Elastic Element Volume Compensation for Fluid Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid volume change compensation devices, particularly for liquids, suffer from complex structures, high energy consumption, and water loss due to safety valve drainage, leading to increased manufacturing costs and inefficient pressure regulation.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a container with an inlet, outlet, and an elastic element, such as a helical spring, connected to an expansion element within the container, allowing for compressive or tensile forces to manage fluid volume changes, thereby simplifying design and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a safety valve is used to release water when pressure increases, then pressure in the boiler can be kept below a specified limit, but water continuously escapes through the safety valve causing high energy consumption and water loss
Solution Approach 1:
An expansion element is introduced as an intermediary component between the boiler and the safety valve. This expansion element absorbs volume changes of the water when heated, mediating the pressure fluctuations and reducing the frequency of safety valve activation, thereby decreasing energy loss from continuous water release
2Reliability
If a hermetically enclosed gas volume with a bellows-shaped tank wall is used to compensate for water expansion, then volume change compensation is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and costly due to the circumferential groove and stop mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex circumferential groove and stop mechanism from the tank structure. Instead of incorporating these additional structural elements, the patent uses a simpler expansion element design that achieves volume change compensation without requiring the hermetic enclosure and mechanical stop system
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion element is designed as a flexible component that can expand and contract to accommodate water volume changes. This flexible shell approach replaces the rigid bellows-shaped structure with circumferential grooves, achieving the same functional result with simpler construction
3Stress or pressure
If a complex drainage process is implemented for the safety valve, then pressure control is maintained, but the system requires additional drainage infrastructure and operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion element performs preliminary action by absorbing water volume changes before pressure builds up to require safety valve activation. This preventive mechanism reduces the need for frequent drainage operations, simplifying the overall system operation and reducing infrastructure requirements
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 solution provides a simple, cost-effective, and reliable mechanism for fluid volume change compensation with adjustable force provision, reducing manufacturing costs and energy consumption while ensuring efficient pressure regulation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic element is arranged which is connected on the one hand to the base and on the other hand to the expansion element in a manner which cooperates, such that a compressive or tensile force, in particular directly, can be provided to the expansion element by means of the elastic element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for volume change compensation of fluids, in particular liquids, comprising a container with a bottom, an inlet and an outlet and at least one expansion element which is arranged in the container and is fluidically connected to the inlet and outlet, wherein at least one elastic element is arranged which is connected on the one hand to the bottom and on the other hand to the expansion element in a manner which cooperates, such that a compressive or tensile force can be provided on the expansion element by means of the elastic element.