The invention relates generally to a method for introducing additives into flowing fluids such as a gas and a liquid with specific applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,717 describes an injection of a small portion of plastics without introducing inert gas (preloading) followed by sectional introduction of inert gas using frequencies from 4 to 100 cycle per second having a pressure of 300-1500 psi (2 to 10 MPa) into the continuous passing plastic material. The result is a multi-layered internal foamed structure. The present invention expands this method by applying injection technology used in the combustion engine technology and reaching a more intensive penetration by higher pressure (40 to 200 MPa), higher frequency (100 to 1000 hz) and more exact dosing by controlled width of the pulses, frequency of the pulses and regulation of pressure using this technology.
The pulsing adding of liquid and gas is state of the art in burner systems, airless jet systems and spraying systems (atomizers). The present invention is demarcating from these application by higher pressure of the liquid than 40 MPa and high energetic atomizing. This pressure is not possible with the nozzles used at this time. Only by electrical activated hydraulic servo valves in common rail technology can these pulsation be realized.
The basic concept of the method for introducing additives consists of obtaining intensive atomizing, mixing and deep penetrating of additives into the medium stream by using high kinetic energy of the additives and exact timed pulsing and exact pulse width using appropriate injectors.
The exact dosing of the additives is obtained by regulation of the operation parameters of introduction for instance pressure, frequency, pulsing width, etc.
The state of the art of combustion engines using the “common rail” injection technology is utilized. The flexibility of this system by modifying the operating parameters is the highlight of this technology in comparison to the present mechanical operated injection methods because there is injection nozzle, etc. The common rail is loaded with fuel being pressurized up to 200 MPa and supplies the injector with this constant pressure. Electronic controller activating solenoid and piezo-operated, electro-hydraulic servo-valves move the nozzle needle by push rods with high precision. According to this technology exact dosing and homogenous distribution will be obtained.
The application and further development of this injection technology is subject to utilizing this improved technology for further applications as mentioned before. Furthermore detailed design and configuring of nozzles, nozzle-needles, the arrangement of orifices in position and shape as well as arrangement of injectors are aspects of this invention.
The invention is particularly directed to the following applications:
The introduction and dosing and the homogenous distribution of bleaching agents, solvents in circuits of cellulose, pulp and mechanical wood pulp occurs according to the state of art by dosing units with subsequent mixing. High shear forces are needed for the efficient mixing. Further, any modification of the operation parameters (because there is a change in the amount of additives or changing of color chemical additives) will have an immediate effect.
The following application, processes and devices can be economically realized with the invention:
The injection technology of combustion engineering has reached a high state of art concerning the exact repeatability due to the demands of strict exhaust specifications and is especially applicable to the invention. The state of the art is shown by “fuel-injection valves for internal combustion engines” disclosed in DE2028442, 1970, by DAIMLER BENZ. The hydraulic activation of the valve push rod is regulated by a three-way valve. An “injection device” with hydroelectric activation was invented by PEUQUEOT, FR2145081, in 1971. The valve is pushed by a continuous hydraulic pressure and released by a controlled pressure loss on the backside of the push rod. In US3990422, 1973, by BENDIX CORP, the control of the hydroelectric activation has been improved by using a two circuit hydraulic system.
The present injectors show features which are necessary to comply with the demands of the inventive application and specification thereof. These are pressure regulation, Electro-hydraulic activation by a push rod valve and pressure controlled by a sphere valve at the high pressure circuit, which is necessary to reach the high frequency pulsation and have the high pressure available at the nozzle needle immediately at the valve seat by a common rail system. The high pressure for injectors in combustion engines is needed for atomizing and distribution of the fuel in the combustion zone. The high pressure for injectors in melt introduction processes is needed to overcome the high melt pressure of about 100 to 140 MPa. Pressure of about 200 MPa can be reached by the available injectors with common rail. The continuous supply and the activation of the valves are solved with high reliability today.
An essential presupposition for running the injectors is the lubrication by the fuel because substances (water, alcohol, liquid gas) do not have substantial lubrication effect. The basic idea of the present invention is the use of two circuits applied to the standard injectors available in the market for making additional measures.
JP 8170569 shows a version of injectors for diesel engines using a high pressurized circuit for injection and a low pressurized circuit for a servo-hydraulic system. The injector operates by separation of the hydro-electrical activation of the push rod of the valve which uses standard hydraulic oil and the introduction of gas creating substances that occurs at a slightly lower pressure (different than JP 8170569) because of a non-return lock pressure that prevents penetration of the melt into the injector. Only the needle and seat of the valve are in touch with the non-lubricating medium. These parts can be made of sintered highly wear resistant material and are easily changeable. The electro-hydraulic servo circuit is not effected because of the separate circuit.
Further alternative solutions for the injector are:
1) Pump nozzle system with a combination of high pressure piston and spherical valves.
2) An electric activated swing system attached to a pump piston.
3) Limits for the stroke and positioning of the inlet valve as known for airless spraying systems can be used as well. In some applications, it is an advantage to have a small pressure difference between the introduced material and the melt. For this, the above solution can be used.
