Gas Dissolution Control for Bubble-Free Effluent Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas discharge systems for underwater vehicles are inadequate in controlling gas saturation levels in liquids, leading to potential bubble formation and detection issues during effluent discharge.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that measure temperature and pressure to determine a theoretical uptake rate and flow rate for dissolving gas into a solvent, controlling the feedstock valve to achieve a desired liquid displacement and saturation level, and include sensors for monitoring system conditions to prevent abnormal operations that could cause bubble discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If gas is discharged into water without control, then gas disposal is simple, but bubbles rise to the surface and may be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (liquid carrier) between the gas source and the water environment. The gas is dissolved into the liquid carrier in a controlled manner, and this liquid solution is then discharged. This intermediary approach prevents direct gas-bubble formation while maintaining disposal functionality, thereby eliminating detection risks without requiring overly complex systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the dissolution process by managing parameters such as pressure, temperature, and liquid flow rate. By adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes gas uptake into the liquid carrier to maintain saturation without exceeding solubility limits, thus preventing bubble formation while keeping the discharge system relatively simple.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gas is dissolved into liquid to prevent bubble formation, then bubble detection is prevented, but controlling saturation level becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors that monitor liquid level, pressure, and flow rate in the discharge system. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust the gas feed rate and liquid flow, maintaining optimal saturation levels automatically. This closed-loop control prevents bubble formation while avoiding excessive system complexity by using straightforward sensor-actuator relationships.
3Productivity
If feedstock valve opening is increased to increase gas flow rate, then gas disposal efficiency improves, but liquid displacement control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the feedstock valve opening based on real-time system conditions. Rather than using a fixed valve position, the system continuously adjusts the valve opening degree in response to changes in liquid level, pressure, and gas demand. This dynamic approach allows high gas disposal efficiency while maintaining precise liquid displacement control, as the valve responds adaptively to maintain saturation balance.
4Measurement precision
If temperature and pressure measurements are taken to control saturation, then gas solubility saturation is accurately maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor system to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same temperature and pressure measurements used for saturation control also inform safety monitoring, process optimization, and diagnostic capabilities. This multi-functionality approach maintains accurate saturation level measurement while minimizing system complexity by avoiding redundant dedicated sensors for each function.
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 minimizes bubble formation by maintaining a known gas solubility saturation level in the effluent discharge solution, ensuring efficient gas disposal without bubble release, even under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
dissolving the gas into liquid
Implementation Method 2
The term dissolving is at times referred to also as diffusing
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the saturation level of gas in a liquid discharge includes obtaining temperature and pressure measurements of a solvent in a mixing vessel and obtaining a pressure measurement of a source feedstock in a feedstock tank, correlating the temperature and pressure measurements of the solvent to baseline data to generate a theoretical uptake rate for the source feedstock into the solvent and a theoretical flow rate of the source feedstock into the mixing vessel, and determining a required opening setting for a feedstock valve in the feedstock input line in order to achieve a desired liquid displacement in the mixing vessel. The method includes determining an uptake duration and achieving an uptake displacement equivalent to the reverse of the desired liquid displacement. The method includes generating a valve operating control law for how the feedstock valve should function in a cycle.