Foil-Element Flow Modulator for Compact Sealing and Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow modulators for combustion gases lack efficient and compact designs that can reliably modulate fluid flow while maintaining low leakage and adaptability to varying flow characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A flow modulator with a rotatable foil element and a bow-shaped nut within a housing, where the foil element is elastically deformable and torsionally rigid, allowing for adjustable overlap and sealing with a modulator body, facilitated by a driver and spring mechanism for precise fluid flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional flow modulator design is used, then the device can modulate fluid flow, but the dimensions are large and the design is not compact
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is integrated within the modulator body, and the foil element is positioned within the interior chamber of the housing. The driver is nested within the housing, carrying the foil element in a space-efficient arrangement that reduces overall device dimensions while maintaining functional reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is provided by a foil element that is elastically deformable and torsionally rigid. This thin film structure allows for compact design while providing reliable flow modulation through elastic deformation and rotational movement
2Volume of moving object
If the foil element is made elastically deformable for compact design, then the dimensions are reduced, but the sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The foil element is designed with specific mechanical properties (elastically deformable and torsionally rigid) to provide both compactness and reliable sealing. The elastic deformability allows the foil to conform to sealing surfaces while the torsional rigidity maintains structural integrity for reliable flow modulation
Solution Approach 2:
The bow-shaped nut provides a curved sealing surface that works with the flexible foil element to create an effective seal. The curved geometry accommodates the elastic deformation of the foil while maintaining consistent contact pressure for reliable sealing
3Reliability
If the foil element is positioned upstream to provide sealing, then leakage is minimized, but the flow modulation range may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passage is segmented into multiple components: the modulator body with flow channel and opening, and the foil element with its own opening. This segmentation allows the upstream positioning of the foil for sealing while maintaining adaptability through the bow-shaped nut's variable width/depth that can be adjusted to provide different flow characteristics
4Measurement precision
If a driver mechanism is added for precise flow control, then the flow modulation precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver mechanism leverages the inlet pressure of the fluid itself to press the foil element against the modulator body for sealing. The spring provides automatic resetting force, and the bow-shaped nut's geometry automatically provides the required flow characteristics, reducing the need for additional complex control components
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 reliable and compact fluid flow modulation with minimal leakage, adaptable flow characteristics, and low surface flatness requirements, ensuring efficient and precise control of fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
The foil element is elastically deformable and torsionally rigid, allowing for adjustable overlap and sealing with a modulator body
Implementation Method 2
the flow modulator comprises a spring being positioned with the housing, wherein the spring acts on the driver pressing the driver towards the sealing surface of the modulator body and pressing the foil element against the sealing surface of the modulator body
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Flow modulator (10) for a fluid like combustion gas, comprising: a housing (11), a modulator body (14) positioned with the housing (11), and a valve body (18) positioned with the housing (11). The modulator body (14) has a flow channel (15) and an opening (16) providing together a flow passage (17) for the fluid. The valve body (18) is provided by a foil element (19), wherein the foil element (19) has an opening (20) for the fluid, wherein the foil element (19) is rotatable relative to the modulator body (14) to modulate the flow of the fluid by adjusting an overlap between the opening (20) of the valve body (18) and the flow passage (17) of the modulator body (14), and wherein the foil element (19) is positioned up-stream of the modulator body (14) such that an inlet pressure of the fluid presses the foil element (19) against the modulator body (14) thereby providing a sealing level between the foil element (19) and the modulator body