Air Outlet Device Nozzle Extension Curved Wall
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air outlet devices, such as air knives, require high energy consumption and significant space due to the need for large pressure drops to generate uniform high-speed air jets, posing challenges in industrial applications where compactness and efficiency are crucial.
Innovation Solution
The air outlet device incorporates a plenum body and an air nozzle extension with a curved and straight wall section to reduce pressure drop conversion to kinetic energy, maintaining a compact design while enhancing efficiency by optimizing the discharge coefficient and nozzle geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional air knives are used to generate uniform high-speed air jets, then the air jet uniformity and speed are improved, but the power consumption and device size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The air nozzle extension incorporates a curved wall section with a specific radius of curvature that is at least 0.5 times the width of the nozzle inlet. This curved geometry optimizes the flow path, reducing turbulence and pressure losses while maintaining high-speed uniform air jet generation, thereby decreasing the power required to achieve the same jet performance
2Speed
If conventional air knives are used to generate uniform high-speed air jets, then the air jet uniformity is improved, but the device height and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air nozzle extension is positioned within the plenum body, with its curved wall section extending into the air chamber. This nested configuration allows the extension to be accommodated within the existing plenum height, adding functional value without increasing the overall device height beyond what is required for the plenum and nozzle assembly
3Speed
If large pressure drops are used to convert pressure energy to kinetic energy, then the air jet speed is improved, but the energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The curved wall section with optimized radius reduces flow separation and turbulence in the pressure-to-kinetic energy conversion process, minimizing energy losses and improving the efficiency of the pressure drop to jet speed conversion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes geometric parameters including the curved wall radius (at least 0.5 times the nozzle inlet width) and the extension length (at least 0.25 times the nozzle inlet width) to maximize conversion efficiency and minimize energy losses
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 results in a more efficient air outlet device that consumes less power, produces highly uniform air jets with reduced pressure drops, and fits within compact industrial spaces, optimizing energy use and performance.
Implementation Method 1
decreasing the pressure drop that occurs when the pressure energy of the air is converted to kinetic energy
Data Source
AI summary
An air outlet device is disclosed herein. The air outlet device includes a plenum body portion, the plenum body portion defining an air chamber therein, the plenum body portion including an air inlet configured to be coupled to a supply air source for supplying air to the air chamber; an air nozzle portion fluidly coupled to the plenum body portion and including a nozzle inlet and an exit orifice, the air nozzle portion configured to discharge the air from the air chamber at a substantially uniform velocity through the exit orifice; and an air nozzle extension fluidly coupling the air chamber of the plenum body portion to the nozzle inlet of the air nozzle portion, the air nozzle extension being configured to increase an efficiency of the air outlet device by decreasing the pressure drop that occurs when the pressure energy of the air is converted to kinetic energy.