Hydrodynamic Coupling Blade Edge Contour Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrodynamic couplings face inefficiencies due to flow losses and shock losses, leading to reduced efficiency and increased noise during operation.

Innovation Solution

The design of blades with divided boundary edges, featuring a rounded first section and a sharp-edged second section, reduces turbulence and deflection, optimizing flow patterns and minimizing losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional blade designs are used in hydrodynamic couplings, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but flow losses and shock losses increase, reducing efficiency and increasing noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow losses and shock lossesVSAvoidblade structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade boundary edge is segmented into multiple sections along the flow direction, with each section having a different edge contour configuration. This segmentation allows optimization of flow characteristics in different regions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular design approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the blade boundary edge are assigned different local qualities - rounded contours in regions where flow attachment is critical and sharp-edged contours in regions where flow separation is acceptable. This local differentiation optimizes overall flow characteristics without requiring complete redesign of the entire blade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional blade edge designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but turbulence and deflection increase leading to higher operational noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational noiseVSAvoidblade manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Rounded edge contours are applied in specific sections of the blade boundary edges where flow attachment is critical. The curved geometry reduces turbulence and vortex formation, thereby lowering operational noise while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturability through standard forming processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If optimized blade designs with divided boundary edges are implemented, then flow patterns are optimized and losses are minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydrodynamic coupling efficiencyVSAvoidblade design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade boundary edge design incorporates dynamic flow considerations by varying edge contours along the flow path. This allows the blade to adapt to different flow conditions at different sections, optimizing efficiency across the operational range while using manufacturable geometric transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design enhances the efficiency of hydrodynamic couplings by reducing flow and shock losses, resulting in lower operational noise and improved performance.

Implementation Method 1

The first edge contour has a more rounded shape as an edge contour compared to the second edge contour. As a result, the operating medium is deflected less and flow losses are reduced.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

In the second section, the boundary edge is provided with a second edge contour, in this case, a sharp-edged edge contour. As a result, there is less deflection of the operating medium compared to the rounded edge contour.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock losses: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentEP3390851B1The invention relates to a hydrodynamic coupling and to a method for operating a hydrodynamic coupling
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 VOITH PATENT GMBH
  • EP3390851B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3390851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydrodynamic coupling (1) comprising a pump impeller (3) as a first impeller (2) and comprising a turbine impeller (5) as a second impeller (2). The pump impeller (3) has pump impeller blades (13) connected to a main part of the pump impeller (12), and the turbine impeller (5) has turbine impeller blades (15) which are connected to a main part of the turbine impeller (14). The pump impeller (3) and the turbine impeller (5) are each mounted in a rotatable manner about a central axis (11), and the blades of the pump impeller (13) have boundary edges (19) which are arranged so as to face the boundary edges (19) of the blades of the turbine impeller. At least one of the blades of one impeller (2) has a boundary edge (19) which is divided into a first section (21) with a first edge contour (25) and a second section (23) with a second edge contour (27), the first (25) and second edge contour (27) being different.