The most prevalent thing that limits the life of an air-conditioning unit is the outside coil. This is more evident in climates that have a higher salt content in their air. Regular cleaning of the outside coil can eliminate this. Yet as most people are penny wise and pound foolish they do not want to spend the money to get a technician to come out and do it. Yet they do not do it themselves. This leads to an eroding of the unit that in not inline with the wear of the rest of the system.
The first step in solving a problem using the TRIZ method is to identify what the problem is. In our case we have condenser coils that are not being cleaned on a regular basis.
After we establish what is wrong we state the ideal result. In our case the ideal result would be to clean the coils periodically without a technicians presence.
Looking through the 39 Engineering Parameters we find;
16. Durability of nonmoving object: The condenser fins are made out of a thin metal to allow for heat loss but also creates a susceptibility for corrosion.
25. Waste of time: Brining out a technician to clean the coil is time consuming and can be expensive.
30. Harmful factors acting on object: When the condensation of the fins meets with the salt and abrasives in the atmosphere we find a galvanic corrosion occurring limiting the lifespan of the coils.
31. Harmful side effects: The constant heating and cooling of the coils increases the susceptibility to galvanic corrosion.
Now that we have established what our problems are we need to ask ourselves questions about how we can change them. Using the 40 inventive principles of TRIZ we can go about this in a more structured environment then unstructured brain-storming could allow.
2 Extraction:
a. Extract (remove or separate) a “disturbing” part or property from an object, or
b. Extract only the necessary part of property
Extract the salt or abrasive elements from the coil to limit one of the catalysts for galvanic corrosion.
3 Local Quality:
a. Transition from a homogeneous structure of an object or outside environment/action to a heterogeneous structure.
b. Have different parts of the object carry out different functions.
c. Place each part of the object under conditions most favorable for its operation.
Add a self cleaning apparatus to the outside unit itself.
5. Combining:
a. Combine in space homogeneous objects or objects destined for contiguous operations.
b. Combine in time homogenous or contiguous operations.
Add a self cleaning apparatus to the outside unit itself that operates off of the compressor in the unit itself.
11 Cushion in advance: Compensate for the relatively low reliability of an object by countermeasures taken in advance.
Place a corrosion resistant coating on the coil fins or place zinc anodes near the coils like what is placed on boat propellers.
15 Dynamicity:
a. Make an object or its environment automatically adjust for optimal performance at each stage of operation.
b. Divide an object into elements which can change position relative to each other.
c. If an object is immovable, make it moveable or interchangeable
If there is a cleaning coil system in place it can be attached to the outdoor unit itself. This will enable electrical systems to shut down when the cleaner is spraying.
30 Flexible membranes or thin film:
a. Replace traditional constructions with those made from flexible membranes of thin film.
b. Isolate an object from its environment using flexible membranes or thin film.
A thin membrane could be put on the surface of the fins to eliminate the ability of the moisture to collect on the metal itself. Care must be given for the heat transfer capability of the fins.
From this simple exercise we have come up with some good ideas for eliminating corrosion on the metallic fins of an outdoor air-conditioning coil. These solutions include some sort of spray system that cleans the coils, or a thin membrane placed over coil fins. How these could be created is in the hands of the engineers but the ideas are now out there.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Salted Nuts! Yeach!!!!!
Take a nut off of the tree and it is malleable. Take that same nut and put it in a furnace for a couple hours and you will have a roasted nut that is dry. From this you get the term Dry-Roasted Nuts. The moment the nuts come out of the oven they are absorbing moisture. Salt is added to the nuts to keep moisture from making the nuts malleable again. This added salt is not desirable to all consumers and is removed from some shipments of nuts. Removal of the preservation qualities of the salt results in malleable unsalted nuts upon consumption.
In this case our problem is un-salted nuts do not retain their dryness. An ideal case would be for the nuts to remain dry without the use of salt.
Looking through the 39 Engineering Parameters we find that #30 Harmful factors acting on object (Moisture is absorbed by the nut, Salt is an undesired factor in the nut) as well as #31 Harmful side effects (Moisture being absorbed by nut makes nut malleable).
Now that we have established what out problems are we need to ask ourselves questions about how we can change them. Using the 40 inventive principles of TRIZ we can go about this in a more structured environment then brain-storming could allow.
2. Extraction:
a. Extract (remove or separate) a “disturbing” part or property from an object, or
b. Extract only the necessary part or property
It is imperative to remove the salt or sodium content from the nuts, also important to remove the moisture from the nuts.
5. Combining:
a. Combine in space homogeneous objects destined for contiguous operations
b. Combine in time homogeneous or contiguous operations
Include some sort of desiccant material that is edible and has no harmful side effects of aftertaste.
6. Universality: Have the object perform multiple functions, thereby eliminating the need for some other object(s)
Include the desiccant material in the lining of the container of the cap of the container.
