Pressure-Release Flood Vent Panel for Debris-Tolerant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional flood vents often fail to effectively equalize hydrostatic forces during flooding events, as they can be clogged by debris or prevent sufficient fluid passage due to small openings, and may allow unwanted entry of animals or pests.
Innovation Solution
A flood vent design featuring a frame and panel with connectors that uncouple under specific pressure (0.5-5.0 PSI) from a fluid or object, allowing for the passage of fluids and reducing blockage, even when carrying debris, and preventing animal entry until pressure is applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a screen or grille is used to prevent animals or pests from entering, then animal entry is blocked, but the openings become too small to allow sufficient fluid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is designed to transition from a closed state (preventing animal entry) to an uncoupled state (allowing fluid passage) based on dynamic pressure conditions. The connectors maintain the panel in a closed position during normal conditions but fail at a predetermined pressure threshold during flooding events, dynamically adapting the vent's function to current conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameters based on pressure conditions. During normal conditions, the panel remains coupled to the frame, providing animal protection. During flooding events when pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, the connectors fail and the panel uncouples, changing the system's state from closed to open for fluid passage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a panel with small openings is used to prevent animal entry, then animals are blocked, but debris clogs the openings preventing sufficient fluid passage
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is extracted from the frame structure through the failure of connectors at predetermined pressure. This separation removes the panel (and any clogging debris attached to it) from the fluid passageway, allowing unobstructed fluid flow during flooding events while maintaining animal protection during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel is discarded from its coupled position when pressure exceeds the threshold, allowing it to be carried away by flooding fluids. This discarding action clears the passageway of potential cloggers. The system is designed to be replaced after such events rather than recovered and reused.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the panel is permanently coupled to the frame to maintain blockage, then animal entry is prevented, but fluid passage is restricted during flooding events
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between panel and frame transitions from a permanent static state to a dynamic conditional state. The connectors maintain coupling under normal pressure conditions but are designed to fail at predetermined pressure thresholds, enabling the system to dynamically respond to hydrostatic pressure changes during flooding events.
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors are designed as sacrificial components with limited service life under extreme conditions. They are engineered to fail at predetermined pressure thresholds, allowing the panel to be temporarily held in place during installation and normal operation, then discarded when pressure exceeds thresholds during flooding events.
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
Enables efficient equalization of hydrostatic forces by allowing fluid passage under pressure while preventing animal entry until necessary, addressing clogging issues and ensuring compliance with building codes.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more connectors are further configured to uncouple the panel from the frame when 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a plurality of insulation pieces coupled together to form at least a portion of the flood vent panel. The flood vent panel further includes one or more insulation piece connectors coupled to the plurality of insulation pieces, and configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together. The flood vent panel is configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure. The one or more insulation piece connectors are further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the flood vent panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid.