Pressure Transient Fluid Transport Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial fluid transport systems face inefficiencies and disruptive cavitations due to the inability to effectively utilize pressure transients, which are typically avoided due to their potential to generate negative pressure leading to cavitations, unlike 'Ram pumps' that use a 'Waste valve' and 'Drive pipe' to manage these transients.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus employing a movable body within a partly enclosed space, where collisions with an object generate both positive and negative pressure transients, utilizing check valves to control fluid flow and prevent disruptive cavitations by ensuring sufficient hydrostatic head to maintain pressure above vapor pressure, allowing fluid to flow alternately into and out of the space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressure transients are generated to transport fluids, then fluid transport efficiency is improved, but disruptive cavitations occur due to negative pressure transients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure transient process into distinct positive and negative phases, using check valves to separate the fluid flow paths for each phase. This allows independent control and management of each phase to prevent harmful cavitations while maintaining transport efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful negative pressure transients that cause cavitations into useful functionality by designing the system to utilize the pressure differential created during the negative phase for beneficial fluid return flow, rather than simply eliminating the negative transients
2Reliability
If check valves are used to control fluid flow and prevent cavitations, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of flow control and cavitation prevention into a unified system architecture where check valves are integrated with the pressure transient generation mechanism, eliminating the need for separate complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex active control systems to prevent cavitations, the patent inverts the approach by using passive check valves that automatically respond to pressure differentials, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining reliability
3Use of energy by moving object
If traditional pumps are used to transport fluids, then stable pressure is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to inability to utilize pressure transients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic pressure transients generated by oscillating objects to transport fluids, converting what would be wasted energy fluctuations into useful work. The periodic compression and expansion phases efficiently move fluids through the system
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes pressure parameters by utilizing oscillating pressure transients rather than maintaining constant pressure. This allows the system to exploit pressure differentials for efficient fluid transport while maintaining operational stability through the periodic nature of the changes
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 apparatus efficiently transports fluids by generating pulsating flows using pressure transients, reducing disruptive cavitations and enhancing fluid transport efficiency compared to traditional pumps, while capturing energy from ocean waves for enhanced robustness.
Implementation Method 1
collisions with an object generate both positive and negative pressure transients
Implementation Method 2
employs a physical phenomenon commonly known as 'Water Hammer'
Implementation Method 3
An equation relating the pressure transients to the fluid flow speed was formulated by the Russian scientists Nikolai Joukowsky. This equation states that Γ=ρcu
Implementation Method 4
prevent disruptive cavitations by ensuring sufficient hydrostatic head to maintain pressure above vapor pressure
Implementation Method 5
the energy needed to generate said pressure transients are captured from ocean waves
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus employing pressure transients for transporting fluids from one reservoir to another, includes an at least partly enclosed space, and a body herein, where the body is movable relatively to the interior of the space. The apparatus further includes an opening in the enclosed space to allow a fluid to flow alternately in the direction into and out, and conduits in fluid communication with the opening and connected to the reservoirs. Further, an object is arranged to collide with the body so as to generate pressure transients in the partly enclosed space in order to produce a flow of fluid in the direction from the partly enclosed space towards the second reservoir, and to produce a flow of fluid in the direction from the first reservoir towards the partly enclosed space.