Active Compensation Element for Fluid Pressure Fluctuation Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping solutions for fluid vibrations in piping systems are complex, large, and require individual tailoring, failing to effectively dampen pressure fluctuations in a wide range of fluids, especially incompressible liquids like water, which can damage sensitive equipment.

Innovation Solution

A compensation element with a hollow body and actuator that actively adjusts its internal volume to absorb pressure fluctuations, using piezoelectric or electrostatic principles to rapidly change volume and minimize pressure differences, suitable for various fluids including ultrapure water and corrosive media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If expansion vessels are used to compensate for pressure changes, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a piezoelectric actuator to dynamically change the internal volume of the compensation chamber, allowing active adjustment of the compensation characteristic to maintain pressure stability while keeping the device compact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical expansion vessel mechanisms with a piezoelectric actuator that uses electro-mechanical conversion to achieve volume adjustment, significantly reducing device complexity and size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If large expansion vessels are used for high precision applications, then pressure stability is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric actuator enables dynamic volume adjustment of the compensation chamber, allowing a compact device to achieve the pressure stability previously requiring large expansion vessels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static expansion vessels to a dynamic compensation mechanism where the actuator continuously adjusts volume in response to pressure fluctuations, achieving high precision with minimal size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If Helmholtz resonators are used to reduce pressure fluctuations, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity and volume increase for broader frequency spectrum

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoiddamper volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The piezoelectric actuator dynamically changes the compensation chamber volume to respond to pressure fluctuations across different frequencies, achieving broad-spectrum damping in a compact volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces passive Helmholtz resonator mechanics with active piezoelectric volume adjustment, enabling adaptive damping across multiple frequencies without increasing device volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If traditional damping elements are used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical damping mechanisms with a piezoelectric actuator that uses electro-mechanical conversion, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability through fewer moving parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator dynamically adjusts compensation chamber volume to adapt to different operating conditions, maintaining high reliability across varying fluid types and pressure conditions without complex mechanical adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Effectively reduces pressure fluctuations by at least 50% to 99.5%, maintaining stable pressure with minimal heat transfer and rapid response, protecting sensitive equipment from vibrations and deformations.

Implementation Method 1

using piezoelectric or electrostatic principles to rapidly change volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

using piezoelectric or electrostatic principles to rapidly change volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic effect: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

compensation volume which can be changed by the actuator during operation in order to compensate for pressure fluctuations occurring in the fluid line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure fluctuation absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4466480B1Compensation element, method and system for the active damping of a medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 INTEGRATED DYNAMICS ENG
  • EP4466480B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP4466480B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4466480B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a compensation element (1, 10-16) for the active damping of vibrations of a medium (24), in particular a fluid. The compensation element comprises: a hollow body (20) having an internal volume (23), a compensation volume (43) being formed in the internal volume (23) and the hollow body (20) also having at least two openings (21, 22) which connect the compensation volume (41) to a fluid conduit (51, 52) used to supply and discharge the medium (24), wherein the compensation element (1, 10-16) is separable from the fluid conduit (51, 52) in a non-destructive manner; and at least one actuator (30) which can increase or decrease the compensation volume (41) during operation.