Process Chamber Inerting with Fluidizing Cushion Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing devices face challenges in effectively and efficiently rendering the process chamber inert using inert gas, often resulting in turbulence and dilution, which affects the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
The device employs a fluidizing cushion with a plate of grilles arranged in series to achieve a uniform, laminar gas flow, allowing inert gas to displace chamber gas quickly and efficiently without turbulence, using a Y-shaped gas inlet and optionally further fluidizing cushions to ensure a straight-line flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inert gas is introduced into the process chamber at specific points using conventional methods, then the process chamber can be rendered inert, but turbulence and gas dilution occur which affect manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The gas inlet is equipped with a fluidizing cushion comprising a plate with multiple grilles arranged in series, creating a porous structure that distributes inert gas uniformly across the process chamber. This porous configuration eliminates turbulence and ensures laminar flow, resolving the contradiction between effective inerting and flow uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The fluidizing cushion divides the gas inlet into multiple segmented grilles arranged one behind the other. This segmentation allows the inert gas to be distributed through multiple pathways, creating a uniform flow pattern while maintaining effective inerting of the process chamber
2Reliability
If conventional gas inlet methods are used to render the process chamber inert, then inert gas can be introduced, but gas usage increases due to dilution and turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The porous fluidizing cushion structure with multiple grilles creates efficient gas distribution that minimizes inert gas consumption. By eliminating turbulence and dilution through the structured grille arrangement, the system achieves effective inerting with reduced gas usage compared to conventional inlet methods
3Reliability
If inert gas is flowed through the process chamber using conventional methods, then the chamber can be rendered inert, but turbulence occurs which affects process stability
Solution Approach 1:
The fluidizing cushion with its porous grille structure acts as a flow stabilizer, converting turbulent conventional gas flow into uniform laminar flow. This porous medium distributes the inert gas evenly throughout the process chamber, ensuring stable gas composition and eliminating turbulence that would otherwise compromise process stability
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 approach enables rapid and effective inerting of the process chamber with minimal gas usage, ensuring a stable manufacturing environment by minimizing turbulence and gas dilution.
Implementation Method 1
achieve a uniform, essentially laminar and vortex-free gas flow
Implementation Method 2
The fluidizing cushion enables a particularly uniform, essentially laminar and vortex-free gas flow
Data Source
AI summary
A device for additive manufacture of a workpiece includes a process chamber for constructing the workpiece, a gas inlet for introducing an inert gas into the process chamber, and a gas outlet from the process chamber for discharging the inert gas. The gas inlet has a fluidizing cushion. The fluidizing cushion includes a plate with a plurality of grilles arranged one behind the other in a flow direction in order to achieve a uniform gas flow.