Porous Ventilated Regulator for Cooling Sensitive Valve Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current regulators for treating hot air in severe thermal environments, such as aircraft, face challenges in protecting temperature-sensitive elements like solenoids and pressure regulating membranes, as existing solutions either complicate installation with additional piping or provide insufficient ventilation.
Innovation Solution
A regulator with a heat-conducting hollow enclosure filled with a structural reinforcing metal mesh, allowing cooling air to circulate and cool temperature-sensitive elements through thermal conduction, while maintaining structural strength and using flow air from a turbomachine for effective ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensitive elements are offset in a protected region, then they are protected from thermal stress, but additional pipes are required which increases cost and complicates installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the protective function with the existing regulator body structure by creating an integrated cooling system. The hollow enclosure and metal mesh structure combine structural support with thermal protection, eliminating the need for separate protected regions and additional piping while maintaining element protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mesh acts as an intermediary between the hot air flow and the temperature-sensitive elements. It provides thermal isolation while allowing structural integrity, mediating the thermal environment to protect sensitive components without requiring physical separation or additional piping.
2Temperature
If comprehensive ventilation is added to the region, then cooling is provided, but it is not sufficiently specific to sensitive elements and has limited effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by directing cooling air flow specifically through the metal mesh structure surrounding sensitive elements. The hollow enclosure and mesh create localized cooling zones around temperature-sensitive components rather than providing uniform comprehensive ventilation, ensuring targeted thermal protection where needed most.
3Strength
If the regulator body is made solid for structural strength, then structural integrity is maintained, but cooling air cannot circulate through the body
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a metal mesh structure within the regulator body that creates a porous configuration. This mesh provides structural strength similar to solid material while creating pathways for cooling air circulation. The interconnected openings in the mesh allow fluid flow while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator body employs a composite structure combining solid outer enclosure with internal metal mesh framework. This composite design integrates the structural benefits of solid material with the cooling benefits of open structure, achieving both strength and thermal management simultaneously.
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 solution enables efficient cooling of temperature-sensitive elements, reducing the risk of degradation and performance loss, allowing for a compact valve design without offsetting sensitive components, and is particularly effective in aircraft applications.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature-sensitive electrical and/or mechanical element is arranged in the cavity or in contact with the hollow enclosure of the regulator body so as to be cooled by the cooling air by thermal conduction
Implementation Method 2
The cooling air provides convection cooling
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a regulator, configured to receive a hot air flow via an air inlet (12), to treat this hot air and to transmit the treated hot air to an air outlet (14) configured to supply a pneumatic actuator (16), comprising at least one temperature-sensitive electrical and/or mechanical element (36, 37), and a regulator body (100). The regulator is characterized in that the regulator body is composed of a heat-conducting hollow enclosure (28) at least partially surrounding a duct (22) for transporting the hot air flow, said cavity being at least partially filled with a metal mesh produced by additive manufacturing that allows the cooling air to circulate, and in that the temperature-sensitive electrical and/or mechanical element (36, 37) is arranged in, or in contact with, the regulator so as to be cooled by the cooling air by thermal conduction.