Gas Supply Buffering for Accurate Flow Measurement in Foaming
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas supply systems for mixing-discharging apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring gas flow rates due to sudden flow rate fluctuations, which affect the precision of gas amount measurement, especially when a large pressure difference occurs between the gas flow path and the vacuum chamber.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply system that includes a gas storage portion with a volume ratio set between 4 and 100, a regulator to control gas pressure, a flow meter to measure flow rate, and a valve to manage gas flow, along with a controller to ensure the gas amount stored in the piston pump falls within predetermined limits, preventing sudden flow rate fluctuations and enhancing measurement accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a valve is opened to supply gas from the gas flow path to the vacuum chamber, then gas can be supplied to achieve the desired expansion ratio, but sudden flow rate fluctuations occur making it impossible to measure a precise amount of gas
Solution Approach 1:
The gas storage portion is pre-filled with gas at a controlled pressure before the valve is opened. This preliminary action ensures that when the valve opens, the gas flows at a controlled rate rather than suddenly, allowing the flow meter to accurately measure the gas flow rate while still supplying gas quickly to the vacuum chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas storage portion acts as an intermediary between the gas supply source and the vacuum chamber. It buffers the pressure difference and controls the gas flow, preventing sudden fluctuations while maintaining efficient gas supply. The flow meter measures the flow rate through this intermediary, enabling precise measurement without sacrificing supply speed.
2Speed
If a large pressure difference exists between the gas flow path and the vacuum chamber, then gas can flow quickly to the vacuum chamber, but the flow rate fluctuates in a shorter time than the flow meter sampling time
Solution Approach 1:
The gas storage portion is pre-filled with gas at a controlled pressure before the valve is opened. This preliminary action ensures that when the valve opens, the gas flows at a controlled rate rather than suddenly, allowing the flow meter to accurately measure the gas flow rate while still supplying gas quickly to the vacuum chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas storage portion acts as an intermediary between the gas supply source and the vacuum chamber. It buffers the pressure difference and controls the gas flow, preventing sudden fluctuations while maintaining efficient gas supply. The flow meter measures the flow rate through this intermediary, enabling precise measurement without sacrificing supply speed.
3Manufacturing precision
If a regulator and flow meter are placed in the gas supply path to precisely measure and control gas, then gas amount can be controlled for fixed paste material, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas storage portion is pre-filled with gas at a controlled pressure before the valve is opened. This preliminary action ensures that when the valve opens, the gas flows at a controlled rate rather than suddenly, allowing the flow meter to accurately measure the gas flow rate while still supplying gas quickly to the vacuum chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas storage portion acts as an intermediary between the gas supply source and the vacuum chamber. It buffers the pressure difference and controls the gas flow, preventing sudden fluctuations while maintaining efficient gas supply. The flow meter measures the flow rate through this intermediary, enabling precise measurement without sacrificing supply speed.
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 ensures precise measurement of gas flow rates by stabilizing flow rate fluctuations, allowing for accurate determination of the gas amount stored in the piston pump, thereby improving the precision of gas supply and achieving a desired expansion ratio in mechanical foaming processes.
Implementation Method 1
a regulator (2) adapted to control pressure of gas supplied through the gas introduction path (11)
Implementation Method 2
a flow meter (3) adapted to measure flow rate of the gas
Implementation Method 3
a gas storage portion (4) adapted to store the gas from the flow meter (3), a volume ratio of the gas storage portion to a predetermined volume of the piston pump (30) is set to be between 4 and 100
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention allows measurement of a precise amount of gas by preventing sudden flow rate fluctuations of gas. A gas supply system 1a for a mixing-discharging apparatus 90 to mix gas and paste material includes a regulator 2 adapted to control pressure of gas supplied to the mixing-discharging apparatus, a flow meter 3 adapted to measure flow rate of the gas, a gas storage portion 4 adapted to store the gas, and a valve 5 adapted to open and close a gas introduction path 11 to the mixing-discharging apparatus 90. The flow meter 3 is placed in front of the gas storage portion 4 and behind the regulator 2 with respect to a flow of the gas.