Warewash Machine Havaing Controlled Drop Size And/Or Weber Number And Related Design Process

Abstract

A design process for a conveyor-type warewash machine involves consideration of Weber number for flow from nozzles within at least one zone of the machine. Warewash machines having one or more zones with flows within certain Weber number limits or ranges are also described.

1 . A warewash machine, comprising:
 a housing having a ware inlet toward one and a ware outlet toward an opposite end, a plurality of warewash zones within the housing between the ware inlet and the ware outlet, including at least a wash zone, a post wash zone and a final rinse zone, the post wash zone is between the wash zone and the final rinse zone;   a ware conveyance path extending through the housing from the ware inlet to the ware outlet;   a first one of the warewash zones includes a plurality of nozzles located to direct liquid onto wares passing through the first warewash zone, liquid temperature in the first warewash zone is greater than 65° C., and at least 85% of flow output by the nozzles in the first warewash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number that is in the range of about 800 to 1200.   
   
   
       2 . The warewash machine of  claim 1  wherein
 a second one of the warewash zones includes a plurality of nozzles located to direct liquid onto wares passing through the second warewash zone, liquid temperature in the second warewash zone is less than 65° C., and at least 85% of flow output by the nozzles in the second warewash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number that is less than about 1200.   
   
   
       3 . The warewash machine of  claim 2  wherein the first warewash zone is the post wash zone and the second warewash zone is the final rinse zone, post wash liquid temperature in the post wash zone is between about 65-85° C., the wash zone includes a plurality of nozzles located to direct wash liquid onto wares passing through the wash zone. 
   
   
       4 . The warewash machine of  claim 3  wherein operating pressure of nozzles in the post wash zone is between about 0.4 and 0.8 bar, and the nozzles of the post wash zone output a range defined drop size of about 0.75 to 2.80 mm. 
   
   
       5 . The warewash machine of  claim 4  wherein operating pressure of nozzles in the post wash zone is between about 0.6 and 0.8 bar, and the nozzles of the post wash zone output a range defined drop size of about 0.75 to 2.00 mm. 
   
   
       6 . The warewash machine of  claim 5  wherein operating pressure of the nozzles in the post wash zone is about 0.7 bar and the nozzles of the post wash zone output a range defined drop size of about 1.00 to 1.75 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The warewash machine of  claim 4  wherein operating pressure of nozzles in the wash zone is between about 0.3 bar and 0.5 bar, and the nozzles of the wash zone output a range defined drop size of about 1.50 to 4.00 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The warewash machine of  claim 7  wherein nozzles in the final rinse zone output a range defined drop size of about 0.10 to 0.40 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The warewash machine of  claim 3  wherein wash liquid temperature in the wash zone is less than 65° C., at least 85% of flow output by nozzles in the wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number that is less than about 1200. 
   
   
       10 . The warewash machine of  claim 3  wherein at least 95% of flow output by the nozzles in the post wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number in the range of about 800 to about 1200, and at least 95% of flow output by the nozzles in the final rinse zone consists of drops that have a Weber number that is less than about 1200. 
   
   
       11 . The warewash machine of  claim 3  wherein wash liquid temperature in the wash zone is at least 65° C., at least 85% of flow output by nozzles in the wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number in the range of about 800 to 1200. 
   
   
       12 . The warewash machine of  claim 1  wherein the first warewash zone is the final rinse zone, final rinse liquid temperature in the final rinse zone is at least 70° C., the wash zone includes a plurality of nozzles for directing wash liquid onto wares and the post wash zone includes a plurality of nozzles for directing post wash liquid onto wares. 
   
   
       13 . The warewash machine of  claim 12  wherein post wash liquid temperature in the post wash zone is at least 65° C., at least 85% of flow output by the nozzles in the post wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number in the range of about 800 to about 1200. 
   
   
       14 . The warewash machine of  claim 13  wherein wash liquid temperature in the wash zone is at least 65° C., at least 85% of flow output by the nozzles in the wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number in the range of about 800 to about 1200. 
   
   
       15 . The warewash machine of  claim 13  wherein wash liquid temperature in the wash zone is less than 65° C., at least 85% of flow output by the nozzles in the wash zone consists of drops that have a Weber number less than about 1200. 
   
   
       16 . The warewash machine of  claim 12  wherein final rinse liquid temperature in the final rinse zone is at least 75° C. 
   
   
       17 . The warewash machine of  claim 12  wherein operating pressure of nozzles in the final rinse zone is between about 0.4 and 0.8 bar, and the nozzles of the final rinse zone output a range defined drop size of about 0.75 to 2.80 mm. 
   
   
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