Radial Machine Wall Segments for Uniform Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radial machines for conveying fluids in combine harvesters experience secondary flows due to the lack of cover disks, leading to swirl formation that affects the uniformity of air flow to sieves, resulting in inefficient grain separation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a diverging arrangement of wall segments between rotor blades in the tangential direction disrupts swirl formation, enhancing the interference potential and reducing swirl, thereby ensuring a more uniform primary air flow to sieves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wall segments are arranged aligned in the tangential direction, then the structure is simple, but secondary flows cause swirl formation leading to uneven air flow distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging wall segments in a diverging pattern rather than aligning them symmetrically in the tangential direction. The wall segments are positioned at different angular positions relative to the rotor blades, creating an asymmetric configuration that disrupts the formation of secondary flows and swirl patterns, thereby improving air flow uniformity across the sieve surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into multiple wall segments that are independently arranged between rotor blades. This segmentation allows each wall segment to be positioned optimally to interrupt secondary flow paths. The divided structure enables targeted placement of wall segments at specific locations where swirl formation occurs, rather than using a continuous housing wall.
2Ease of operation
If cover disks are added to close the housing laterally, then swirl formation is reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of cover disks (blocking secondary flows) and implements it through a simpler alternative: strategically positioned wall segments integrated into the existing housing structure. Instead of adding complete cover disks that would require lateral closure of the housing, the invention extracts only the necessary flow-disrupting function and achieves it through localized wall segment arrangements between rotor blades.
3Manufacturing precision
If wall segments are arranged divergingly, then swirl formation is disrupted improving air flow uniformity, but the chamber geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different chamber geometries in specific locations where swirl formation occurs. The wall segments are positioned to create varying chamber volumes and shapes between rotor blades, with each local chamber configuration optimized to disrupt secondary flows in its specific region. This localized geometric variation targets swirl disruption where needed without requiring complex geometry throughout the entire housing.
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 arrangement improves the uniformity of the air flow to sieves, enhancing the efficiency and quality of the cleaning process by minimizing swirl-induced uneven flow distribution.
Implementation Method 1
secondary flows occur within the housing due to the lack of cover disks
Implementation Method 2
These secondary flows flow from the centrally arranged wall back to the suction area of the radial machine. The superimposition of the secondary flows and the primary flow leads to a swirl in the housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a radial machine (28) with a housing (29) in which a wheel (30) is arranged on a drive shaft (27) which is partially surrounded by a hollow cylindrical hub (31) on which rotor blades (32) extending axially parallel to the drive shaft (27) are arranged in the circumferential direction and are distributed and connected to each other by wall segments (33a, 33b) extending radially outwards and arranged between the rotor blades (32) in the circumferential direction of the wheel (30), wherein the wall segments (33a, 33b) adjacent to each other and separated by a rotor blade (32) have a diverging arrangement in the tangential direction of the wheel (30).