A second schematic construction of a method for monitoring the nozzle 101, in particular the nozzle mouthpiece 106, very particularly preferably the exit openings 107, 109 in the exit region 112 of a first embodiment of the preferred nozzle 101 is shown in
The two sensors 134 are sampled at a certain adjustable rate, or at a certain cycle. Should deposits or agglomerations occur at the nozzle 101, in particular at the nozzle mouthpiece 106, very particularly preferably at the exit openings 107, 109 in the exit region 112, then the pressure in the fluid channel 105 and/or the annular gap 108 increases (actual value).
This pressure increase is detected by the sensor 134 and is transferred to a control unit 135. For example, the mass flow and thus also the volume flow of the substance to be sprayed and/or of the atomisation gas can be computed by way of the detected physical measured variable, here for example the absolute pressure. The pressure which is detected with measurement technology at the sensors 134 provides information of the deposits on the nozzle mouth piece 106. Deposits b on the nozzle mouthpiece 106 lead to a pressure increase in front of the exit openings 107, 109 in the fluid channel 105 or annular gap 108 and thus to a larger flow speed of the substance to be sprayed and/or of the gas, so that given a suitable specification of thresholds values (setpoint) or tolerance ranges (for example ±10% deviation) and their exceeding or falling-short, the control unit 135 can initiate suitable counter measures for removing the deposits by way of transmitting a signal to the device 136.
On monitoring, a continuous comparison between the actual value and the setpoint takes place by the control unit 135.
As soon the exceeding or falling-short of a certain limit value (setpoint) is registered by the control unit 135, the control unit 135 transmits a corresponding signal to a device 136. In the embodiment example of
The monitoring of the droplet size of the spray during the manufacturing and/or spraying process, for example by way of a laser measuring method, forms a third method. Given deviations of the actual value from the setpoint of the droplet size, i.e., given a non-optimal droplet size, the measures which are to be made generally correspond to the measures of the first and second method according to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2019 205 743.8 | Apr 2019 | DE | national |
This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/056529 filed Mar. 11, 2020, and claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2019 205 743.8 filed Apr. 18, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/056529 | 3/11/2020 | WO | 00 |