Helical Flow Diverters for Bent Flexible Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible fluid flow conduits experience increased frictional losses and backpressure due to bends, leading to reduced flow velocity and inefficiencies in fluid transmission.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow modifying device with a tubular body and helical flow diverters made from resilient polymeric materials, which convert laminar flow to rotational flow, reducing frictional losses and enhancing flow velocity by attaching the flow diverters to the inner surface of the tubular body in a helical manner, allowing for flexibility and efficient fluid flow through bends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bends are introduced in flexible fluid flow conduits to facilitate routing, then adaptability and routing flexibility are improved, but frictional losses and backpressure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by introducing a helical configuration within the conduit that transforms straight flow into rotational flow. This helical curvature redistributes the flow pattern to reduce direct contact with the conduit wall, thereby reducing frictional losses while maintaining the bent routing capability of the flexible conduit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bends are introduced in flexible fluid flow conduits, then routing adaptability is improved, but flow velocity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The helical curvature transforms the flow pattern from laminar to rotational, which maintains higher flow velocity by reducing the velocity gradient near the conduit wall. This allows the fluid to maintain speed even when the conduit is bent, thus preserving flow velocity while enabling routing adaptability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional laminar flow occurs in bent conduits, then flow stability is maintained, but backpressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helical flow pattern created by the curved configuration transforms stable laminar flow into rotational flow. This rotational motion reduces the pressure gradient required to maintain flow, thereby reducing backpressure while the continuous rotational pattern maintains flow stability through the bent conduit.
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 device increases flow velocity and reduces backpressure by transforming laminar flow to rotational flow, improving fluid flow efficiency through conduits with bends, thereby mitigating adverse flow considerations.
Implementation Method 1
Laminar flow results from frictional between the interior surface of a fluid flow conduit and a generally straight flowing fluid. The laminar flow effect is characterized by a parabolic flow profile resulting from a laminar boundary layer along an interior surface defining the flow passage
Implementation Method 2
Bends inherently require flowing fluid to change direction which amplifies fluid interaction with the interior surface of the fluid flow conduit. This amplified interaction correspondingly increases frictional losses between the flowing fluid and the interior surface of the fluid flow conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed fluid flow modifying devices are useful with flexible fluid flow conduits. Such devices are adapted for mitigating adverse flow considerations arising from one or more bends in flexible fluid flow conduits. These adverse flow considerations are generally characterized as enhanced laminar flow and associated increased backpressure arising from reduced flow velocity caused by the one or more bends. Beneficially, disclosed fluid flow modifying devices cause flow of flowable material (e.g., a liquid) within a flow passage of a fluid flow conduit to have a rotational flow profile. Such a rotational flow profile advantageously reduces frictional losses associated with laminar flow and with directional change of fluid flow.