Development of a compact, hygienic spray nozzle with water pressure controllable spray pattern and a technical solution for controlled, local pulsation during tank cleaning

Tank cleaning is regarded as an essential process step, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Automated cleaning processes (Cleaning-in-Place) with various cleaning devices by using unvarying spray patterns have established themselves on the market. These have specific strengths and weaknesses with regard to their cleaning effect, depending on the quantity and condition of the prevailing soiling. For example, easily soluble soiling should be rinsed off over a large area, while persistent soiling should ideally first be moistened for soaking and then specifically removed with high fluid mechanics. This sometimes requires a change of the spray pattern, which is currently achieved by manually replacing the nozzle and thus requires corresponding set-up times. The application of a spray pattern not adapted to the contamination also leads to cleaning processes being oversized in practice with regard to the use of resources. In the interest of an efficient and sustainable cleaning process, the aim of the project is therefore to combine the two state-of-the-art solutions in one system: the static spray ball for large-area wetting and the dynamic, rotating target jet cleaner, which generates a focused jet. The pressure of the cleaning liquid is to serve as the control variable for changing the spray pattern, thus eliminating the need for additional control lines.

Resource-saving, efficient cleaning and a targeted increase in mechanical forces can also be achieved by using pulsating liquid jets. Therefore, the cleaning system must be equipped with a unit that generates a pulsating full jet in order to dissolve soiling that is very difficult to remove.

A further challenge is the targeted cleaning of particularly critical areas and installation spaces, which up to now could not be cleaned automatically depending on the geometry. A position referencing system to be developed within the framework of the project will make it possible to specifically focus on challenging places during the cleaning process so that these can be cleaned more intensively.

The development goal of the ZIM project "Smart Nozzle", carried out together with the company KOHIKO Engineering GmbH, is a cleaning system equipped with a water pressure controlled adjustment mechanism, which allows a variation between the spray patterns full jet and full cone. An additional position referencing system as well as a pulsation unit also enable a targeted increased and geometry-oriented cleaning effect. The individual components will be developed with a focus on retrofittability for existing target jet cleaning systems.