11. Cushion in advance: Compensate for the relatively low reliability of an object by countermeasures taken in advance.
Place some sort of desiccant in with the nuts or a coating on them to make them impermeable to moisture.
16. Partial or overdone action: If it is difficult to obtain 100% of a desired effect, achieve somewhat more or less to greatly simplify the problem.
Heat the nuts to a greater temperature to seal in outer coating thereby eliminating moisture absorption.
39. Inert environment:
a. Replace the normal environment with an inert one
b. Carry out the process in a vacuum
Package nuts in a vacuum with dry air and make some sort of an apparatus to reestablish the vacuum after package has been opened.
From these conclusions we can set engineers in a motion towards creating something that can reduce the absorption of moisture by the nuts after roasting.
Possible solutions could be the introduction of Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride for a desiccant in packaging. Potassium is absorbed by the human body and humans are notoriously short in Potassium supply.
A second solution would be to place some sort of potassium desiccant into the lining of the container of the lid. If some of the desiccant would leak out of the lining it would not be harmful if consumed.
Different then adding a desiccant to the container or to the mixture of nuts themselves the nuts could be heated to a higher temperature during roasting to seer the outside of the nut providing a thin layer that is impermeable to moisture.
The last solution discussed in this not, but certainly not an all-inclusive list, is a packaging system that maintains a vacuum. This would enable an inert environment to be maintained on the nuts to limit moisture absorption.
Each solution can be taken to a deeper degree by engineers in related or unrelated fields. TRIZ was used to identify the problem and possible solutions for the problem.
In this case our problem is un-salted nuts do not retain their dryness. An ideal case would be for the nuts to remain dry without the use of salt.
Looking through the 39 Engineering Parameters we find that #30 Harmful factors acting on object (Moisture is absorbed by the nut, Salt is an undesired factor in the nut) as well as #31 Harmful side effects (Moisture being absorbed by nut makes nut malleable).
Now that we have established what out problems are we need to ask ourselves questions about how we can change them. Using the 40 inventive principles of TRIZ we can go about this in a more structured environment then brain-storming could allow.
2. Extraction:
a. Extract (remove or separate) a “disturbing” part or property from an object, or
b. Extract only the necessary part or property
It is imperative to remove the salt or sodium content from the nuts, also important to remove the moisture from the nuts.
5. Combining:
a. Combine in space homogeneous objects destined for contiguous operations
b. Combine in time homogeneous or contiguous operations
Include some sort of desiccant material that is edible and has no harmful side effects of aftertaste.
6. Universality: Have the object perform multiple functions, thereby eliminating the need for some other object(s)
Include the desiccant material in the lining of the container of the cap of the container.
11. Cushion in advance: Compensate for the relatively low reliability of an object by countermeasures taken in advance.
Place some sort of desiccant in with the nuts or a coating on them to make them impermeable to moisture.
16. Partial or overdone action: If it is difficult to obtain 100% of a desired effect, achieve somewhat more or less to greatly simplify the problem.
Heat the nuts to a greater temperature to seal in outer coating thereby eliminating moisture absorption.
39. Inert environment:
a. Replace the normal environment with an inert one
b. Carry out the process in a vacuum
Package nuts in a vacuum with dry air and make some sort of an apparatus to reestablish the vacuum after package has been opened.
From these conclusions we can set engineers in a motion towards creating something that can reduce the absorption of moisture by the nuts after roasting.
Possible solutions could be the introduction of Potassium Chloride instead of Sodium Chloride for a desiccant in packaging. Potassium is absorbed by the human body and humans are notoriously short in Potassium supply.
A second solution would be to place some sort of potassium desiccant into the lining of the container of the lid. If some of the desiccant would leak out of the lining it would not be harmful if consumed.
Different then adding a desiccant to the container or to the mixture of nuts themselves the nuts could be heated to a higher temperature during roasting to seer the outside of the nut providing a thin layer that is impermeable to moisture.
The last solution discussed in this not, but certainly not an all-inclusive list, is a packaging system that maintains a vacuum. This would enable an inert environment to be maintained on the nuts to limit moisture absorption.
Each solution can be taken to a deeper degree by engineers in related or unrelated fields. TRIZ was used to identify the problem and possible solutions for the problem.
Drainage of condensate
To the consternation of many HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) technicians system placement is limited by drainage of condensate. Finding an easy place to drain the condensate or getting rid of the condensate prior to drainage would be ideal.
While using TRIZ principles to solve problems you must identify the problem and the ideal situation. For this case both have been stated in the previous paragraph.
Problem: Drainage of condensate
Ideal Situation: Place to drain the condensate or get rid of condensate prior to drainage
Evaluation of our problems with the 39 Engineering Problems will lead to dismissal of some and acceptance of others. The following examples addressed our problem.
