Hydraulic Accumulator Sub-Chambers for Constant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic accumulators face significant variability in the force with which a liquid medium is expelled or absorbed due to the inverse proportional relationship between gas pressure and volume, leading to inconsistent delivery and absorption rates, particularly in energy storage systems where constant rates are required.
Innovation Solution
The hydraulic accumulator design features two gas-tight sub-storage spaces connected in series, with a flexible membrane separating them, allowing for pressure and force coupling, and a support wall to stabilize the membrane, ensuring consistent pressure-release and pressure-absorption rates by differentiating gas pressures across sub-spaces and using an optional supply line for one sub-space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single gas volume is used in the storage space, then the structure is simple, but the delivery rate and absorption rate of the liquid medium vary greatly due to pressure dependence
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is divided into multiple storage sub-spaces (first, second, and third sub-spaces), each containing a separate gaseous medium. These sub-spaces are arranged in series and connected via supply lines, allowing independent pressure control for each segment. This segmentation enables the system to maintain more constant delivery and absorption rates by compensating for pressure variations across different stages of liquid medium compression and expansion.
2Productivity
If multiple storage sub-spaces with different gas pressures are used, then the delivery rate becomes more constant, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple storage sub-spaces are nested within a single base body, with each sub-space containing a diaphragm that separates it from the receiving space. The sub-spaces are arranged concentrically or in series within the same pressure vessel, sharing common structural elements such as the base body walls and supply line connections. This nesting approach reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate vessels for each gas volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply lines serve multiple functions: they connect the storage sub-spaces to the receiving space, allow independent pressure control of each gas volume, and enable the system to operate in different modes (charging, discharging, pressure regulation). The diaphragms both separate the gas volumes from the liquid medium and transmit pressure forces across the boundaries between sub-spaces and receiving space.
3Strength
If the flexible membrane is not supported, then the structure is simpler, but the membrane may overstretch or tear under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The support walls are pre-formed as integral parts of the base body structure, creating predetermined support zones where the diaphragms make contact. These support walls are designed in advance to provide exactly the right amount of support needed under various pressure conditions, preventing overstretching and tearing before they occur. The support geometry is optimized during design to match the expected pressure ranges and force vectors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration linearizes the pressure-release and pressure-absorption curves, providing a constant delivery and absorption rate, smoothing pressure fluctuations, and enabling efficient energy storage with reduced weight and space requirements, suitable for systems with pronounced pressure variations.
Implementation Method 1
The two gas volumes are coupled to one another in a pressure-transmitting manner through the flexible membrane
Implementation Method 2
the compressibility of a gaseous medium is used to apply pressure to the liquid medium... As soon as the liquid medium is pressed into the hydraulic accumulator under pressure, the gaseous medium in the storage space is compressed. In the event of a pressure drop in the hydraulic circuit, the compressed gaseous medium can expand and return the liquid medium
Data Source
AI summary
The accumulator has a base body (1) for accommodating a storage chamber (2) for gaseous medium and a retaining chamber (3) for liquid medium. A separating element (4) separates the storage chamber from the retaining chamber, where volume of the chambers is changeable. The storage chamber has storage lower chambers (5, 6) separated from each other for receiving gaseous medium at different pressures. Another separating element (9) separates the lower chambers from each other and is formed as a flexible membrane, where the membrane is attached to a support wall (10) connected with the base body. An independent claim is also included for a method for receiving and discharging liquid medium.