Metamaterial flow uniformization device, fabrication process and applications

Abstract

The application discloses a metamaterial flow uniformity maintaining device, a preparation process and application. The metamaterial flow uniformity maintaining device comprises a transition part, a first maintaining part and a second maintaining part. The transition part is in an arc shape, and the radius satisfies R1 < r < R2. The transition part, the first maintaining part and the second maintaining part are all made of a metamaterial. In the embodiments of the application, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional flow uniformity maintaining device conforming to a condition formula for maintaining the flow uniformity in a variable channel obtained according to the Darcy law and corresponding boundary conditions is constructed. The device has sufficient theoretical basis and high reliability. The flow uniformity maintaining device can maintain the flow uniformity of fluid after the fluid passes through a contraction or expansion pipeline, reduces the pressure drop and resistance of the fluid in the flow process, and further guarantees the stability and uniformity of the fluid in the variable channel flow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fluid flow equalization device technology, and in particular to a metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity, its fabrication process, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Maintaining fluid uniformity has a significant impact on fields such as microfluidic chip development, pipeline structure design, heat exchanger structure design, biological tissue culture, and fuel cells. When fluid passes through expanding or contracting pipes, the fluid streamlines will bend due to the change in pipe shape, reducing fluid uniformity. Sudden changes or excessive pipe expansion or contraction may cause the fluid to separate from the pipe wall or form eddies, resulting in problems such as pressure drop, increased energy consumption, reduced system efficiency, and uneven temperature distribution.

[0003] In related technologies, optimizing the flow channel structure reduces or eliminates the influence of eddies and rotations on uniformity in fluid flow. For example, many small, dispersed branches are set in the flow channel to form a tree-like or network structure. However, the internal structure of the flow channel is relatively complex and is usually designed based on engineering experience. As a result, the final flow channel structure is not precise and the reliability of fluid uniformity is poor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity, which can maintain the uniformity of fluid after passing through a contracting or expanding channel and has high reliability.

[0005] The present invention also proposes a fabrication process for the above-mentioned metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity, and an application of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity.

[0006] A metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises:

[0007] The transition section has a hydraulic permeability of k1 and is arc-shaped with a radius of r, where R1 < r < R2.

[0008] The first maintaining part has a hydraulic permeability k3, and the outer side of one end of the transition part is connected to the outer side of one end of the first maintaining part.

[0009] The second maintaining part has a hydraulic permeability k2. The width of the second maintaining part is greater than the width of the first maintaining part. The outer side of the other end of the transition part is connected to the outer side of the second maintaining part. The portion of the second maintaining part located inside the transition part is connected to the first maintaining part.

[0010] The fluid velocity in the first maintaining section is greater than the fluid velocity in the second maintaining section. The transition section, the first maintaining section, and the second maintaining section are all made of metamaterials.

[0011] The metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0012] In the embodiments of the present invention, a flow equalization device is constructed that conforms to the condition formula for maintaining the uniformity of fluid in a variable channel obtained by Darcy's law and corresponding boundary conditions. It has a solid theoretical basis, high reliability, and can maintain the uniformity of fluid after passing through a contraction or expansion pipe, reduce the pressure drop and resistance of the fluid during the flow process, and thus ensure the stability and uniformity of fluid in variable channel flow.

[0013] A metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0014] The transition section is annular and has an inner wall with a hydraulic permeability of k1. The cross-section of the transition section is arc-shaped with a radius of r, where R1 < r < R2.

[0015] The first support portion is annular and has a water permeability k3 on its inner wall. One end of the transition portion is connected to the first support portion.

[0016] The second support portion is annular and has a water permeability k2 on its inner wall. The inner diameter of the first support portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the second support portion. The other end of the transition portion is connected to the second support portion.

[0017] The fluid velocity in the first maintaining section is greater than that in the second maintaining section. The inner walls of the transition section, the first maintaining section, and the second maintaining section are all made of metamaterial.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transition portion, the first maintaining portion and the second maintaining portion are made of a porous dielectric material.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transition portion has a plurality of spaced-apart first constituent units, the transition portion having a porosity ε1, and the second maintaining portion has a plurality of uniformly arranged second constituent units, the second maintaining portion having a porosity ε2; wherein...

