Sol-Gel Swellable Plug for Organic Liquid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack efficient and economical solutions for controlling the flow of organic liquids, particularly in preventing environmental contamination and managing process mixtures in manufacturing, where measurement and control of organic species in water are crucial.
Innovation Solution
A system involving a pipe with a porous plug made of a sol-gel derived composition that swells to control the flow of organic liquids, using a sol-gel derived composition with aromatically-bridged organosiloxane particles and embedded organic polymers, which increases pressure to actuate a liquid pressure-sensitive control means, allowing for directional change in flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flow control methods are used for organic liquids, then flow control is achieved, but the methods are inefficient and economical for preventing environmental contamination and managing process mixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the sol-gel composition's volume change parameter in response to organic liquid contact. The composition swells from its initial volume to a larger volume upon contacting organic liquids, thereby changing the flow characteristics dynamically. This parameter change enables effective flow control without complex mechanical components, improving both reliability and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a composite material system consisting of sol-gel derived composition with aromatically-bridged organosiloxane particles and embedded organic polymers. This composite structure combines the swelling properties of sol-gel with the structural support of the porous plug and housing, creating an effective flow control system that is both reliable and economical for environmental and manufacturing applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a porous plug with sol-gel derived composition is used to control organic liquid flow, then flow control and pressure actuation are achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sol-gel derived composition performs self-service by automatically swelling in response to organic liquid contact, thereby controlling flow and actuating the pressure-sensitive valve without external control systems. This self-service mechanism reduces device complexity while maintaining adaptability for various organic liquids and flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug made of sol-gel derived composition acts as an intermediary between the organic liquid and the pressure-sensitive control means. It translates the chemical interaction with organic liquids into mechanical pressure changes that actuate the valve, providing versatile flow control while keeping the overall system structure relatively simple.
3Reliability
If the sol-gel derived composition swells to control flow, then flow restriction and pressure increase are achieved, but the plug volume and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The use of porous plug material allows the sol-gel derived composition to swell effectively within the existing plug structure. The porous architecture provides space for volume expansion while maintaining structural integrity and flow control functionality. This enables reliable flow control without requiring a proportionally larger plug volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static plug structure to a dynamic one where the sol-gel composition can change volume in response to organic liquid contact. This dynamic behavior allows the plug to adapt its volume to control flow requirements, achieving reliable flow control while minimizing the maximum volume required compared to a permanently enlarged plug.
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
Effectively controls the flow of organic liquids by restricting or redirecting them through the use of swellable sol-gel derived compositions, enhancing the barrier strength and pressure sensitivity, suitable for both pure organic liquids and bi-phasic mixtures, even at high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the plug is made of a sol-gel derived composition swellable to at least 1.5 times its volume to cause the plug to swell and control the flow of liquid through the downstream end
Implementation Method 2
contacting the sol-gel derived composition with the organic liquid to swell the sol-gel derived composition and increase the pressure of the liquid inside the housing to actuate the liquid pressure sensitive control means
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and system for controlling the flow of an organic liquid by flowing an organic liquid through a pipe having an upstream end with an unconstricted portion and a downstream end with a constricted portion, the constricted portion having an inner diameter that is at least 10% smaller than the inner diameter of the unconstricted portion, and a porous plug formed of sol-gel derived particles in the pipe, the plug having a length at least two times the diameter of the pipe. Also disclosed is a method and system, the system including a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet and containing a sol-gel derived composition and a liquid pressure sensitive control means operatively connected to the liquid inlet for controlling the flow of the organic liquid, contacting the sol-gel derived composition to actuate the liquid pressure sensitive control means and controlling the flow of the organic liquid in response to the actuation.