Supercharger Intake Duct Guide Projection Curvature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air intake ducts for superchargers suffer from significant turbulence and reduced supercharging efficiency due to the 90° angle between the air intake control valve and supercharger, leading to flow detachment and noise issues.
Innovation Solution
An air intake duct with a guide projection protruding from the duct body towards the duct outlet, forming a conical shape coaxial with the duct outlet axis, and a larger passage area in the major portion of the duct body to reduce turbulence and flow passage loss, combined with a funnel-shaped duct outlet to throttle air flow and prevent separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the air intake control valve is disposed above or below the supercharger to save space, then the space around the combustion engine is saved, but the air intake passage becomes curved at 90° causing flow detachment and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming a guide projection that protrudes towards the duct outlet in the curved portion of the air intake passage. This projection has a curved surface that gradually guides the air flow, replacing the sharp 90° angle with a smooth curved transition, thereby preventing flow detachment and reducing noise while maintaining the compact vertical arrangement
2Stability of the object's composition
If a projection is added inside the 90° curved portion to uniformize velocity distribution, then flow uniformity is improved, but considerable turbulence is generated reducing supercharging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide projection is strategically positioned only in the curved portion of the air intake passage where flow detachment occurs, rather than throughout the entire passage. This localized intervention uniformly distributes velocity in the critical curved region without creating excessive turbulence, thus improving flow uniformity while preserving supercharging efficiency
3Volume of moving object
If the air intake passage is curved at 90° to connect the control valve and supercharger, then space is saved, but flow passage loss increases due to turbulent flow
Solution Approach 1:
The guide projection with its curved surface gradually redirects the air flow through the 90° bend, replacing the sharp angular transition with a smooth curved path. This reduces flow separation and turbulence in the curved portion, thereby minimizing flow passage loss and energy dissipation while maintaining the compact 90° duct configuration
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 solution reduces flow passage loss and turbulence, ensuring smooth air flow into the supercharger, thereby increasing supercharging efficiency by minimizing frictional losses and preventing air flow separation.
Implementation Method 1
the guide projection is formed so as to protrude from a portion of a wall surface of the air intake duct which confronts the duct outlet in a direction towards the duct outlet, an intake air is guided and rectified by the guide projection before it is smoothly introduced in the duct outlet
Implementation Method 2
a larger passage area in the major portion of the duct body to reduce turbulence and flow passage loss
Implementation Method 3
a funnel-shaped duct outlet to throttle air flow and prevent separation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An air intake duct (54) for fluid connecting between an air intake control valve unit (52) and a supercharger (60) includes a duct inlet (56) fluid connected with an outlet port (52b) of the air intake control valve (52) and oriented in a first direction (D1), a duct outlet (58) fluid connected with a suction port (60a) of the supercharger (60) and oriented in a second direction (D2) substantially perpendicular to the first direction (D1), and a duct body (74) for defining an air intake passage (78) extending from the duct inlet (56) to the duct outlet (58). The duct body (74) has a portion confronting the duct outlet (58), which is formed with a guide projection (80) that protrudes towards the duct outlet (58).