Nano-body Production Apparatus with Laminar Flow Constriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing short nanofibres lack control over reagents and flow conditions, leading to poor predictability and reproducibility, particularly in achieving small fibre diameters and aligning injection ports with capillary centers.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus featuring laminar flow paths that converge at a flow-merge location, with a dedicated fluid introduction arrangement and a flow constriction arrangement to create a controlled extensional flow, allowing for precise injection and acceleration of the body-forming fluid, thereby forming and fragmenting nanofibres effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rotary mixer with impeller blade is used to create turbulent mixing, then mixing intensity is improved, but control over reagents and flow conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus divides the flow into separate laminar flow paths that converge at a flow-merge location, allowing independent control of each stream while maintaining overall mixing. This segmentation enables precise control over reagent introduction and flow conditions without the chaotic turbulence of traditional mixers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dispersion medium as an intermediary substance that facilitates controlled mixing. The body-forming fluid is injected into the dispersion medium through a fluid introduction arrangement, allowing gradual and controlled interaction between components rather than direct turbulent mixing.
2Shape
If a capillary pipe with diameter constriction is used to produce extensional flow, then fibre formation is improved, but alignment of injection port with capillary center becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-capillary approach to a multi-path flow convergence system. Instead of aligning an injection port with the center of a capillary, the design uses separate flow paths that converge at a flow-merge location, eliminating the alignment problem by distributing injection points across multiple controlled pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow paths are pre-configured to converge at a specific flow-merge location before the body-forming fluid is introduced. This preliminary arrangement of flow paths ensures that the fluid introduction occurs at the optimal location without requiring precise alignment during operation.
3Productivity
If turbulent flow conditions are used for mixing, then mixing efficiency is improved, but predictability and reproducibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to laminar flow conditions. By operating in the laminar flow regime, the system achieves predictable and reproducible flow patterns while maintaining effective mixing through the convergence of separate laminar streams at the flow-merge location.
4Device complexity
If poor control over polymer injection rate is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The laminar flow arrangement allows the system to self-regulate the injection rate through the inherent properties of laminar flow and the geometry of the flow paths. The controlled environment created by the converging laminar streams provides automatic flow rate control without requiring complex external regulation mechanisms.
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 apparatus provides improved control over polymer injection and fibre formation, enabling the reproducible production of short nanofibres with precise dimensions and configurations, including mixed or intertwined fibre structures, by creating a controlled environment for fibre elongation and fragmentation.
Implementation Method 1
a flow constriction arrangement proximate to or following the flow-merge location, which in use, constricts and accelerates the dispersion medium flow proximate to and/or following the flow-merge thereby forming the short nanofibres
Implementation Method 2
The hydrofoil is designed to accelerate and constrict the flow of dispersion medium flowing over the hydrofoil in order to form an extensional flow which draws and forms a fibrous polymer filament
Implementation Method 3
at least two separated flow paths along which the dispersion medium flows in a laminar flow
Implementation Method 4
the polymer solution is drawn out and fractures into short fibres, while the rapid extraction of water from the polymer solution caused by the Butanol causes the polymer to gel
Implementation Method 5
the rapid extraction of water from the polymer solution caused by the Butanol
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
An apparatus for producing a body, preferably a nano-body, through the introduction of a body-forming fluid into a dispersion medium. The apparatus includes: a fluid housing configured to house a dispersion medium; at least two separated flow paths along which the dispersion medium flows in a laminar flow, at least two of the separated flow paths converging at a flow-merge location; a fluid flow arrangement which, in use, causes the dispersion medium to flow along each flow path to the flow-merge location; at least one fluid introduction arrangement located at or proximate the flow-merge location configured, in use, to feed the body-forming fluid into the dispersion medium; and a flow constriction arrangement proximate to or following the flow-merge location, which in use, constricts and accelerates the dispersion medium flow proximate to and/or following the flow-merge location.