Liquid Circuit Flow Regulation via Adjustable Orifice Width
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid circuits for temperature regulation in embedded systems are not configured to accurately regulate volume flow rate over a wide range of values, which is essential for hardware-in-the-loop simulations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a liquid circuit with a pump and a flow control valve connected in series, where the orifice width of the flow control valve is adjusted to set a favorable characteristic curve for the pump, allowing precise regulation of volume flow rate by controlling differential pressure, and Peltier elements are used for temperature regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional liquid circuit is used for temperature regulation, then the system is simple to operate, but the volume flow rate cannot be accurately regulated over a wide range of values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the orifice width of the flow control valve adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the characteristic curve of the pump to be dynamically adapted to different operating conditions, enabling accurate volume flow rate regulation across a wide range of values. The adjustable orifice width transforms the static system into a dynamic one that can optimize performance for different flow rate requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of orifice width in the flow control valve to achieve different characteristic curves for the pump. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the system can accurately regulate volume flow rate over a wide range. This parameter change approach allows the same hardware configuration to adapt to different operational requirements without requiring multiple fixed-configuration circuits.
2Productivity
If high differential pressure is used to achieve high volume flow rate, then the productivity increases, but the safety decreases due to risk of pressure-induced damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic adjustment of the orifice width to achieve high volume flow rates without requiring excessively high differential pressures. By adapting the characteristic curve to match the desired operating point, the system can operate efficiently at lower pressures, thereby maintaining safety while achieving the required productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orifice width parameter to optimize the pump's characteristic curve, enabling the system to achieve high volume flow rates at differential pressures below 1 bar. This parameter adjustment prevents the need for high-pressure operation, thus avoiding pressure-induced damage risks while maintaining high productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the orifice width is fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different volume flow rate requirements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the orifice width adjustable, which significantly enhances the adaptability of the liquid circuit to different volume flow rate requirements. This dynamic feature allows the system to be configured for various operating conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, thus achieving high versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 approach enables accurate regulation of volume flow rate and temperature over a wide range, improving safety by maintaining differential pressures below 1 bar, preventing pressure-induced damage and allowing for continuous operation without risking bursting or large liquid jets.
Implementation Method 1
a pump and a flow control valve are connected in series in the first liquid circuit
Implementation Method 2
The orifice width of the flow control valve is adjusted as a function of a setpoint value of the volume flow rate
Implementation Method 3
Peltier elements are used for temperature regulation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for regulating a volume flow rate, and a test stand with a liquid circuit for carrying out the method is provided. A pump and a flow control valve are connected in series in the liquid circuit, and the orifice width of the flow control valve is set as a function of a setpoint value of the volume flow rate of the liquid, in order to specify, on the basis of the orifice width, a characteristic curve of the pump that plots the volume flow rate over the differential pressure. Once a characteristic curve has been specified, the differential pressure of the pump is set such that the volume flow rate corresponds to the setpoint value of the volume flow rate.