Segmented Liquid Flow Control Apparatus for Low Rate Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumps struggle to accurately control low liquid flow rates, particularly below 10 milliliters per minute, and existing methods for achieving low flow rates in fuel injector testing and manufacturing are inefficient and prone to liquid heating.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus comprising multiple supply conduits with associated control valves that allow incremental flow rate adjustments, enabling precise control of liquid flow rates down to 1 milliliter per minute by selectively opening or closing the conduits to a return path, thereby recirculating excess liquid and maintaining a stable flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional electrical pump is used to control liquid flow rate, then the pump can operate at higher flow rates, but it cannot accurately control low flow rates (below 10 millilitres/min) due to physical limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single pump output into multiple parallel supply conduits (e.g., 19 conduits), each with its own control valve. This segmentation allows the system to achieve fine flow rate control at low levels by selectively opening or closing individual conduits, effectively creating discrete flow steps that enable precise control below 10 millilitres/min.
2Quantity of substance
If the fuel injector is used to supply liquid at very low flow rate, then low flow rate is achieved, but prolonged use causes heating of the liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow control function from the fuel injector itself and places it in the supply conduits with control valves. This allows the fuel injector to be used only briefly for initial flow establishment, while the majority of the time the system uses the segmented supply conduits to maintain low flow rates without the heating problem associated with prolonged injector operation.
3Measurement precision
If conventional pump calibration methods are used, then the pump can be calibrated, but the step-like flow rate profile prevents accurate calibration at low flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration system is segmented into multiple supply conduits with individual control valves, allowing the creation of a fine-grained flow rate scale. This segmentation transforms the coarse step-like profile into a near-continuous adjustable flow rate, enabling accurate calibration across the entire range including low flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from single-pump voltage adjustment to multi-conduit valve positioning. By changing which conduits are open and how many, the system creates discrete flow rate steps that can be precisely controlled, allowing accurate calibration at low flow rates that were previously unachievable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a control apparatus (1) for controlling supply of a liquid. The control apparatus (1) has a reservoir (3) for storing a liquid. A plurality of like supply conduits (7) are connected to the reservoir (3). A control valve (14) is associated with each of the supply conduits (7). The control valves (14) are operable to control the flow of liquid through that supply conduit. The present disclosure also relates to a method for controlling supply of a liquid.