System and method of surfactant dosing

• US 20030213069A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Tortorici, Paul Lee Jr., Barnes, Timothy Dexal, Sykes, Richard Caruthers, Raney, Kirk Herbert, Payne, Larry Wayne, Doll, Michael Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/151,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/006 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/20 Arrangements for water recovery

Abstract

A system and method of processing laundry by the determination of surface tension in a dynamic environment for surfactant concentration in industrial laundry applications. The dosage system is able to control the surfactant concentration for a recycle wash tank and preferentially the washer tank using surface tension measurements, temperature control, and correlation to the percentage of active matter based on a full dose of a commercial surfactant for the wash runs. The dosage system preferably uses a surface tensiometer able to monitor surfactant levels and to constantly dose surfactant for use in subsequent washes.

Claims

1. A system of surfactant dosing for maintaining a set point of surfactant level in a laundry application comprising:

a washer tank;

a recycle wash tank connected to the washer tank;

a dispenser; and

a tensiometer wherein;

the tensiometer is capable of measuring the surfactant level in the recycle wash tank;

the tensiometer is capable of comparing the surfactant level to the set point; and

the tensiometer is capable of sending signals to the dispenser.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is capable of pumping surfactant to the recycle wash tank.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is capable of pumping surfactant to the washer tank.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a converter disposed between the tensiometer and the dispenser capable of configuring and forwarding signals to the dispenser.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller disposed between the tensiometer and the dispenser wherein:

the controller is capable of monitoring the surfactant level; and

the controller is capable of activating the dispenser.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller comprises a programmable logic controller and a signal-conditioning transmitter.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the programmable logic controller is capable of using ladder logic to compare the signals to a constant.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a programmable logic controller and wherein the tensiometer comprises:

a keypad; and

at least one digital output;

wherein the digital output from the tensiometer is capable of activating the programmable logic controller.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a dump chest connected to the washer tank;

a lint screen or a lint trap connected to the dump chest; and

a separatory filter connected the lint screen or lint trap and connected to the recycle wash tank;

wherein the recycle wash tank comprises a sampling chamber such that the tensiometer is capable measuring the surfactant level of the recycle wash tank via the sampling chamber.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the dispenser is capable of dosing a calculated percentage of a stroke length of the dispenser.

11. A method of surfactant dosing for maintaining a set point of surfactant level in a laundry application that comprises the steps of:

(a) measuring the surfactant level by using a tensiometer is capable measuring the surfactant level;

(b) comparing the surfactant level to the set point;

(c) pumping surfactant if the surfactant level is lower than that the set point.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein Step (a) is accomplished by measuring the surfactant level in a recycle wash tank, wherein the recycle wash tank is connected to a washer tank.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein Step (c) is accomplished by pumping surfactant into the recycle wash tank.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein Step (c) is accomplished by pumping surfactant into the washer tank.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein Step (b) further comprises the steps of:

producing signals with the tensiometer;

converter the signals from the tensiometer; and

delivering the converted signals to a dispenser capable of performing Step (c).

16. The method of claim 11 which further comprises the step of using a controller connected to the tensiometer to accomplish Step (b).

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the controller comprises a programmable logic controller.

18. The method of claim 17 which further comprises the step of using ladder logic to compare the signals to a constant.

19. The method of claim 11 which further comprises correlating a percentage of active matter to the measured surfactant level from Step (a).

20. The method of claim 17 which further comprises the step of constructing a curve of the correlation of percentage of active matter to the measured surfactant level measurements.

21. The method of claim 11 which further comprises the step of adjusting surface tension using electronic algorithms to deliver an adjusted dosage.

22. The method of claim 21 which further comprises the steps of:

developing a correlation curve of active matter to surface tension; and

metering the dosage as a percentage of a stroke length.

23. A system of surfactant dosing for maintaining a set point of surfactant level in a laundry application comprising:

a washer tank;

a dump chest connected to the washer tank;

a lint screen or a lint trap connected to the dump chest;

a separatory filter connected to the lint screen or lint trap;

a recycle wash tank connected to the separatory filter and connected to the washer tank;

a sampling chamber connected to the recycle wash tank;

a tensiometer wherein the tensiometer comprises measuring probes disposed in the sampling chamber; and

a dispenser capable of pumping surfactant to the recycle wash tank;

wherein the tensiometer is capable measuring the surfactant level and comparing the surfactant level to the set point; and

wherein the tensiometer is capable of sending signals to the dispenser.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising a converter connected to the tensiometer and the dispenser wherein the converter is capable of converting signals from the tensiometer and sending the converted signals to the dispenser.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising a programmable logic controller.