[0020] A fabrication process for a metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention is used to fabricate the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity in the first and second aspect embodiments, comprising:

[0021] S1: Based on preset conditions, set R1 and R2, substitute them into the formula for maintaining fluid homogeneity, and obtain...

[0022] S2: Set k1 or k2 to obtain the hydraulic permeability of the transition section and the second maintenance section;

[0023] S3: Select materials with appropriate hydraulic permeability to make the transition section and the second maintenance section.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, step S4 is further included, which is located between step S2 and step S3;

[0025] S4: Select the transition section having a porosity of ε1 and the second maintaining section having a porosity of ε2, wherein,

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, step S3 further includes:

[0027] S5: Prepare a first substrate, process it to form the transition portion having an array of multiple first constituent units, and obtain the outer diameter and spacing of the first constituent units according to ε1; prepare a second substrate, process it to form the second holding portion having an array of multiple second constituent units, and obtain the outer diameter and spacing of the second constituent units according to ε2.

[0028] According to some embodiments of the present invention, step S5 further includes: adjusting the array density of the first component unit and / or the second component unit according to the fluid pressure.

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a porous medium material is selected to form the transition portion and the second maintaining portion, wherein the observed size of the porous medium material is not less than the overall size of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity.

[0030] Applications of metamaterial flow equalization devices that maintain fluid homogeneity in any of the following: molecular sieves for oxygen generators, fuel cell structures, heat exchanger structures, microfluidic chips, and biological tissue culture.

[0031] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of another direction of a metamaterial flow equalization device that maintains fluid uniformity;

[0035] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the simulation of the velocity field of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid homogeneity and the control group;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to the present invention;

[0038] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the streamlines and velocity fields of a metamaterial flow equalization device and a control group used to maintain fluid homogeneity.

[0039] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the streamlines and isobars of a metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid homogeneity and a control group.

[0040] Figure 8 This is a simulated schematic diagram of the streamlines of a metamaterial flow equalization device and a control group used to maintain fluid homogeneity in a microfluidic structure.

[0041] Figure label:

[0042] Transition section 100, first component unit 110; first maintenance section 200; second maintenance section 300, second component unit 310. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0044] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0045] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0046] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0047] In the description of this invention, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0048] Sudden or excessive expansion or contraction of pipes can cause fluid to separate from the pipe wall or form eddies, leading to problems such as pressure drop, increased energy consumption, reduced system efficiency, and uneven temperature distribution. Uneven fluid flow within the pipe can cause liquid or gas to accumulate in certain areas, increasing pipe pressure and the risk of rupture, especially in pipelines transporting flammable and explosive materials. Therefore, the uniformity of fluid flow in variable channels is crucial. Related technologies improve fluid uniformity by changing the shape and size of the flow channel. A typical approach is to incorporate fractal structures of different shapes within the flow channel. However, this leads to complex internal structures, and the design of fractal structures generally relies on engineering experience without rigorous theoretical guidance and support. The resulting optimized structures are not precise enough, resulting in inconsistent fluid uniformity and low reliability within the flow channel.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2In one embodiment of the present invention, a metamaterial flow equalization device (hereinafter referred to as the flow equalization device) for maintaining fluid uniformity is provided, comprising a transition section 100, a first maintaining section 200, and a second maintaining section 300. The transition section 100 has a hydrodynamic permeability k1, the second maintaining section 300 has a hydrodynamic permeability k2, and the first maintaining section 200 has a hydrodynamic permeability k3. The hydrodynamic permeability of the second maintaining section 300 and the first maintaining section 200 may be the same or different. The hydrodynamic permeability can characterize the ease with which fluid passes through a component. The transition section 100 is arc-shaped and has a radius r, where R1 < r < R2, R2 is the inner boundary of the transition section 100, i.e., the outer diameter of the arc-shaped region (the center of the arc is located outside the flow equalization device), and R1 is the outer boundary of the transition section 100, i.e., the inner diameter of the arc-shaped region. The flow equalization device exhibits a channel change at the transition section 100, and the width of the second maintaining section 300 is greater than... The width of the first maintaining part 200 is a narrower area through which the fluid flows, and the second maintaining part 300 is an extended area through which the fluid flows. The fluid flows uniformly at a higher speed in the first maintaining part 200 and uniformly at a lower speed in the second maintaining part 300. When the fluid flows from the first maintaining part 200 to the second maintaining part 300, the flow channel expands, and when the fluid flows from the second maintaining part 300 to the first maintaining part 200, the flow channel narrows, thereby constructing a variable channel. Partial areas of the first maintaining part 200 and the second maintaining part 300 are connected by a transition part 100, which is used to maintain the uniformity of the fluid when it passes through the contracting or expanding flow channel.

