Self-Closing Nozzle With Rigid Support For Flow Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial applications where multiple nozzles share a common rail, uneven flow rates due to varying nozzle wear from erosion, corrosion, or manufacturing tolerances can lead to process inefficiencies and potential reactor shutdowns, necessitating frequent maintenance and downtime.

Innovation Solution

A nozzle with a self-closing mechanism featuring a closing element with a larger outer cross-sectional area than the inner outlet, rigidly supported within the flow channel, which automatically blocks the outlet upon wear-induced failure, maintaining consistent flow resistance and preventing uncontrolled fluid output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nozzles are used in fluidized bed reactors with common rail supply, then fluid injection is achieved, but nozzle wear from erosion causes unequal flow rate distribution and reactor performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle flow rate consistencyVSAvoiderosion wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing sacrificial outlet sections with controlled wall thicknesses that are designed to erode preferentially before the main nozzle body. These outlet sections act as sacrificial elements that protect the primary nozzle structure while maintaining flow rate consistency through their controlled erosion characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle is segmented into distinct sections: a main nozzle body and separate sacrificial outlet sections. This segmentation allows the outlet sections to be independently designed with specific wall thicknesses that control their erosion rate, enabling them to wear away preferentially while protecting the main nozzle structure and maintaining overall system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If nozzles are exchanged regularly to prevent erosion, then flow rate consistency is maintained, but production loss due to downtime, personnel costs and maintenance costs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle flow rate consistencyVSAvoidproduction loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by designing sacrificial outlet sections that are intended to be discarded through controlled erosion rather than through active replacement. These sections are recovered in the sense that their controlled wear protects the main nozzle body, extending the overall nozzle service life and reducing the frequency of expensive complete nozzle replacements and reactor shutdowns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Quantity of substance

If nozzle outlet diameter is enlarged by erosion, then flow resistance decreases and flow rate increases, but unequal flow rate distribution among nozzles occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow rateVSAvoidflow rate distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of erosion into a beneficial outcome by designing sacrificial outlet sections that are specifically intended to erode. This controlled erosion serves as a flow rate equalization mechanism, as the eroding sections gradually adjust their flow characteristics to match other nozzles in the system, transforming what was previously a source of unequal flow distribution into a self-correcting mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Ensures stable operation by limiting flow resistance increase and preventing reactor shutdowns, extending equipment lifespan and reducing maintenance costs through automatic nozzle closure upon wear, thus maintaining consistent flow rates and process stability.

Implementation Method 1

a closing element (5) with a larger outer cross-sectional area than the inner cross-sectional area of the outlet (3) is arranged inside the flow channel (1)... the closing element (5) being unmovably attached to the inner surface of the flow channel (1) by a rigid support structure (6)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3974050A1Nozzle with self-closing mechanism

Publication Date: 2022.03.30 BASF SE

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a nozzle comprising a flow channel (1) with an inlet (2) and an outlet (3), the flow channel (1) having a narrowing section (4) with a cross-sectional area of the flow channel narrowing towards the outlet (3), wherein a closing element (5) with a larger outer cross-sectional area than the inner cross-sectional area of the outlet (3) is arranged inside the flow channel (1), the closing element (5) being unmovably attached to the inner surface of the flow channel (1) by a rigid support structure (6).