Bellows Dual-Pump Liquid Supply for Cryogenic Pressure Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid supply systems for ultracold liquids like liquid nitrogen face challenges in space efficiency and cooling efficiency due to pulsations caused by intermittent liquid supply, which can lead to pressure-related issues and reduced cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual pump chamber mechanism within the bellows, allowing liquid to be supplied during both contraction and expansion, eliminating the need for external dampers and enhancing cooling efficiency by continuous liquid supply and reduced pressure variations, while a sealed or evacuated space around the shaft provides additional heat insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a damper is provided to the supply passage to suppress pressure variation, then pulsations are reduced, but installation space increases and heat exchange occurs reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The damper function is merged with the bellows structure by forming the pump chamber inside the bellows. The bellows itself serves dual purposes: as the pumping mechanism and as the pressure-stabilizing damper, eliminating the need for a separate external damper component.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows is given multiple functions: it acts as both the pumping element (expanding and contracting to move liquid) and the damping element (absorbing pressure variations). This multi-functionality removes the need for separate components and saves installation space.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a damper is provided to suppress pressure variation, then pulsations are reduced, but heat exchange at the damper reduces cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The damper function is merged with the bellows structure. Since the bellows is already part of the ultracold liquid supply system and contains the liquid, it performs damping without introducing additional heat exchange surfaces that would reduce cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows structure serves itself by performing both pumping and damping functions. The liquid inside the bellows during expansion and contraction naturally absorbs pressure variations, providing self-damping without requiring separate damping components that would compromise cooling efficiency.
3Productivity
If intermittent liquid supply is used through bellows expansion and contraction, then liquid is pumped into the supply passage, but pressure pulsations occur causing potential brittle fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows structure provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing pressure variations during its expansion and contraction cycles. The flexible bellows walls naturally dampen pressure spikes before they can propagate to the resin vessel, preventing brittle fracture while maintaining intermittent pumping action.
4Device complexity
If single pump chamber is used with bellows, then structure is simple, but liquid supply amount is limited and pulsations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is segmented into multiple chambers inside the bellows. Each chamber operates independently during bellows expansion and contraction, allowing simultaneous or sequential liquid discharge. This segmentation increases the total liquid supply amount while the bellows provides inherent damping to reduce pulsations.
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 space-saving, high-efficiency liquid supply system that minimizes pulsations and maintains effective cooling performance, preventing deterioration of the pump function and reducing the risk of pressure-related damage.
Implementation Method 1
a bellows 530 disposed to enter the second vessel 520... when the shaft 550 reciprocates, the bellows 530 expands and contracts
Implementation Method 2
a sealed space through which a shaft extending from outside the first vessel to reach the bellows is inserted and an inside of which is filled with gas or which is evacuated
Data Source
AI summary
A space-saving liquid supply system includes increased cooling efficiency. A first pump chamber P1 is formed by an outside of a bellows 130 in a second vessel 120 and the first pump chamber P1 is provided with a first intake port 121 for taking the liquid in the first vessel 110 into the first pump chamber P1 and a first delivery port 122 for delivering the taken-in liquid L from inside the first pump chamber P1 into a supply passage K1. A second pump chamber P2 is formed by a sealed space in the bellows 130 and the second pump chamber P2 is provided with a second intake port 123 for taking the liquid L in the first vessel 110 into the second pump chamber P2 and a second delivery port 124 for delivering the taken-in liquid from inside the second pump chamber P2 into the supply passage K1.