[0050] Specifically, the outer side of one end of the transition section 100 is connected to the outer side of one end of the first maintaining section 200, the outer side of the other end of the transition section 100 is connected to the outer side of the second maintaining section 300, and the portion of the second maintaining section 300 located inside the transition section 100 is connected to the first maintaining section 200. The transition section 100, the first maintaining section 200, and the second maintaining section 300 are all made of metamaterials. Metamaterials have the ability to maintain a uniform flow field, and their motion follows Darcy's law. By combining the corresponding boundary conditions, the conditions required for the flow field to remain uniform within the variable channel can be obtained as follows: This establishes the necessary conditions for maintaining fluid uniformity in the variable channel, providing a solid theoretical basis for the channel's structural design. This condition ensures that the fluid flow within the second maintaining section 300 is uniform and undisturbed.

[0051] In this application, the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation tool is used to simulate the current sharing device, specifically as follows: R1 = 6mm, R2 = 6.5mm, and R1 and R2 are substituted into the conditional formula to obtain... By inputting a set value for the hydraulic permeability in the region to be determined, the parametric simulated velocity fields of the flow equalization device and its control group are obtained. The control group model is a structure with the same profile as the flow equalization device but with different media homogeneity across all regions. (Refer to...) Figure 4 In Figure (A), when the fluid passes through a variable channel, a significant velocity change occurs at the boundary between the wide and narrow sections of the channel. This morphology easily causes fluid separation from the channel wall or the formation of vortices, leading to problems such as pressure drop, increased energy consumption, reduced efficiency, and uneven temperature distribution. (Refer to...) Figure 4 In Figure (B), the fluid velocity in the first maintaining section 200 is greater than that in the second maintaining section 300. The transition section 100 is located at the boundary between the wide and narrow transition regions. Since the hydraulic permeability of the transition section 100 and the second maintaining section 300 satisfies the formula for maintaining fluid homogeneity derived from Darcy's law and boundary conditions, it has corresponding theoretical guidance and support, high reliability, and minimal velocity variation within the transition section 100, achieving a smooth transition of fluid velocity in the variable channel. Therefore, the flow equalization device in this application can maintain the uniformity of the fluid after passing through the contraction or expansion pipe, reducing the pressure drop and resistance during the flow process, thereby ensuring the stability and uniformity of the fluid in the variable channel flow.

[0052] It should be noted that the uniformity of the fluid mentioned in this application refers to the fluid maintaining a uniform flow field distribution when passing through a variable channel, i.e., the velocity remains constant and the streamlines are uniform and straight. Furthermore, the fluid mentioned in this application can be liquid, gas, etc., and can be applied to various media according to actual needs, not limited to water flow.

[0053] The aforementioned current sharing device, taking a two-dimensional configuration as an example, can be configured as a plate-like component with side boundaries, and is not limited to a straight plate, an arc plate, or a curved plate; and based on Darcy's law and boundary conditions under two-dimensional conditions, the condition formula that the two-dimensional current sharing device must satisfy is obtained.

