Segmented Gas Envelope Damping Hydrosound in Liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reducing sound and wave propagation in water, such as acoustic insulation and bubble curtains, face challenges in deep water environments due to high resource requirements, uncontrolled bubble formation, and inefficiencies in resonant frequency management, leading to ineffective acoustic damping and scattering.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising multiple envelope bodies made of elastic material, distributed in the water with controlled diameter and pressure to match the natural frequency of sound emissions, connected to mass bodies to prevent rising, allowing water to flow and reducing sound propagation through scattering and absorption without continuous compressed air supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If acoustic insulation using air layers is used to reduce sound propagation, then sound transmission is reduced, but complete form-fit enveloping requires very large resources and is difficult to achieve in deep water
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous air layer is segmented into discrete air-filled hollow bodies distributed in the water. This segmentation allows the acoustic insulation function to be achieved without requiring a complete form-fit envelope, reducing the resource expenditure and complexity of installation while maintaining effective sound transmission reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple air-filled hollow bodies that can be easily deployed and are less demanding in terms of installation resources compared to continuous air layers. These discrete elements can be manufactured and deployed more economically, making the solution feasible for deep water applications where complete enveloping would be prohibitively resource-intensive.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air-filled hollow bodies are used for acoustic insulation, then sound propagation is reduced, but resonant frequencies in lower ranges transmit or amplify sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses resonant frequency issues by potentially using hollow bodies with different sizes, shapes, or air volumes to target specific frequency ranges. By varying the local properties of individual hollow bodies, the system can be optimized to dampen resonant frequencies rather than amplify them, improving overall acoustic damping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ hollow bodies with adjustable parameters such as air pressure, volume, or wall thickness to tune the resonant frequencies. By changing these parameters, the system can avoid resonant amplification in problematic frequency ranges and instead achieve effective sound damping across the desired frequency spectrum.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If bubble curtains are used to dampen sound, then sound emissions are reduced, but continuous compressed air supply is required increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The air-filled hollow bodies are designed to maintain their acoustic damping function without requiring continuous external energy input or compressed air supply. The hollow bodies self-maintain their structure and acoustic properties, eliminating the need for continuous energy-consuming air generation and supply systems while still effectively dampening sound emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of continuous compressed air generation and supply with passive air-filled hollow bodies. This substitution eliminates the need for compressors, pipelines, and continuous energy input, transforming an active energy-consuming system into a passive, energy-independent acoustic damping solution.
4Device complexity
If discrete envelope bodies are used instead of continuous air layer, then resource requirements are reduced, but complete acoustic insulation effect is harder to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves acoustic insulation with reduced resources by segmenting the insulation function into distributed hollow bodies. The segmentation allows for effective sound blocking without requiring a complete continuous envelope, as the discrete elements collectively create sufficient acoustic impedance to reduce sound transmission while requiring fewer materials and installation resources.
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 reduces sound and wave motions across various water depths with low energy requirements, maintaining control and cost-effectiveness, and is less affected by currents and water pressure, providing a durable and environmentally friendly solution for offshore construction and marine life protection.
Implementation Method 1
Device for damping and scattering hydrosound in a liquid
Implementation Method 2
device for damping and scattering hydrosound in a liquid
Implementation Method 3
A material, diameter and pressure of each envelope body is configured such that a natural frequency of the envelope body corresponds to an emitted frequency range of the hydrosound so as to dampen the hydrosound
Data Source
AI summary
A device for damping hydrosound in liquid having a frequency range emitted from a sound-emitting body in the liquid includes: a plurality of individual gas volumes distributed in the liquid in an area of the sound-emitting body and at a distance from each other, each of the individual gas volumes being operable to reduce the hydrosound through resonant oscillations; and at least one mass body disposed in the liquid, the individual gas volumes being connected to the at least one mass body so as to prevent the individual gas volumes from rising up in the liquid.