Pressurized Liquid Buffer Chamber for Compact Pressure Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for fuel cells and sensitive devices face challenges in compact design with limited maximum pressure, as large expansion tanks are required to compensate for volume changes due to uneven temperature, which is not feasible in compact installations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a reservoir, a pressure increasing device, a filter chamber with a buffer body, and a valve that regulates pressure to maintain a minimum pressure while allowing the buffer body to compress and absorb pressure fluctuations, thereby minimizing installation space and pressure peaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large expansion tank is used to compensate for volume changes due to uneven temperature, then the cooling system can handle pressure fluctuations, but the installation space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the buffer medium from liquid to gas, utilizing the compressibility of gas to compensate for volume changes. The buffer chamber contains a buffer medium (gas) that can be compressed under pressure, allowing the same compensation function to be achieved in a much smaller volume compared to liquid expansion tanks.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into separate functional chambers: a buffer chamber for pressure compensation and a heat exchanger chamber for cooling. This segmentation allows the buffer chamber to be optimized for compact gas-based pressure management while the heat exchanger handles the cooling function, reducing overall system volume.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the maximum pressure of the coolant is limited for sensitive devices like fuel cells, then the safety is improved, but the system requires larger components to handle pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber is pre-filled with a compressible buffer medium (gas) that acts as a cushion before pressure fluctuations reach the heat exchanger. This beforehand cushioning absorbs pressure peaks and prevents them from reaching the sensitive heat exchanger, allowing operation at lower maximum pressures without requiring oversized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber with compressible gas serves as an intermediary between the coolant supply and the heat exchanger. It mediates pressure fluctuations by compressing and expanding the gas, thereby protecting the heat exchanger from direct exposure to pressure peaks while maintaining compact dimensions.
3Volume of stationary object
If a compact design is implemented to minimize installation space, then the system becomes more space-efficient, but the ability to compensate for volume changes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention exploits the parameter change of gas compressibility to achieve effective volume change compensation in a compact space. Gas can be compressed to a small fraction of its original volume under pressure, allowing the buffer chamber to absorb large volume changes while maintaining a small physical footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber is designed with flexible walls that can deform to accommodate the compression and expansion of the buffer medium. This flexibility allows the chamber to adapt its internal volume dynamically while maintaining a compact external form factor, effectively compensating for coolant volume changes without requiring large fixed dimensions.
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 system effectively manages pressure fluctuations and maintains a stable minimum pressure, ensuring reliable cooling performance without exceeding specified pressure limits, while optimizing installation space and reducing the need for large expansion tanks.
Implementation Method 1
The buffer body is arranged in the filter chamber so that it can be surrounded by liquid. The buffer body in the filter chamber is compressed by the pressure of the liquid acting on it, so that its volume decreases as the pressure increases.
Implementation Method 2
The buffer body is arranged in the filter chamber so that it can be surrounded by liquid
Implementation Method 3
the first valve is arranged between the inlet of the reservoir and the filter chamber and is designed to when a minimum pressure of the liquid is reached or exceeded in the filter chamber in the direction of the reservoir
Implementation Method 4
the pressure increasing device is coupled to the filter chamber and is designed to increase a pressure of the liquid within the filter chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A system for supplying a pressurized liquid is proposed, comprising a reservoir for receiving the liquid with an outlet and an inlet, a pump, a first valve, a separate filter chamber with an inlet and at least one outlet, and a compressible, closed buffer body, wherein the pump is arranged between the outlet of the reservoir and the filter chamber and is configured to increase the pressure of the liquid within the filter chamber, wherein the first valve is arranged between the inlet of the reservoir and the filter chamber and is configured to open towards the reservoir when a minimum pressure of the liquid in the filter chamber is reached or exceeded, and wherein the buffer body is arranged in the filter chamber so that it is surrounded by liquid.