[0054] The current sharing device in this application can also be applied to three-dimensional configurations, specifically, such as... Figure 5As shown, the flow equalization device includes a ring-shaped transition section 100, a first maintaining section 200, and a second maintaining section 300. The interconnected transition section 100, the second maintaining section 300, and the second maintaining section 300 make the flow equalization device tubular. The inner wall of the transition section 100 has a hydrodynamic permeability k1, the inner wall of the second maintaining section 300 has a hydrodynamic permeability k2, and the inner wall of the first maintaining section 200 has a hydrodynamic permeability k3. The cross-section of the transition section 100 parallel to the fluid flow direction is arc-shaped and has a radius r, where R1 < r < R2, R2 is the inner boundary of the transition section 100, i.e., the outer diameter of the arc-shaped region (the center of the arc is located outside the flow equalization device), and R1 is the outer boundary of the transition section 100, i.e., the inner diameter of the arc-shaped region. The flow equalization device exhibits a channel change at the transition section 100, where the inner diameter of the first maintaining section 200 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second maintaining section 300. 00 is a narrower region through which the fluid flows, and the second maintaining section 300 is an extended region through which the fluid flows. The fluid flows uniformly at a higher speed in the first maintaining section 200 and uniformly at a lower speed in the second maintaining section 300. When the fluid flows from the first maintaining section 200 to the second maintaining section 300, the flow channel expands, and when the fluid flows from the second maintaining section 300 to the first maintaining section 200, the flow channel narrows, thus constructing a variable channel. One end of the transition section 100 is connected to the first maintaining section 200, and the other end is connected to the second maintaining section 300. The transition section 100 is used to maintain the uniformity of the fluid when it passes through the contracting or expanding flow channel.

[0055] The transition section 100, the first sustaining section 200, and the second sustaining section 300 are all made of metamaterials. According to Darcy's law and boundary conditions under three-dimensional conditions, the conditions required for the flow field to remain uniform within the variable channel can be obtained as follows:

[0056]

[0057] In this application, the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation tool is used to simulate the flow equalization device to obtain the parameterized simulated velocity field of the flow equalization device and its control group. The model of the control group is a structure with the same outline as the flow equalization device under three-dimensional conditions, but the medium homogeneity of all regions is different. The flow equalization device is divided equally along the fluid flow direction, and the flow field on the five division surfaces is observed. Figure 6 Figures (A) and (B) are schematic diagrams of the streamlines and velocity simulation of the flow equalization device. The streamlines in the five sectional planes are straight and uniform. The velocity of the fluid in the first holding section 200 is greater than that in the second holding section 300. The velocity of the fluid in the transition section 100 changes little, thus realizing a smooth transition of the fluid velocity in the variable channel. Figure 6Figures (D) and (E) in the figure are schematic diagrams of streamlines and velocity simulation for the control group, respectively. The streamlines in the five sectional planes show curved and disturbed shapes. When the fluid passes through the variable channel, a large velocity change occurs at the boundary of the transition region between the wide and narrow parts of the variable channel.

[0058] The transition section 100, the first sustaining section 200, and the second sustaining section 300 in this application are all made of porous media materials. These porous materials can be uniform or non-uniform porous media materials capable of achieving equivalent hydraulic permeability values, including but not limited to soil, rock, and mineral layers. This allows for the direct use of existing materials to fabricate flow equalization devices, resulting in high resource utilization and ease of fabrication. Even with localized non-uniformity of the material, the requirements for porous media materials can be met when the observation range exceeds the size of the smallest structural unit.

[0059] It should be noted that, provided the conditions for fluid homogeneity are met, the size of the flow equalization device can be scaled proportionally without affecting its fluid homogeneity performance. Size scaling is not limited to microscale (1nm-1mm) to macroscale (greater than 1mm). As long as the observed range is larger than the smallest structural unit, the fluid is considered to be homogeneous within that observation range. The smallest structural unit should include the transition section 100, the first sustaining section 200, and the second sustaining section 300. Furthermore, for porous media environments with different hydraulic permeabilities, scaling the structural size can make the equivalent permeability of the transition section 100, the first sustaining section 200, and the second sustaining section 300 consistent with the actual environment, achieving a non-invasive adjustment of the internal flow field of the flow equalization device.

