Gas Dissolution Control for Bubble-Free Underwater Disposal
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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 gases into a solvent, using a controller to adjust valve settings and ensure a desired liquid displacement, thereby minimizing bubble formation by maintaining a known gas solubility saturation level in the effluent discharge solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional gas discharge systems are used for underwater vehicles, then gas can be discharged from the vehicle, but bubbles form and rise to the surface where they can be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the gas by dissolving it into a liquid solvent under controlled temperature and pressure conditions. By adjusting these parameters, the gas transitions from a bubbly gaseous state to a dissolved state in liquid, preventing bubble formation and detection while maintaining effective gas disposal
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid solvent is introduced as an intermediary medium between the gaseous effluent and the underwater environment. The gas dissolves into this intermediate liquid phase, serving as a transition medium that prevents direct bubble release into the water column while transporting the gas away from the vehicle
2Object-affected harmful factors
If gas is dissolved into liquid for underwater disposal, then bubble formation is prevented, but precise control of gas saturation levels becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature and pressure measurements and using these to dynamically adjust the theoretical uptake rate calculations. This feedback loop ensures precise control of gas saturation levels by comparing actual conditions against desired saturation targets and making real-time adjustments to the dissolution process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the theoretical uptake rate based on measured temperature and pressure conditions before the actual gas dissolution occurs. This preliminary action allows the control system to pre-determine the appropriate solvent flow rates and mixing parameters needed to achieve target saturation levels, ensuring precise control before the dissolution process begins
3Manufacturing precision
If temperature and pressure measurements are taken to control saturation levels, then gas solubility can be optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the naturally occurring relationship between temperature, pressure, and gas solubility to control the dissolution process. Rather than requiring complex external control mechanisms, the system leverages the inherent physical properties of the gas-solvent system, where temperature and pressure measurements directly inform the theoretical uptake rate calculations, allowing the process to self-regulate based on its own operating conditions
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 reduces and prevents bubble formation by maintaining optimal gas solubility saturation levels, ensuring efficient gas disposal without bubble detection, even under varying temperature and pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
dissolving the gas into liquid. The term dissolving is at times referred to also as diffusing
Implementation Method 2
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
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.