Bent Pipe Inner Face Circular Arc Recess Pressure Drop

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bent pipe structures exhibit a sharp corner configuration at the bend, leading to increased pressure drop in fluid flow due to a lack of a circular arc shape at the inner circumferential face, which results in inefficiencies in fluid flow.

Innovation Solution

A bent pipe structure with a cross-sectional area enlargement portion featuring a circular arc shape at the inner circumferential face, which includes a pair of side face portions and a bottom face portion, configured to enlarge the flow path area, thereby reducing pressure drop by forming a recess that protrudes towards the outer circumferential side.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a sharp corner configuration is used at the bend inner circumferential face, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the pressure drop increases due to poor fluid flow characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpressure drop
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by forming a circular arc-shaped recess at the inner circumferential face of the bend, replacing the sharp corner configuration. This curved geometry smooths the fluid flow path, reduces turbulence, and decreases pressure drop while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Loss of energy

If a circular arc shape is formed at the inner circumferential face to reduce pressure drop, then the fluid flow efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure dropVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by forming the circular arc-shaped recess only at the specific location of the inner circumferential face where fluid flow issues occur, rather than redesigning the entire pipe structure. This localized modification achieves flow optimization with minimal impact on overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If the cross-sectional area is enlarged at the bend, then the pressure drop is reduced, but the pipe wall thickness varies more significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure dropVSAvoidwall thickness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by forming the circular arc-shaped recess to a specific depth that enlarges the cross-sectional area sufficiently to reduce pressure drop, while controlling the recess depth to maintain acceptable wall thickness uniformity. The recess dimensions are optimized to achieve the necessary flow improvement without excessive material removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3121502B1Bent pipe structure
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 NIFCO INC
  • EP3121502B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3121502B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3121502B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A curved portion (14A) at an inner circumferential face (15) on a bend direction inside of a bend (14) has a circular arc shape. By configuring the curved portion with a circular arc shape, a recess (16), serving as an example of a cross-sectional area enlargement portion that enlarges the cross-sectional area of a flow path of a pipe body (12) running along a direction of an axial line 13, is formed in the inner circumferential face (15) on the bend direction inside of the bend (14).