The regulation and control of the introduction process has the following features. Optionally, the hydraulic circuit can be separated from the gas creating substances to be introduced. The pressure p1 of the medium to be introduced and the pressure p2 of the hydraulic system are regulated by a pressure limit valve. The controller regulating the pressure depends on the melt p3, for the hydraulic system circuit as well as the injection pressure of the introduced medium. The injector is activated by a solenoid or piezo actuator. The regulation is controlled by an “Arbitrary Wave Form Generator”, known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the specification of hydraulic, nozzles, injectors and melt channel are described below.
The hydraulic system of existing machines have usually a pressure of 26 MPa that can be used to produce high pressure by a pressure multiplying system. In order to achieve this feature, an exact pressure regulation with electrical pressure limit and a precise activation of the hydroelectric valves is necessary. The shaping of the valve, valve seat and the smooth configuration of the melt channel according to hydrodynamic principles is important for repeatable dosage. The injectors of the “common rail technology” have the capability to fulfill these features.
The regulation of the solenoid takes place by controlling with “Arbitrary Wave Form Generator”, opening and locking can be optimized by this system.
The invention also relates to a multifunctional mixing and dosing head, consisting of a nozzle cone and a nozzle needle, in which the volume flow is metered or blocking the outside flowing medium by the position of the outside nozzle needle and consisting of a nozzle cone and a nozzle needle, in which the volume flow is metered or blocks the inside flowing medium by the position of the inside nozzle needle.
This combination of valve, nozzle and injector leads to an economical mixing and dosing directly on the needle top of the concentric double cone. The invention also relates to a hot runner valve, having an injector, for introducing the additives into the outer flowing medium, instead of the valve needle. Several combinations of mixing and dosing heads are mentioned and the subsequent attachment of static mixer systems.
The economical benefit consists of the spatially predetermined location of the dosage and the excellent mixing and the exact dosing according to the mixing ratio. Applications for this hot runner valve with integrated mixing head includes introducing additives into the flowing media. Besides the several known two component hot runner valves, the present suggested solution has the following features:
The application of the concentric positioned nozzle needles within the nozzle needle of this invention can be compared to EP 0310 914, where a concentric positioned nozzle needle is shown. The present apparatus is distinguished from the above by using a spatially predetermined dosing of the melt while in EP 0310914 only each of the two media is switched to the mould. The present apparatus can achieve any mixing ratio in between by using the introduction of the additives by pulsation.
An object of the present invention is not only to introduce at least two media in a concentric manner, but also to achieve a mixing, i.e., a dosage of the external medium with the internal medium.
The invention may take form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
a and 37b are schematic view of the outlet and inlet, respectively, of the nozzle disclosed in
a,
40
b,
40
c and 40d illustrate various aerosol profile shapes capable of being produced by the subject invention;
a,
45
b and 45c schematically depict, respectively, progressively closing positions of the needle valve used in the subject invention;
a,
46
b and 46c represent enlarged views of the orifice/needle shown in
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, there is shown in
In
In
In
In
In
The nozzle arrangement is shown in
In
In
The arbitrary wave form generator 120 creates the opening current for the electro mechanism 112. The introduction of the gas processors 117 into the melt stream 114 happens in the interface 116 part after the extruder tip 160 via a nozzle 113 extending into the channel. For heating, a heater band 159 is located around the nozzle 113.
The push spring 131 increases the force resulting from the difference of force on the nozzle needle 112 and the hydraulic pressing (bias) 110. The opening is activated by the solenoid 109 which releases the sphere of the valve 108 and hydraulic oil of the servo is able to stream out of the high pressure chamber 110.
The introduction of additives to the medium may be in the flow direction 55b or in the counterflow directions 55a. The advantage of the counterflow is the introduction of individually closed dosages. The introduction may optionally be caused by pulsation. Also, use may be made of chicanes (i.e. obstacles) in the flow of the medium so that the change of velocity leads to shear forces and to additional mixing respectively in the expansion zone 60.
In
a and 37b show the version of the invention as it is in
a shows a rectangular profile.
In
In
In
In
The supply of the substance occurs through the fitting 91. The medium is supplied by the channel 89.
The invention thus provides an apparatus that can be readily used in burner and injection arrangements. The nozzle needle of at least one nozzle respectively is variable and highly precisely moved for the introduction by means of a device and in such a way that an additive is dosed exactly in relation to the volume flow of the medium and that a pulsating stream is injected into the medium flowing past the pulsating stream, by means of at least one well-aimed nozzle opening. The additives are dosed by means of a pressure that can be variably adjusted such as by pulse width and pulse frequency. The desired homogenous (AREOSOL) distribution is obtained by the penetrating injection jet during compounding for instance.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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19/2000 | Jan 2000 | AT | national |
995/2000 | Jun 2000 | AT | national |
1475/2000 | Aug 2000 | AT | national |
PCT/AT01/00003 | Apr 2001 | AT | national |
This application is a Division of Ser. No. 10/958,855, filed Oct. 5, 2004 which is a Division of Ser. No. 09/936,039, filed Sep. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,171.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4474717 | Hendry | Oct 1984 | A |
5129629 | Christensen | Jul 1992 | A |
6866171 | Ickinger | Mar 2005 | B2 |
20050077642 | Ickinger | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20060254389 | Ickinger | Nov 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20060272702 A1 | Dec 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10958855 | Oct 2004 | US |
Child | 11491222 | US | |
Parent | 09936039 | Sep 2001 | US |
Child | 10958855 | US |