Spacer-Based Fluid Container Design to Prevent Freeze Lock
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operating fluid containers with movable components often freeze at low temperatures, leading to loss of mobility and functionality, particularly in applications like aqueous urea solutions for SCR processes and diesel fuel tanks, where freezing occurs below -11°C.
Innovation Solution
The design minimizes the contact area between movable components using spacers connected to only one of the components, creating a minimized contact surface that reduces the risk of freezing, with spacers being made of hydrophobic materials or having micro/nano-structured surfaces to further prevent freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact area between movable components is increased to ensure stability and functionality, then the reliability of the component is improved, but the freezing risk increases due to larger wetted surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer divides the contact interface into multiple discrete contact points rather than a continuous surface, reducing the total wetted area while maintaining structural support and component functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer creates localized contact zones with specific properties (reduced surface area, modified surface energy through hydrophobic treatment) that differ from the bulk component surfaces, enabling selective freezing resistance at critical contact points
2Reliability
If hydrophobic materials or micro/nano-structured surfaces are used on spacers to reduce wetting, then the freezing resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surface energy parameters of the spacer are modified through hydrophobic materials or micro/nano-structuring, changing the wetting behavior to reduce operating fluid adhesion and freezing tendency
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer combines base material with hydrophobic coatings or micro/nano-structured surface layers, creating a composite structure that provides both mechanical support and freezing resistance properties
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
This design ensures that movable components remain operational at temperatures below -11°C by minimizing the contact area and using hydrophobic materials to reduce wetting and freezing, effectively preventing the components from freezing together and reducing the force required to separate them.
Implementation Method 1
spacers being made of hydrophobic materials or having micro/nano-structured surfaces to further prevent freezing
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
The present invention discloses an operating-liquid container for accommodating an operating liquid, comprising at least two components (1, 2), which can be moved in relation to each other and can be brought into contact with the operating liquid and are protected against freezing at low temperatures. For this purpose, at least one spacer (3) is arranged between the two components, which spacer is connected only to one of the two components. The first component can be brought into contact with the second component by means of said spacer.