Settlement Filter for Cooling Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling systems in buildings and vehicles often suffer from contamination by solid particles like sand, metal dust, and metal chips, which can lead to abrasive wear, clogging, and premature component failure due to manufacturing residues.
Innovation Solution
A settlement filter is introduced in the fluid passageway of the cooling system, featuring a sieve with trap openings in the settlement area created by a discontinuity in the flow path, allowing particles to settle and be trapped under gravity, preventing re-entrainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional filter is used to remove solid contaminants from coolant, then particle removal is achieved, but pressure drop increases and filter clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the filtering function from the main flow path by creating a separate settlement chamber. Particles are removed from the coolant stream through gravity settling in a dedicated chamber, allowing the main flow to pass through without obstruction. This separates the filtration function from the flow path, eliminating pressure drop while maintaining contaminant removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The settlement chamber acts as an intermediary space between the inlet and outlet of the filter housing. Coolant flows into the chamber where particles settle, and cleaned coolant exits through trap openings. This intermediary chamber allows particle separation without creating resistance to the main flow, resolving the contradiction between effective filtration and minimal pressure drop.
2Reliability
If coolant velocity is increased to prevent particle settlement, then particle suspension is maintained, but abrasive wear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts particles from the main coolant flow by directing flow into a settlement chamber where gravity causes particles to settle out. This removes the harmful interaction between high-velocity particles and system components, eliminating abrasive wear while maintaining effective particle removal from the coolant.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of particle settlement (which normally causes clogging and wear) into a beneficial filtration mechanism. By intentionally creating a settlement chamber where particles can settle under gravity, the system transforms what was previously a harmful process into an effective particle removal mechanism that protects downstream components.
3Reliability
If a settlement chamber is added to the filter housing, then particle trapping efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is designed to perform multiple functions: it houses the filtration media, creates the settlement chamber, provides flow distribution, and collects trapped particles. By integrating these functions into a single housing structure, the invention achieves high particle trapping efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The settlement chamber is nested within the filter housing, with the chamber forming an internal volume that utilizes the housing space efficiently. The trap openings are integrated into the housing wall, and the filtration media is positioned within the same housing structure. This nested arrangement achieves complex particle separation functionality without requiring separate external components.
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 settlement filter effectively removes solid contaminants from the coolant, improving the reliability, durability, and efficiency of the cooling system by preventing abrasive wear and clogging, thus extending the life of system components.
Implementation Method 1
In any fluid path when the velocity of the fluid in the path is greater than zero, a secondary flow appears in addition to the main (primary) flow of fluid in the path. In particular, in a fluid pipe having a surface discontinuity such as a protrusion, a step change in passageway diameter or a passageway corner, an eddy or secondary flow may be created at the discontinuity by the primary flow as it passes the discontinuity.
Implementation Method 2
when the fluid is at zero velocity, all particles that are more dense than the coolant will fall under force of gravity and settle at the lowest surface of the fluid passageway
Implementation Method 3
The sieve includes perforations referred to as 'trap openings' that are provided in the floor and are configured to allow passage of particles therethrough under force of gravity. The particles that drop from suspension sink to the floor and may pass through the trap openings.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery system includes a fluid passageway having a discontinuity that results in a particle settlement area downstream of the discontinuity. A settlement filter is provided in the system. The settlement filter includes the discontinuity and a sieve that coincides with the particle settlement area. The fluid delivery system also includes a particle trap that underlies the sieve and is configured to receive and trap particles that settle from fluid flowing through the fluid passageway.