Fine Bubble Generator With Recirculation Flow Path
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fine bubble generators often produce insufficient volumes of fine bubbles due to limitations in the design of the venturi portion and recirculation flow paths, which affect the pressure reduction and bubble refinement processes.
Innovation Solution
The fine bubble generator incorporates a venturi portion with a diameter-reducing and diameter-increasing flow path, along with a recirculation flow path that connects to the midstream of the discharging flow path, enhancing the venturi effect and allowing for the re-entry of gas-dissolved water to refine bubbles into larger volumes, and includes features like constant diameter flow paths and guide walls to optimize suction and collision-induced refinement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a simple venturi portion with single-pass flow is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the volume of fine bubbles generated is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recirculation flow path that allows gas-dissolved water to pass through the venturi portion multiple times continuously. The water flows from the outlet back to the inlet through the recirculation path, creating repeated pressure reduction and bubble refinement cycles, which significantly increases fine bubble volume without requiring multiple separate venturi units
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation flow path is integrated within the same housing as the venturi portion, with the recirculation inlet and outlet positioned to create a nested flow pattern where recirculated water merges with incoming water at the venturi inlet, allowing multiple processing stages within a compact single-pass appearance
2Stress or pressure
If the diameter-reducing flow path is made very narrow to increase pressure reduction, then fine bubble generation is enhanced, but the flow speed increases excessively causing energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a moderate diameter reduction in the venturi portion rather than extreme narrowing, achieving sufficient pressure reduction for bubble generation while avoiding excessive flow velocity. The recirculation mechanism compensates by providing multiple passes, so each individual pass can operate at optimal rather than extreme conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the diameter ratio between the diameter-reducing flow path and diameter-increasing flow path, and adjusts the recirculation flow rate to control the number of passes through the venturi. These parameter adjustments allow achieving the desired pressure reduction and fine bubble volume while minimizing energy loss from excessive flow velocity
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 significantly increases the volume of fine bubbles generated by maximizing the venturi effect and repeated collision refinement, resulting in a more efficient production of fine bubbles.
Implementation Method 1
In the venturi portion, a negative pressure is generated by the gas-dissolved water flowing in the venturi portion (venturi effect)
Implementation Method 2
a part of the gas-dissolved water flowing in the discharging flow path is suctioned in to the recirculation flow path due to the negative pressure generated in the venturi portion
Implementation Method 3
A flow speed of the gas-dissolved water is increased as it flows through the diameter-reducing flow path, as a result of which its pressure is reduced. Bubbles are generated as a result of this pressure reduction of the gas-dissolved water
Implementation Method 4
the pressure of the gas-dissolved water is gradually increased as the gas-dissolved water flows through the diameter-increasing flow path. When the pressure of the gas-dissolved water is increased after the bubbles were generated by the pressure reduction, the bubbles included in the gas-dissolved water break up into fine bubbles
Data Source
AI summary
A fine bubble generator may include an inlet into which gas-dissolved water in which gas is dissolved flows, an outlet out of which the gas-dissolved water flows; and a fine bubble generation portion disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The fine bubble generation portion may include a venturi portion including a diameter-reducing flow path and a diameter-increasing flow path, wherein a flow path diameter of the diameter-reducing flow path reduces from upstream to downstream, and the flow path diameter of the diameter-increasing flow path increases from upstream to downstream, a discharging flow path configured to discharge the gas-dissolved water, which flowed out of the venturi portion, out of the fine bubble generation portion; and a recirculation flow path connecting a midstream of the outflow path and the venturi portion.