Porous Flow Suppression for Portable High-Pressure Water Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow diversion devices for testing water systems, such as fire hydrants, lack portability and accuracy due to restricted access and difficulty in controlling water back splash, especially when used on rooftops or in confined spaces, leading to potential damage and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A flow suppression device composed of porous and flexible containment members, including outer and inner fabric bags with adjustable porosity and openings, designed to dissipate high-pressure fluid energy and allow omni-directional discharge without restraints, ensuring safe and accurate flow measurement by reducing fluid velocity and preventing back splash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional playpipe or flow diverter is used to discharge water during testing, then the water can be directed away from the building, but the device requires restraints to control the high-pressure stream and cannot be easily transported to rooftops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous fire suppression device that allows water to pass through its structure while maintaining control over the discharge. The porous nature enables the device to dissipate water pressure gradually, eliminating the need for external restraints while remaining portable enough for rooftop deployment.
2Ease of manufacture
If the discharge point is positioned close to the building wall or hydrant for convenience, then setup is simplified, but the high-pressure water stream causes damage to ground, landscaping, and safety hazards to individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high-pressure water stream into a beneficial controlled discharge by using the porous structure to dissipate pressure. The same water flow that could cause damage is transformed into a safe, dispersed pattern that protects surrounding areas while maintaining testing effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If a fixed position Pitot tube is used in the flow diverter, then the device structure is simplified, but measurement accuracy is reduced because the Pitot tube cannot be repositioned to match non-perfect velocity profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable Pitot tube within the porous fire suppression device, allowing the measurement element to be repositioned dynamically. This dynamic capability enables the Pitot tube to be aligned with the actual water flow velocity profile, significantly improving measurement accuracy while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the flow diverter size is reduced to improve portability, then the device becomes more portable and easier to transport, but controlling water back splash becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure of the fire suppression device naturally controls water flow and prevents back splash by allowing water to pass through the material matrix in a controlled manner. This porous design maintains effectiveness even in compact sizes, enabling portability without sacrificing back splash control capability.
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 device effectively suppresses fluid flow, preventing damage and ensuring operator safety by allowing undisturbed access for accurate measurements while keeping the operator dry, with a compact and portable design that can be used on various surfaces without anchoring, reducing kinetic energy and facilitating controlled discharge.
Implementation Method 1
an outer flow containment member (12) of a porous and flexible construction
Implementation Method 2
outer flow containment member (12) of a porous and flexible construction
Data Source
AI summary
A flow suppression device adapted to be connected to a high pressure fluid system includes an outer flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction. The outer flow containment member has an upstream end and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. The upstream end includes an inlet opening adapted to receive a flow stream of pressurized fluid from the high pressure fluid system and the downstream end being substantially closed. The flow suppression device also includes a primary inner flow containment member of a porous and flexible construction contained within the outer flow containment member. The primary inner flow containment member has an upstream end with an inlet opening adjacent the inlet opening of the outer flow containment member and a downstream end opposite the upstream end of the primary inner flow containment member.