26. Amount of substance: The amount of condensate is enough to cause a problem when it comes to draining it away, but it is not enough to provide a cooling effect of serve alternate purposes.
30. Harmful factors acting on object: Water and electricity do not mix, doing so can cause an electrifying experience.
31. Harmful side effects: When you introduce moisture into a system you can get galvanic corrosion on metal and bacterial growth on soft surfaces.
33. Convenience of use: Routing a drain line through a structure and away from the structure can prove to be a significant engineering problem in itself.
Identifying what is wrong leads to asking how to fix the problem. Asking the 40 questions of TRIZ leads to a structured brain-storming event with engineers that have only a basic knowledge of the system.
2. Weight of non-moving object: Water will flow down, not up. We would need to pump it to a higher place.
3. Local Quality: Use heat in return line to burn off the condensate.
6. Universality: Have condensate drip into a unit designed to absorb water that is near. (i.e. flower pot)
7. Nesting: Have evaporator coil return line run through encapsulated flash pan. Condensate runs through pan. Condensate burns off, refrigerant cools down, and steam is vented. (combine with #3).
10. Prior action: Install AC units or align drain lines to allows for more efficient drainage.
18. Mechanical vibration: Introduce ultrasonic vibrations into a water reservoir to evaporate liquid.
22. Convert harm into benefit: Have flower planter near condensate discharge line.
35. Transformation of the physical and chemical status of an object: Heat up the condensate to make it evaporate.
36. Phase transformation: Heating up the water would make it go from a liquid to a vapor and make it disappear.
Asking the right questions with TRIZ enables compilation of multiple solutions from a systematic approach.
Solution #1: Inline system that uses hot return from evaporator to heat up condensate reservoir being exposed to ultrasonic vibrations. This enables condensate to evaporate while eliminating mold, mildew, and galvanic corrosion.
Solution #2: Direct condensate to potted plants and bushes creating symbiotic systems.
Solution #3: Devise a sump that collects water until a relay switch can be activated turning on an electric pump motivating condensate to a higher plane for ease of drainage.
To recap we had a known problem, came up with an ideal situation, compare our problem with the 39 engineering problems, and asked the 40 engineering questions to come up with 3 workable solutions that are ready for production. All of this using a systematic approach to inventive problem solving.
While using TRIZ principles to solve problems you must identify the problem and the ideal situation. For this case both have been stated in the previous paragraph.
Problem: Drainage of condensate
Ideal Situation: Place to drain the condensate or get rid of condensate prior to drainage
Evaluation of our problems with the 39 Engineering Problems will lead to dismissal of some and acceptance of others. The following examples addressed our problem.
26. Amount of substance: The amount of condensate is enough to cause a problem when it comes to draining it away, but it is not enough to provide a cooling effect of serve alternate purposes.
30. Harmful factors acting on object: Water and electricity do not mix, doing so can cause an electrifying experience.
31. Harmful side effects: When you introduce moisture into a system you can get galvanic corrosion on metal and bacterial growth on soft surfaces.
33. Convenience of use: Routing a drain line through a structure and away from the structure can prove to be a significant engineering problem in itself.
Identifying what is wrong leads to asking how to fix the problem. Asking the 40 questions of TRIZ leads to a structured brain-storming event with engineers that have only a basic knowledge of the system.
2. Weight of non-moving object: Water will flow down, not up. We would need to pump it to a higher place.
3. Local Quality: Use heat in return line to burn off the condensate.
6. Universality: Have condensate drip into a unit designed to absorb water that is near. (i.e. flower pot)
7. Nesting: Have evaporator coil return line run through encapsulated flash pan. Condensate runs through pan. Condensate burns off, refrigerant cools down, and steam is vented. (combine with #3).
10. Prior action: Install AC units or align drain lines to allows for more efficient drainage.
18. Mechanical vibration: Introduce ultrasonic vibrations into a water reservoir to evaporate liquid.
22. Convert harm into benefit: Have flower planter near condensate discharge line.
35. Transformation of the physical and chemical status of an object: Heat up the condensate to make it evaporate.
36. Phase transformation: Heating up the water would make it go from a liquid to a vapor and make it disappear.
Asking the right questions with TRIZ enables compilation of multiple solutions from a systematic approach.
Solution #1: Inline system that uses hot return from evaporator to heat up condensate reservoir being exposed to ultrasonic vibrations. This enables condensate to evaporate while eliminating mold, mildew, and galvanic corrosion.
Solution #2: Direct condensate to potted plants and bushes creating symbiotic systems.
Solution #3: Devise a sump that collects water until a relay switch can be activated turning on an electric pump motivating condensate to a higher plane for ease of drainage.