[0060] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the transition section 100 has a plurality of spaced-apart first constituent units 110, the gaps between adjacent first constituent units 110 are available for fluid flow, and the transition section 100 has a porosity ε1; the second maintaining section 300 has a plurality of uniformly arranged second constituent units 310, the gaps between adjacent second constituent units 310 are available for fluid flow, and the second maintaining section 300 has a porosity ε2; and, obtained through simulation methods... Thus, the porosity of the transition section 100 and the second maintenance section 300 can be approximated based on the hydraulic permeability, and a porous medium material with the corresponding porosity can be selected to fabricate the flow equalization device; or, the transition section 100 with the first component unit 110 and the second maintenance section 300 with the second component unit 310 can be directly prepared, and the transition section 100 and the second maintenance section 300 can have the corresponding porosity by adjusting the outer diameter, gap and other parameters of the first component unit 110 and the second component unit 310.

[0061] The first component unit 110 and the second component unit 310 can be configured as cylindrical, prismatic, or other shapes. This application uses a cylindrical configuration of the first component unit 110 and the second component unit 310 as an example to simulate the flow field performance of the transition section 100 and the second maintaining section 300 with corresponding porosity. The control group consists of a porous medium of equal and uniform size, with the same outer contour as the flow equalizer. Numerical analysis is performed using the COMSOL Multiphysics numerical simulation method. During the fluid flow through the variable channel, such as... Figure 7 As shown in Figures (B) and (D), the streamlines and isobars in the control group exhibit curved and disturbed shapes depending on the shape of the channel, such as... Figure 7 As shown in Figures (A) and (C), the streamlines and isobars of the flow equalization device in this application exhibit a uniform and parallel distribution. Therefore, the flow equalization device supported by porous dielectric material can achieve a uniform flow field distribution for fluid passing through the variable channel.

[0062] Furthermore, this application takes the application of a current-equalizing device in a microfluidic device as an example, using fluorescent particles as tracer particles to characterize the flow field of the current-equalizing device, and simulating the streamline distribution of different parts of the current-equalizing device and the control group under the same experimental conditions. For example... Figure 8 As shown in Figures (A) and (C) in this application, the streamlines of the current sharing device within the channel are parallel and uniform, as... Figure 8 As shown in Figures (D) and (F), the streamlines of the control group exhibit bending and disturbance when the channel shape changes.

[0063] This application also provides a fabrication process (hereinafter referred to as the fabrication process) for a metamaterial current equalization device that maintains fluid uniformity in the preparation of the above-mentioned current equalization device, comprising the following steps: S1: Setting R1 and R2 according to preset conditions such as the actual usage environment requirements of the current equalization device, and substituting R1 and R2 into the condition formula for maintaining fluid uniformity (which can be the condition formula under two-dimensional or three-dimensional configuration), and obtaining... S2: Then set the value of k1 or k2 to obtain the force permeability of the transition part 100 and the second maintenance part 300 respectively; S3: Then select a material with corresponding hydraulic permeability to support the transition part 100 and the second maintenance part 300. By connecting and distributing the first maintenance part 200, the second maintenance part 300 and the transition part 100 accordingly, a flow equalization device is obtained.

[0064] Furthermore, the materials used to fabricate the transition section 100 and the second maintaining section 300 can be selected based on their porosity, making the fabrication of the current equalization device more convenient. Specifically, a step S4 is set between steps S2 and S3. S4 includes selecting the transition section 100 with a porosity ε1 and the second maintaining section 300 with a porosity ε2, wherein, based on simulation results... Thus, the porosity of the transition section 100 and the second maintenance section 300 can be approximately derived by using the hydraulic permeability, and then a material with a corresponding porosity can be selected to prepare the flow equalization device.

[0065] Porous media materials with corresponding porosity can be directly selected to make flow equalization devices. The observation size of the porous media material should not be smaller than the overall size of the flow equalization device that maintains fluid uniformity, that is, the observation range should not be smaller than the size of the smallest structural unit that realizes the function of the flow equalization device. On the one hand, the porous media material can have a hydraulic permeability equivalent to that of each part of the flow equalization device by scaling the structural size. On the other hand, non-invasive adjustment of the internal flow field of the flow equalization device can be achieved.

