Passive Pulsatile Jet Nozzle Using Rotor-Driven Flow Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzles for producing pulsatile jets of fluid often require external energy sources and are not cost-efficient, reliable, or suitable for sanitary and medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle design featuring a rotor element with peripheral helical grooves and a stationary splitter element that uses the incoming fluid flow to generate a pulsatile jet, with flow conditioning elements for recombination and modulation, creating a three-dimensional spiraling effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external energy sources are used to generate pulsatile jet, then the pulsation can be controlled and maintained, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle uses the incoming fluid flow itself to drive the rotor element and generate pulsation, eliminating the need for external energy sources. The fluid's kinetic energy is converted into rotational motion of the rotor, which then modulates the flow to create pulsatile jets passively
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles where the fluid flow directly interacts with the rotor element through pressure and force. The rotating element modulates the fluid stream through mechanical interaction, converting continuous flow into pulsatile output without external power
2Ease of manufacture
If passive operation is implemented using incoming fluid flow, then cost-efficiency and simplicity improve, but the ability to maintain consistent pulsation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor element is designed to rotate dynamically in response to fluid flow variations, automatically adapting to changes in inlet conditions. The rotational speed and position of the rotor naturally adjust to maintain pulsation characteristics without external control
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor element creates periodic modulation of the fluid stream through its rotation, generating consistent pulsatile jets. The periodic blocking and unblocking of flow paths by the rotating element ensures regular pulsation cycles
3Ease of manufacture
If simple nozzle design is used, then manufacturing cost decreases, but cleaning capability for sanitary and medical applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pulsatile jet creates mechanical vibration and oscillation in the fluid stream, enhancing cleaning effectiveness. The periodic acceleration and deceleration of fluid creates impulsive forces that improve removal of residues and contaminants from surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The flow conditioning elements create localized variations in flow velocity and pressure within the pulsatile jet. Different regions of the jet have different characteristics, with high-velocity core regions for impact cleaning and lower-velocity regions for coverage
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 nozzle produces a pulsatile jet passively, ensuring robust and reliable operation, suitable for various applications including sanitary and medical uses, with improved cleaning capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a rotor element (20) located inside the shell (10) and configured to be driven into rotation about a rotation axis (RA) upon being subjected to the action of a fluid flow entering the nozzle inlet (1A)
Implementation Method 2
a stationary splitter element (30) located inside the shell (10), downstream of the rotor element (20), along the passage of the fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle with an inlet and an outlet, including a shell, a rotor element located inside the shell and configured to be driven into rotation about a rotation axis upon being subjected to the action of a fluid flow entering the nozzle inlet and circulating through the nozzle towards the nozzle outlet, and a stationary splitter element located inside the shell, downstream of the rotor element, along the passage of the fluid flow. The rotation axis coincides with a main direction along which the fluid flow projects from the nozzle outlet. The rotor element includes peripheral helical grooves configured to permit passage of the fluid flow and cause rotation of the rotor element. The splitter element includes splitter openings communicating with a downstream end of the peripheral helical grooves to cause splitting and modulation of the fluid flow as a function of rotation of the rotor element with respect to the stationary splitter element. The nozzle further includes flow conditioning elements located inside the shell, downstream of the splitter openings, and configured to cause recombination of the fluid flow, split and modulated by the splitter element, into a pulsatile jet of fluid projecting from the nozzle outlet along the main direction that coincides with the rotation axis.