To recap we had a known problem, came up with an ideal situation, compare our problem with the 39 engineering problems, and asked the 40 engineering questions to come up with 3 workable solutions that are ready for production. All of this using a systematic approach to inventive problem solving.
Do Monkeys run your business
Hiring 100 monkeys then putting them into a room with 100 typewriters and expecting the works of Shakespeare seems a little far fetched. We would never use this type of method to write movies or hit song, yet when it comes to real problems we put “monkeys” into a room and call it Brain Storming.
Intuitive based process improvement (brain storming) is great if Einstein, Tesla, Edison, and Westinghouse work for you. If not, then you need a different approach. Inventive-problem-solving or TRIZ (Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch) has been around for over 60 years and is the creation of Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues TRIZ is a simple process that starts with a known problem, defines an ideal outcome, compares it to 39 basic problems, and solves it using 40 possible solutions.
Example 1:
Known Problem: Cleaning and washing soiled cloth baby diapers!
Ideal Outcome: Not having to clean dirty baby diapers.
Compare this problem to the 39 basic problems and you come up with:
#34-“Repairability
Repairing/Cleaning the dirty old diaper is distasteful and diapers are too expensive to throw away.
Using TRIZ’s 40 Possible Solutions we find an answer to our dilemma in:
Principle 27: Use Cheap (sometimes short-living) Replacement Events/Parts
Solution:
Make a diaper out of cheap material so it can be thrown away.
A simple solution to a simple problem answered in seconds instead of years.
Example 2:
My favorite military example of applying a TRIZ principle is very easy to understand.
Known Problem: Recruit will not get out of bed!
Ideal Outcome: Recruit will be out of bed ready to face the day.
Compare this problem to the 39 basic problems and you come up with:
#2- Weight of nonmoving object
The Recruit is not getting out of bed and is therefore an unmoving weight.
Using TRIZ’s 40 Possible Solutions we find an answer to our dilemma in:
Principle 8: Counterweight Compensate for the object's weight by joining with another object that has a lifting force
Solution:
Scream at the Recruit to get his/her lazy but out of bed.
Drill Instructors have been students of TRIZ for as long as there was a military. Just as every inventor uses TRIZ, they just did not know what to call it.
By applying the principles that Genrich Altshuller discovered you can find a solution that would have had to rely on someone just thinking of it on their own. TRIZ can be applied to any principle in your business no matter what it is. TRIZ is now being translated from engineering to small businesses, social, marketing, and other models.
If you are lucky enough to have geniuses in your employ, imagine the benefit to your company by focusing their minds down the path of innovation. For those who have to deal with normal humans you can turn your workforce into a team of innovative geniuses who are well equipped to solve all problems they face.
Intuitive based process improvement (brain storming) is great if Einstein, Tesla, Edison, and Westinghouse work for you. If not, then you need a different approach. Inventive-problem-solving or TRIZ (Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch) has been around for over 60 years and is the creation of Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues TRIZ is a simple process that starts with a known problem, defines an ideal outcome, compares it to 39 basic problems, and solves it using 40 possible solutions.
Example 1:
Known Problem: Cleaning and washing soiled cloth baby diapers!
Ideal Outcome: Not having to clean dirty baby diapers.
Compare this problem to the 39 basic problems and you come up with:
#34-“Repairability
Repairing/Cleaning the dirty old diaper is distasteful and diapers are too expensive to throw away.
Using TRIZ’s 40 Possible Solutions we find an answer to our dilemma in:
Principle 27: Use Cheap (sometimes short-living) Replacement Events/Parts
Solution:
Make a diaper out of cheap material so it can be thrown away.
A simple solution to a simple problem answered in seconds instead of years.
Example 2:
My favorite military example of applying a TRIZ principle is very easy to understand.
Known Problem: Recruit will not get out of bed!
Ideal Outcome: Recruit will be out of bed ready to face the day.
Compare this problem to the 39 basic problems and you come up with:
#2- Weight of nonmoving object
The Recruit is not getting out of bed and is therefore an unmoving weight.
Using TRIZ’s 40 Possible Solutions we find an answer to our dilemma in:
Principle 8: Counterweight Compensate for the object's weight by joining with another object that has a lifting force
Solution:
Scream at the Recruit to get his/her lazy but out of bed.
Drill Instructors have been students of TRIZ for as long as there was a military. Just as every inventor uses TRIZ, they just did not know what to call it.
By applying the principles that Genrich Altshuller discovered you can find a solution that would have had to rely on someone just thinking of it on their own. TRIZ can be applied to any principle in your business no matter what it is. TRIZ is now being translated from engineering to small businesses, social, marketing, and other models.
If you are lucky enough to have geniuses in your employ, imagine the benefit to your company by focusing their minds down the path of innovation. For those who have to deal with normal humans you can turn your workforce into a team of innovative geniuses who are well equipped to solve all problems they face.
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