Underground Reservoir Inlet With Multiple-Stage Structure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inlets for underground reservoirs fail to generate a sufficient vortex when the water flux is lower than the design flow, leading to energy dissipation issues and potential structural damage.

Innovation Solution

A multiple-stage inlet structure with a flow portion, drop portion, and inlet portion, featuring multiple-stage boards and a spiral protrusion, which generates and maintains a vortex even at low flux levels by controlling flow velocity and dissipating energy effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional inlet structure is used, then the installation space is small and the installation process is simple, but the vortex flow is not sufficiently formed when flux is lower than design flux

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidvortex formation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet structure is divided into multiple functional segments: a flow portion for water intake, a drop portion for vertical transport, and an inlet portion with multiple-stage boards for vortex generation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, ensuring reliable vortex formation even at low flux while maintaining installation simplicity through modular construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet portion incorporates multiple-stage boards that create a three-dimensional vortex generation zone. By adding vertical dimensionality with stacked boards at different heights, the structure generates effective vortex flow at low flux conditions without complicating the overall installation process, as the multi-level configuration is integrated into the existing inlet framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a spiral intake structure is used, then a vortex flow is naturally generated, but the vortex flow is not sufficiently formed when flux is lower than design flux

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevortex generation capabilityVSAvoiddischarging efficiency at low flux

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple-stage boards are strategically positioned at specific locations within the inlet portion to create localized vortex generation zones. Each board is placed to optimize flow interaction at that particular location, ensuring effective vortex formation even when overall flux is low, thereby maintaining discharging efficiency without requiring high flow rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet structure utilizes multiple-stage boards with varying angles and positions to change flow parameters dynamically. As water flows through each stage, the board configurations modify velocity distribution and flow direction, enhancing vortex generation capability at low flux conditions and maintaining productive discharging efficiency across varying flow rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If vortex flow is not generated, then energy of the flow does not dissipate, but various problems such as damage and breakage of structure are caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy dissipationVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple-stage boards are positioned upstream in the inlet portion to generate vortex flow before water enters the drop portion and reaches the underground reservoir. This preliminary vortex generation dissipates flow energy in advance, preventing high-impact energy from reaching the structure and causing damage or breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet structure converts the potentially harmful high-energy flow into a beneficial vortex pattern. By guiding water through the multiple-stage boards, the kinetic energy that could cause structural damage is transformed into rotational vortex motion, which dissipates energy safely through controlled turbulence and friction, protecting the structure while maintaining effective water transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 multiple-stage inlet structure ensures stable vortex generation and discharging efficiency, preventing structural damage and maintaining efficient water flow into the underground reservoir even at low flux conditions.

Implementation Method 1

an inlet portion (200) having a multiple-stage structure to generate a vortex of the water (1) to be transported to the drop portion (300)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex generation: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

a drop portion (300) for transporting the water (1) to the underground reservoir (20)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9534369B2Inlet of underground reservoir having multiple-stage structure

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 KOREA INST OF CIVIL ENG & BUILDING TECH

AI summary

According to one aspect of the invention, an inlet of an underground reservoir having a multiple-stage structure includes: a flow portion, wherein water flowing in the flow portions; a drop portion transporting the water to a underground reservoir from the flow portion; and an inlet portion having a multiple-stage structure to generate a vortex in the water to be transported to the drop portion.