Ship Propulsion Cooling Passage Layout to Prevent Fine-Object Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling devices for ship propulsion machines face issues with reduced efficiency in collecting fine objects due to the removal of relief valves, leading to backflow of cooling water and exhaust gases, which lifts accumulated fine objects out of the system, thereby deteriorating the collection ability.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device design that arranges the drain, collection, and bypass passages such that the flow directions minimize backflow, ensuring that cooling water and exhaust gases flow in linear or nearly linear paths, preventing the lifting of accumulated fine objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the relief valve is removed from the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the collection ability of fine objects deteriorates due to backflow
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is completely removed from the system. The patent eliminates the relief valve component that previously controlled the bypass passage, simplifying the device structure while maintaining functionality through geometric design of the passages themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass passage is designed with a curved geometry that creates flow direction preferences. The curved shape of the bypass passage naturally guides cooling water flow while preventing backflow into the collection passage, replacing the need for mechanical valve control with geometric flow control.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by designing the passages to exploit fluid flow characteristics. The arrangement and curvature of passages create pressure and flow direction differences that automatically prevent backflow without mechanical components, using the properties of the cooling water itself to control flow direction.
2Ease of operation
If the bypass passage is always open without valve control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the collection efficiency deteriorates due to unrestricted backflow
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the cooling water's own flow characteristics to control the bypass. The geometric design of the passages enables the fluid to automatically regulate its own flow path based on pressure and direction differences, eliminating the need for external valve control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved geometry of the bypass passage creates natural flow direction control. The curvature design ensures that forward flow is encouraged while backflow is geometrically discouraged, providing automatic flow management without mechanical intervention.
3Reliability
If the passages are arranged with larger flow direction differences, then the backflow prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curved passage geometry to create flow direction control. The bypass passage is designed with specific curvature that naturally directs flow forward while making backflow geometrically difficult, achieving reliable backflow prevention through shape rather than complex mechanical arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the collection passage for fine object capture, the bypass passage for alternative flow, and their integration points. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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 design effectively prevents backflow, maintaining the collection efficiency of fine objects without the need for a valve to control the bypass passage, ensuring continuous and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a collector provided in a middle of the collection passage and configured to collect fine objects contained in the cooling water flowing through the collection passage
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes a drain passage, a collection passage and a bypass passage each connecting an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the drain passage, a branched portion branched into the collection passage and the bypass passage, and a confluence portion joined the collection passage and the bypass passage. A difference between flowing directions from the upstream portion into the branched portion and from the branched portion into the collection passage is smaller than a difference between flowing directions from the upstream portion into the branched portion and from the branched portion into the bypass passage. A difference between flowing directions from the bypass passage into the confluence portion and from the confluence portion into the downstream portion is smaller than a difference between flowing directions from the collection passage into the confluence portion and from the confluence portion into the downstream portion.