Flexible Membrane Flow Dampener for Low-Rate Pulsation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pulsation dampeners are heavy, expensive, and unsuitable for single-use or disposable applications, particularly in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical processes, and fail to provide sufficient dampening for accurate measurement of low flow rates.

Innovation Solution

A flow dampener composed of polymer materials with flexible membranes, sealed onto body shells, forming elongate grooves to absorb kinetic energy and reduce fluid pulsation, suitable for single-use applications and effective at low flow rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal dampeners are used to dampen fluid pulsation, then dampening performance is achieved, but weight and cost increase making them unsuitable for single-use applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedampening performanceVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies disposable polymer dampeners that can be discarded after single use, eliminating the need for heavy reusable metal dampeners. The polymer construction enables cost-effective single-use applications while maintaining adequate dampening performance for the intended lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses flexible polymer membranes and shells instead of rigid metal structures. The flexibility of the polymer material provides effective pulsation dampening through elastic deformation, achieving the desired dampening performance with significantly reduced weight compared to metal alternatives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If metal dampeners are used to dampen fluid pulsation, then dampening performance is achieved, but cost increases making them unsuitable for single-use applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedampening performanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive metal mechanical dampeners with polymer-based dampening structures. The polymer material provides equivalent or superior dampening performance through viscoelastic properties, significantly reducing manufacturing cost for single-use applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If chemical sterilization is used on metal dampeners, then sterilization is achieved, but effectiveness is insufficient for biopharmaceutical applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidsterilization process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces metal dampeners requiring chemical sterilization with polymer dampeners that can be sterilized by gamma irradiation. This substitution enables more effective and simpler sterilization processes suitable for biopharmaceutical applications, eliminating the limitations of chemical sterilization on metal surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If conventional dampeners are used, then general dampening is achieved, but sufficient dampening for low flow rate measurement is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedampening capabilityVSAvoidflow rate measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses flexible polymer membranes with optimized thickness and material properties to provide sufficient dampening even at low flow rates. The flexibility allows the membrane to respond to small pressure variations, providing adequate pulsation reduction for accurate low flow rate measurement that conventional rigid dampeners cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 flow dampener achieves high pulsation reduction, enabling accurate flow rate measurement with Coriolis flow sensors, is cost-effective, and can be sterilized using Gamma irradiation, making it suitable for biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical processes.

Implementation Method 1

As the flow goes through the elongate flow path, the flexible membrane vibrates with the flow and absorbs kinetic energy in the flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The flexibility of the flexible membrane dampens vibration in the flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4196714B1Flow dampener in flow measurement system

Publication Date: 2025.07.30 MALEMA ENGINEERING CORP

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AI summary

A flow dampener for dampening pulsation in a fluid flow includes a body shell, a flexible membrane, and two flow ports. The body shell has an interior surface and an elongate groove formed on the interior surface. The flexible membrane is sealed to the interior surface of the body shell and covers the elongate groove. In some embodiments, the flexible membrane is over-molded onto the body shell. The flexible membrane cooperates with the elongate groove to form an elongate flow path for the fluid flow. The flexible membrane has a thickness in a range from 0.5 mm to 6 mm. As the membrane is flexible, it vibrates as the fluid flows through the elongate flow path, absorbs kinetic energy in the fluid flow, and thereby dampens pulsation in the fluid flow.