Fluid control system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid control systems face performance issues when gases are present, leading to partial or total loss of pump efficiency due to gas-liquid interactions, particularly in environments with zero or low gravity.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop fluid control system incorporating a vortex separator, a fluid pump, and an eductor, which separates and stores non-condensable gases using passive components without additional power sources, ensuring reliable operation in zero or low gravity environments by using the fluid pump's energy to drive the system and prevent gas interference with the pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid pump is used in a fluid control system, then the pump can effectively move liquid, but pump performance is partially or totally lost when gas is present in the liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex separator is positioned upstream of the pump to remove gas from the liquid before it enters the pump. This preliminary separation action prevents gas from reaching the pump, thereby maintaining pump performance and reliability without requiring the pump to handle gas-liquid mixtures
Solution Approach 2:
The eductor acts as an intermediary device that uses the pump's discharge to create a vacuum and draw off gas from the separator. This intermediary mechanism allows the pump to operate on liquid only while still enabling gas removal from the system through the eductor-assisted separation process
2Reliability
If external vents are used to remove gas from the system, then gas can be removed, but system complexity and potential fluid leakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The eductor is a passive device that uses the pump's own discharge to create the vacuum needed for gas removal. The system serves itself by using the pump's output to drive the gas separation process, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex venting systems
Solution Approach 2:
The eductor utilizes hydraulic principles where the high-velocity liquid stream from the pump creates a low-pressure zone that draws gas into the separator. This pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism provides an elegant, complexity-free solution for gas removal that integrates seamlessly with the existing pump system
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 system effectively separates and stores gases, preventing pump performance loss and maintaining reliability in zero or low gravity environments without external vents, thus enhancing system stability and preventing fluid leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex separator (30) having a fluid inlet (50) arranged to receive a fluid, a first fluid outlet (52) arranged to output a first phase of the fluid, and a second fluid outlet (54) arranged to output at least one of a non-condensable gas and a second phase of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
The eductor (34) has a first eductor inlet (80) fluidly connected to the pump outlet (62), a second eductor inlet (82) fluidly connected to the second fluid outlet (54), and an eductor outlet (84)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A fluid control system (10) includes a vortex separator (30), a fluid pump (32), an educator (34), and an accumulator (36). The vortex separator (30) has a fluid inlet arranged to receive a fluid, a first fluid outlet arranged output a first phase of the fluid, and a second fluid outlet arranged to output at least one of a non-condensable gas and a second phase of the fluid. The fluid pump (32) has a pump outlet and a pump inlet that is fluidly connected to the first fluid outlet. The eductor (34) has a first eductor inlet fluidly connected to the pump outlet, a second eductor inlet fluidly connected to the second fluid outlet, and an eductor outlet. The accumulator (36) has an accumulator inlet fluidly connected to the eductor outlet and an accumulator outlet fluidly connected to the fluid inlet.