Particle Blast Feed Control for Stable Gas Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle blast systems face challenges with unreliable gas flow and pressure control, particularly at higher flow rates, leading to high pressure losses, increased cost, complexity, and undesirable weight and size due to the use of inline pressure regulators and alternate gas flow paths.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates an actuator to control a controlled member, separating flow rate control from the feeding rotor and using a pressure regulator assembly with a flow control valve and ball valve to manage transport gas pressure effectively, reducing pressure losses and optimizing system design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an inline pressure regulator is used to control transport gas pressure, then pressure control is achieved, but pressure losses increase and device complexity increases at higher flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure regulation function from the main transport gas flow path by using a separate branched flow path with its own pressure regulator. This allows the main flow to remain simple while providing controlled pressure regulation through a separate, isolated system that does not interfere with the primary gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a secondary gas flow path as an intermediary system that provides pressure control without directly interfering with the main transport gas flow. This intermediary path includes its own pressure regulator and can supply additional gas or modulate flow to achieve pressure control while maintaining simplicity in the primary system.
2Stress or pressure
If oversized inline pressure regulators are used to compensate for pressure loss at higher flows, then pressure control is maintained, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure control function into a separate, dedicated branched flow path with its own appropriately-sized pressure regulator. This allows the use of a smaller, lighter regulator in the branched path while maintaining overall pressure control, eliminating the need for an oversized regulator in the main flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The branched flow path acts as an intermediary system that handles pressure control independently, allowing the use of a smaller, more efficient pressure regulator that is optimized for its specific function rather than being oversized to handle the entire main flow.
3Loss of energy
If alternate non-regulated transport gas flow paths are used, then pressure loss is compensated, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gas flow system into a main unregulated flow path and a separate branched flow path with pressure regulation. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific function - the main path for high-volume transport and the branched path for precise pressure control - reducing overall complexity compared to regulating the entire main flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The branched flow path serves as an intermediary that provides pressure compensation and control without requiring the main transport path to be complex or regulated, allowing simple high-volume flow while adding only minimal complexity through the separate controlled path.
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 ensures consistent and controllable gas flow and pressure, minimizing pressure losses and system complexity while maintaining efficient operation across varying flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator configured to couple with a controlled member to move the controlled member between and including a first controlled position and a second controlled position
Implementation Method 2
a pressure regulator assembly with a flow control valve and ball valve to manage transport gas pressure effectively
Data Source
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AI summary
A particle blast apparatus includes a metering portion, a comminutor and a feeding portion. The metering portion and comminutor may each be configured to provide uniformity in the discharge of particles. The metering portion controls the particle feed rate, and may include a rotor, which may have V or chevron shaped pockets. The comminutor includes at least one roller which may be moved between and including a position at which the gap of the comminutor is at maximum and a position at which the gap is at minimum. The metering portion may discharge direction into the feeding portion without a comminutor being present. The comminutor may receive particles directly from a source of blast media without a metering portion being present.