[0066] Alternatively, porous structural materials with corresponding porosity can also be obtained through processing, such as setting step S5 within step S3. Step S5 includes preparing a first substrate and processing it to form a transition portion 100 having a plurality of first constituent units 110 arranged in an array, and obtaining the outer diameter and spacing of the first constituent units 110 according to ε1, and adjusting the outer diameter and spacing of the first constituent units 110 so that the porosity of the first substrate is ε1; it also includes a second substrate and processing it to form a second holding portion 300 having a plurality of second constituent units 310 arranged in an array, and obtaining the outer diameter and spacing of the second constituent units 310 according to ε2, and adjusting the outer diameter and spacing of the second constituent units 310 so that the porosity of the second substrate is ε2.

[0067] It should be noted that the processing methods for processing the first component unit 110 on the first substrate and the second component unit 310 on the second substrate are not limited to photolithography, additive manufacturing, etc.

[0068] Furthermore, when the transition portion 100 and the second maintaining portion 300 with corresponding porosities are formed by setting the first component unit 110 and the second component unit 310, the array density of the first component unit 110 and / or the second component unit 310 can be adjusted according to the fluid pressure so that the transition portion 100 and the second maintaining portion 300 have corresponding porosities, and the pressure-bearing function of the flow equalization device can be improved, so that the flow equalization device can maintain the uniformity of the flow field under both high and low pressure conditions. For example, when the pressure difference at the connection of the variable channel is greater than 100 Pa, the arrangement of the first component unit 110 and / or the second component unit 310 is set to be more dense, so that the flow equalization device can still maintain a uniform and straight flow field distribution under high pressure difference; when the pressure difference at the connection of the variable channel is appropriately reduced, the arrangement of the first component unit 110 and / or the second component unit 310 is set to be more sparse.

[0069] The flow equalization device in this application can be applied to various fluid-related fields, such as molecular sieves for oxygen generators, fuel cell structures, heat exchanger structures, microfluidic chips, and biological tissue culture.

[0070] For example, in the case of molecular sieves in oxygen concentrators, a molecular sieve is a material with a special porous structure that provides pathways for oxygen molecules while blocking other gas molecules such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Oxygen concentrators utilize molecular sieves to separate oxygen molecules, thereby increasing the oxygen concentration. However, in reality, compressed air is not uniformly dispersed within the molecular sieve space but is always concentrated in the central region of the molecular sieve, which reduces the oxygen production efficiency of the oxygen concentrator. By applying the flow equalization device described in this application to the molecular sieve structure design, and leveraging the uniformity of the fluid flow field within the transition section 100, oxygen is uniformly distributed throughout the molecular sieve space, thereby improving the efficiency of the oxygen concentrator.

[0071] Traditional fuel cells employ a fractal structure to optimize their internal structure, resulting in a more uniform fluid distribution and higher internal chemical reaction efficiency. However, this approach typically involves a complex and intricate arrangement. By replacing the complex fractal structure with the flow equalization device described in this application, the internal structure of the fuel cell can be simplified, ensuring a uniform distribution of fuel and oxygen within the electrochemical catalyst and maintaining a uniform flow field, thereby guaranteeing the fuel cell's chemical reaction efficiency.

[0072] For plate heat exchangers, when the fluid flows uniformly, it can continuously contact the heat transfer surface, achieving efficient heat exchange. However, if the fluid flow is uneven or turbulent, some areas will have higher flow velocities, leading to uneven heat distribution and reduced heat transfer efficiency. By applying the flow equalization device of this application to the heat exchanger, uniform fluid flow can be maintained to ensure that heat is evenly distributed on the heat transfer surface, avoiding hot and cold spots, and helping to improve the efficiency and lifespan of the heat exchanger.

