Helical Flow Diverters for Flexible Conduit Backpressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible fluid flow conduits experience increased frictional losses and backpressure due to bends, which reduce flow velocity and increase head loss, making it necessary to develop a device that mitigates these adverse flow considerations.
Innovation Solution
A fluid flow modifying device comprising a tubular body and helical flow diverters made from resilient polymeric materials, which are attached to the inner surface and extend outwardly, creating a rotational flow profile that reduces frictional losses and enhances flow velocity by converting laminar flow to rotational flow.
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 conduit is divided into multiple curved segments rather than a single bend, allowing the flow to gradually change direction through a series of smaller curvature transitions. This segmentation reduces the intensity of frictional losses at each segment while maintaining overall routing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flow modifiers with curved surfaces that create a more uniform flow distribution across the conduit cross-section. The curved geometry of the flow modifiers reduces flow separation and turbulence at bends, thereby reducing frictional losses while preserving the ability to route fluid through curved paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bends are introduced in flexible fluid flow conduits, then routing flexibility is improved, but backpressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the bend into multiple smaller curved segments, the pressure gradient across each segment is reduced. This prevents excessive backpressure buildup that would occur in a single sharp bend, while still achieving the desired routing change through the cumulative effect of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow modifiers introduce curved surfaces that promote smoother flow transitions through bends. This reduces flow separation and turbulence, thereby minimizing the pressure loss and backpressure increase that typically accompany bent conduit configurations.
3Device complexity
If conventional straight flowing is used in fluid flow conduits, then device complexity is minimized, but flow velocity decreases due to laminar flow effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curved flow modifiers within the conduit that create a more uniform velocity profile across the flow cross-section. The curved surfaces of these modifiers reduce the parabolic velocity distribution characteristic of laminar flow, thereby increasing the average flow velocity without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If laminar flow occurs in fluid flow conduits, then flow stability is maintained, but frictional losses increase and head loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The curved flow modifiers redistribute the flow velocity profile to reduce the velocity gradient near the conduit walls. This reduces the shear stress and frictional losses associated with laminar flow, thereby decreasing head loss while maintaining flow stability through the smooth curved surfaces that prevent turbulence.
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 the average flow velocity and volumetric flow rate while reducing backpressure, promoting a more efficient and effective fluid flow through conduits with bends by minimizing frictional interactions with the conduit surface.
Implementation Method 1
Laminar flow results from frictional between the interior surface of a fluid flow conduit and a generally straight flowing fluid. As shown in FIG. 1, conventional (i.e., non-modified/straight flowing) flow of liquid 5 (i.e., a flowable material) within a flow passage 10 of a fluid flow conduit 15 has a flow profile characterized by laminar flow effect (i.e., laminar flow 20).
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.