Tank and cooling unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerant storage tanks fail to prevent gas from entering the pump, especially when the tank's orientation or attitude changes, causing gas to accumulate near the outflow port and potentially flow into the pump.
Innovation Solution
The tank design includes a protruding flow path connected to the outflow hole that extends into the tank chamber, creating a secondary flow path where liquid flows in a direction different from the protruding flow path's extension, effectively preventing gas from entering the outflow hole regardless of the tank's attitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a restraining plate is disposed near the outflow port to prevent direct flow from inflow to outflow, then gas accumulation near the outflow port is reduced, but gas can still enter the outflow port when the tank orientation changes and the outflow port is positioned vertically above
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding flow path extends into the tank chamber from the outflow port, creating a three-dimensional flow barrier that forces liquid to travel a longer, more complex path. This dimensional extension prevents gas from reaching the outflow port by blocking the direct vertical path that becomes problematic when the outflow port is positioned above the inflow port.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding flow path acts as an intermediary structure between the inflow port and outflow port. It forces the liquid to flow through this intermediate structure, which in turn prevents gas from directly reaching the outflow port, regardless of tank orientation. The intermediary structure mediates the flow path to ensure liquid-only discharge.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tank orientation changes with the outflow port positioned vertically above, then liquid gathers vertically below the tank, but gas in the tank accumulates near the outflow port and may flow into the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding flow path is pre-configured to extend into the tank chamber before any orientation change occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when the tank is installed in any orientation, the flow path already exists to force liquid through a longer route, preventing gas from reaching the outflow port even when gravity causes gas to accumulate near the vertically upper position.
Solution Approach 2:
By extending the flow path into the tank chamber in three-dimensional space, the design adds a spatial dimension to the flow control mechanism. This dimensional extension creates a physical barrier that gas cannot easily overcome, ensuring that gas remains separated from the outflow port regardless of how gravity redistributes the liquid-gas mixture based on tank orientation.
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 effectively suppresses gas entry into the tank's outflow path, ensuring that gas does not reach the pump, even when the tank's orientation changes, thereby preventing pump idling and maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a protruding flow path connected to the tank chamber outflow hole and protruding from the tank chamber outflow hole into the tank chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A tank includes a housing, a tank chamber inflow hole, a tank chamber outflow hole, and a protruding flow path. The housing includes a tank chamber. Liquid flows into the tank chamber from the tank chamber inflow hole. Liquid in the tank chamber flows out from the tank chamber outflow hole. The protruding flow path is connected to the tank chamber outflow hole, and protrudes into the tank chamber from the tank chamber outflow hole. With this arrangement, outflow of gas from the tank chamber through which liquid flows is suppressed.