Compressed Air Nozzle Helical Passages Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzles for discharging compressed air are inefficient in achieving effective air cooling, particularly when used with materials of poor thermal conductivity, as they require high air pressure and lack targeted discharge capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring a circumferential surface section with radially inward extending end sections containing helical passages that provide tangential velocity components to the air flow, promoting turbulent swirling for enhanced heat dissipation, even at low air pressures, and including axial passages for focused air flow guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high air pressure is used to increase cooling effectiveness, then heat dissipation is improved, but operating cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs helical passages with curved geometry instead of straight passages. The helical shape creates swirling air flow that enhances heat transfer efficiency, allowing effective cooling at lower air pressures. The curvature of the helical path generates centrifugal forces that improve convective heat transfer from the workpiece surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by designing passages that optimize compressed air flow characteristics. The helical passages create a vortex flow pattern that increases the effectiveness of the compressed air for cooling purposes, maximizing heat transfer while minimizing the required air pressure and consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air cooling is used instead of liquid cooling for materials of poor thermal conductivity, then adaptability to hybrid tooling is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The helical passages create swirling air flow that significantly enhances the cooling efficiency of air, making it comparable to or exceeding liquid cooling performance. The curved helical path generates turbulent flow and centrifugal forces that improve convective heat transfer coefficients, compensating for air's lower thermal conductivity compared to liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the local flow characteristics within each helical passage to maximize heat transfer at the workpiece surface. The passages are designed with specific geometric parameters (diameter, pitch, length) that create optimal swirling flow patterns targeted at the cooling location, enhancing local heat dissipation efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple nozzle design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but directional control and range deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is designed with multiple separate helical passages instead of a single complex passage. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing and assembly while each passage independently contributes to the overall directional control. The multiple passages can be arranged to target different areas, providing directional control without requiring a single complex molded feature.
4Device complexity
If straight passages are used in nozzle, then device complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces straight passages with helical passages that feature continuous curvature. This geometric change transforms the air flow from laminar to turbulent with swirling motion, dramatically improving convective heat transfer. The helical shape adds only one geometric parameter (pitch) to the basic cylindrical passage, representing a relatively simple modification with substantial performance benefits.
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 nozzle achieves effective cooling with reduced air pressure, allowing for cost savings while maintaining directional control and range, ensuring efficient heat transfer to objects being cooled.
Implementation Method 1
promoting turbulent swirling for enhanced heat dissipation
Implementation Method 2
helical passages that provide tangential velocity components to the air flow, promoting turbulent swirling
Implementation Method 3
heat transfer can be increased by increasing the speed of the inflowing air
Implementation Method 4
compressed air is discharged through one or more nozzles, and the air flow produced in this way is directed at the part to be cooled
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a nozzle for discharging compressed air having a circumferential surface section which extends from a feed end to a discharge end and extends at least partially axially, and an end section produced in one piece, which extends radially inward from the circumferential surface section at the discharge end. In order to allow efficient and targeted compressed air discharge, the present disclosure envisages that a plurality of helical passages extend through the end section, each of which slopes in a tangential direction, at least in some section or sections, and into each of which a first discharge opening for compressed air opens.