Intersecting-Channel Flow Control for Pressure Drop and Low Turbulence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid flow control devices dissipate energy and cause undesirable effects like erosion, noise, and vibration due to turbulent fluid flow and pressure fluctuations, which are not effectively managed in existing designs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a fluid flow control device with a body featuring intersecting channels and disks with grooves that reduce fluid pressure and energy by creating multiple stages of contraction and expansion, dissipating energy through tortuous paths and minimizing turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional fluid flow control devices use tortuous paths and multiple stages to reduce pressure, then pressure reduction is achieved, but turbulent flow and pressure fluctuations cause erosion, noise, and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow path is divided into multiple discrete stages, each containing a contraction passage followed by an expansion passage. This segmentation allows progressive pressure reduction across stages while managing turbulence at each individual stage rather than as a single large pressure drop, thereby reducing harmful effects like erosion and vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The contraction and expansion passages are designed with curved, tapered geometries rather than sharp angles. The curved transitions guide fluid flow smoothly through pressure changes, minimizing turbulence and the associated harmful effects of noise and vibration while still achieving effective pressure reduction.
2Stress or pressure
If fluid flow control devices create multiple stages of contraction and expansion, then pressure and energy are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contraction and expansion stages are merged into a single integrated valve body structure. Rather than separate components for each stage, the design combines all pressure reduction stages within one unified device, achieving complex pressure control functionality without proportionally increasing overall device complexity or requiring multiple separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains all contraction passages, all expansion passages, provides fluid distribution, and manages pressure reduction across multiple stages. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby controlling overall device complexity while achieving sophisticated pressure control.
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 configuration effectively reduces fluid pressure and energy, minimizing turbulence and associated issues like erosion and noise, while allowing for controlled fluid flow management.
Implementation Method 1
As the fluid flows through the fluid pathways, the fluid flow may be turbulent. Turbulent fluid has associated pressure and velocity fluctuations that act upon the structural elements of the pipes and fluid control devices in which the fluid is flowing.
Implementation Method 2
The specific geometric arrangement of such designs is configured to allow the pressure of the fluid of each stream to drop in relatively small increments and in many stages.
Implementation Method 3
The fluid pressure and energy of the fluid is partially dissipated along such paths as a result of losses caused by friction between walls of the path, rapid changes in fluid direction and expansion or contraction chambers.
Implementation Method 4
The design incorporates a fluid flow control device with a body featuring intersecting channels and disks with grooves that reduce fluid pressure and energy by creating multiple stages of contraction and expansion, dissipating energy through tortuous paths and minimizing turbulence.
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid flow control devices comprise a body including a central aperture extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough and a plurality of channels extending from an outer sidewall of the body to an inner sidewall of the body. At least one first channel may intersect at least one other channel. Fluid flow control systems, methods of forming fluid flow control devices, and methods of flowing a fluid through a fluid flow control device are also disclosed.