Perforated Bubble Diaphragm Expansion Vessel for Membrane Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diaphragm pressure expansion vessels with elastomeric membranes face issues such as gas permeation into the water space, membrane breakage due to alternating stress, and high costs, particularly in flat vessel designs used in heating circuits.
Innovation Solution
A bubble-shaped plastic membrane with perforations on the gas side is used, where the membrane interior and vessel interior form the gas space, providing support and stability to alleviate alternating loads, and the membrane serves as a sealing element between vessel parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a plastic membrane is used in a flat expansion vessel, then gas permeation is eliminated, but the membrane is prone to breakage due to alternating stress in corner areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transforming the flat membrane design into a bubble-shaped (dome-shaped) membrane. This curved geometry eliminates the sharp corner areas where stress concentrates in flat designs, distributing alternating loads more evenly across the membrane surface and significantly reducing breakage risk while maintaining the gas-impermeable plastic material benefit
2Reliability
If a bubble-shaped membrane is used, then alternating loads are cushioned and breakage risk is reduced, but the gas space configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the membrane interior volume with the vessel interior volume to form a unified gas space. The bubble-shaped membrane is integrated into the vessel such that both the enclosed volume of the membrane and the volume between the membrane and vessel wall contain gas, creating a combined gas storage system that simplifies the overall structure while providing the cushioning effect
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 design significantly reduces the risk of membrane breakage and eliminates gas permeation, maintaining the gas volume and reducing maintenance needs, while being cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
the bubble-shaped membrane is perforated on the gas side, so that the gas space consists of both the volume between the corresponding part of the vessel and the membrane and the volume of the bubble-shaped membrane
Implementation Method 2
the closed vessel interior formed by the two vessel parts being separated by a membrane into a water chamber and a gas chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A diaphragm pressure expansion vessel (1) which is intended to be connected to a line system having two vessel parts (2, 3) which are connected to one another in a pressure-tight and fluid-tight manner in a peripheral connecting region (4), wherein the closed vessel interior (10) which is formed by the two vessel parts (2, 3) is separated into a water chamber (6) and a gas chamber by a diaphragm (5), wherein the water chamber (6) can be connected to the line system via a connection piece (7), wherein the diaphragm (5) is formed from an at least single-layered plastic and is in the form of a bubble, should be developed further such that the risk of fracture of the plastic diaphragm when subjected to loading during replacement is considerably reduced. This is achieved in that the gas chamber is formed by the diaphragm interior (9) and by the vessel interior (10) between that side of the diaphragm (5) which is averted from the water chamber (6) and the adjoining vessel part, wherein that side of the diaphragm (5) which is averted from the water chamber (6) is provided with perforations.