[0073] For biological tissue culture, uneven flow rate distribution can lead to morphological and physiological changes in cells, causing cell aggregation and ultimately resulting in cell differentiation or even death. By applying the flow equalization device of this application to biological tissue culture devices, uniform fluid flow can be achieved, maintaining cell morphology and providing a stable and suitable culture environment for biological tissues.

[0074] Understandably, variable-channel pipe joints generate significant pressure drops and vortices, factors that reduce the energy consumption of the piping system. By applying the flow equalization device described in this application to the joints of variable-channel pipes, pressure drops and vortices can be reduced, allowing the fluid to maintain a more stable flow state within the pipe.

[0075] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. A metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity, characterized in that, include: The transition section has a hydraulic permeability k1. The transition section is arc-shaped with a radius r, where R1 < r < R2. R1 is the inner diameter of the arc-shaped region of the transition section, and R2 is the outer diameter of the arc-shaped region of the transition section. The center of the arc is located outside the flow equalization device. The first maintaining part has a hydraulic permeability k3, and the outer side of one end of the transition part is connected to the outer side of one end of the first maintaining part. The second maintaining part has a hydraulic permeability k2. The width of the second maintaining part is greater than the width of the first maintaining part. The outer side of the other end of the transition part is connected to the outer side of the second maintaining part. The portion of the second maintaining part located inside the transition part is connected to the first maintaining part. The fluid velocity in the first maintaining section is greater than the fluid velocity in the second maintaining section. The transition section, the first maintaining section, and the second maintaining section are all made of metamaterials. .

2. The metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transition section, the first maintaining section, and the second maintaining section are made of porous media material.

3. The metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transition section has multiple spaced-apart first constituent units, and the transition section has a porosity. The second maintaining part has a plurality of uniformly arranged second constituent units, and the second maintaining part has a porosity. ;in, , .

4. A metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity, characterized in that, include: The transition section is annular, with an inner wall having a hydraulic permeability k1. The cross-section of the transition section is arc-shaped with a radius r, where R1 < r < R2. R1 is the inner diameter of the arc-shaped region of the transition section, and R2 is the outer diameter of the arc-shaped region of the transition section. The center of the arc is located outside the flow equalization device. The first support portion is annular and has a water permeability k3 on its inner wall. One end of the transition portion is connected to the first support portion. The second support portion is annular and has a water permeability k2 on its inner wall. The inner diameter of the first support portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the second support portion. The other end of the transition portion is connected to the second support portion. The fluid velocity in the first maintaining section is greater than that in the second maintaining section. The inner walls of the transition section, the first maintaining section, and the second maintaining section are all made of metamaterial. .

5. A fabrication process for metamaterial flow equalization devices that maintain fluid uniformity, characterized in that, For fabricating the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: S1: Based on preset conditions, set R1 and R2, substitute them into the formula for maintaining fluid homogeneity, and obtain... ; S2: Set k1 or k2 to obtain the hydraulic permeability of the transition section and the second maintenance section; S3: Select materials with appropriate hydraulic permeability to make the transition section and the second maintenance section.

6. The fabrication process of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes step S4, which is located between steps S2 and S3; S4: Select with porosity The transition portion, and the portion having porosity The second maintaining part, wherein, , .

7. The fabrication process of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 6, characterized in that, The S3 step also includes: S5: Prepare a first substrate, process it to form the transition portion having a plurality of first constituent units arranged in an array, and according to... Obtain the outer diameter and spacing of the first constituent unit; prepare a second substrate, process it to form the second holding part having a plurality of second constituent units arranged in an array, and according to... The outer diameter and spacing of the second component unit are obtained.

8. The fabrication process of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 7, characterized in that, Step S5 further includes: adjusting the array density of the first component unit and / or the second component unit according to the fluid pressure.

9. The fabrication process of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to claim 5, characterized in that, The transition section and the second maintaining section are made of a porous medium material, and the observed size of the porous medium material is not less than the overall size of the metamaterial flow equalization device that maintains fluid uniformity.

10. The application of the metamaterial flow equalization device for maintaining fluid uniformity according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in any of the following: molecular sieves for oxygen generators, fuel cell structures, heat exchanger structures, microfluidic chips, and biological tissue culture.

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