Air-Liquid Separator for Backflow Release Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current backflow release valves face challenges in handling the rapid and turbulent flow of contaminated water during backflow events, leading to significant air entrainment and the need for large valve sizes to manage the volume, which is inefficient and may result in contamination of the water supply.
Innovation Solution
An air-liquid separator is integrated with the release valve system, featuring a longitudinally extending channel with distinct passages for air and liquid communication, positioned within the pipe to separate air from the liquid solution during backflow events, reducing the total volume of fluid entering the valve and minimizing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large backflow release valve is used to handle turbulent flow and air entrainment, then the valve can dispense contaminated water effectively, but the valve size becomes unnecessarily large
Solution Approach 1:
The separator divides the fluid flow into two distinct passages: an upper passage for air/gas and a lower passage for liquid. This segmentation allows air and liquid to be separated before entering the release valve, reducing the total volume that must be handled by the valve while maintaining effective dump rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator introduces a vertical dimension to the flow path with the upper passage extending vertically beyond the expected waterline level during backflow events. This dimensional arrangement enables air to be vented separately from liquid, reducing the volume burden on the release valve.
2Reliability
If check valves are used to prevent backflow, then backflow is blocked, but lag in closing allows some contaminated fluid to pass to the supply side
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is positioned upstream of the release valve to pre-separate air from liquid before the backflow event reaches the valve. This preliminary action reduces the volume of contaminated fluid that needs to be dumped, improving the effectiveness of the backflow prevention system.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary device between the backflow source and the release valve. It mediates the flow by separating air and liquid phases, thereby reducing the burden on the release valve and improving overall system reliability.
3Productivity
If the release valve handles large volumes of air-entrained contaminated water, then backflow is dumped effectively, but the valve must be relatively large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The separator extracts air from the air-liquid mixture by providing a dedicated upper passage that extends above the expected waterline. This extraction of air before the release valve reduces the quantity of substance (air entrainment) that the valve must handle, allowing for a smaller valve size.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator changes the physical parameters of the flow by separating it into distinct air and liquid phases based on density differences. This parameter change (from mixed phase to separated phases) reduces the effective volume that must be handled by the release valve while maintaining contaminant removal effectiveness.
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
The air-liquid separator effectively reduces the volume of air entrained with the backflow fluid, allowing for a smaller release valve size while ensuring compliance with sanitary regulations by minimizing contamination risks and optimizing fluid dump rates.
Implementation Method 1
an air-liquid separator in fluid communication with the release valve and the supply line for reducing the amount of air entrained within a liquid solution entering the release valve
Implementation Method 2
a longitudinally extending channel having a first passage for communication with a gaseous solution in the supply line and a second passage for communication with a liquid solution in the supply line
Data Source
AI summary
An improvement for a backflow release valve of the type used for a backflow event in a supply line is provided. The improvement includes an air-liquid separator in fluid communication with the release valve and the supply line for reducing the amount of air entrained within a liquid solution entering the release valve, thereby reducing the total volume of liquid solution entering the release valve and minimizing the entrainment of water into air breaking a vacuum condition in the supply line.