Vacuum drainge system comprising buffer box
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The decreased height of temperature-controlled cabinet designs has led to issues with air accumulation over condensate fluid, causing difficulties in the functioning of vacuum drainage systems, particularly in the removal process, as existing buffer boxes are not effectively designed to handle this reduced space.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile buffer box with a baffle structure that separates the main compartment from the suction compartment, preventing air from entering and using a pre-aeration port to create a vacuum for efficient fluid removal, along with a pneumatic head pressure chamber and suction chamber vent to manage fluid flow and pressure, ensuring effective condensate evacuation without overflowing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the height of temperature-controlled cabinets is decreased, then the cabinet design is improved and space is optimized, but air accumulation over condensate fluid occurs causing difficulties in vacuum drainage system functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer box is divided into a main compartment for condensate collection and a suction compartment for vacuum drainage, separated by a baffle. This segmentation prevents air accumulation from interfering with the vacuum drainage process while maintaining a low overall height to fit under modern cabinets.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-chamber vertical design to a two-compartment horizontal design with a baffle. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain low height while providing separate zones for condensate collection and vacuum evacuation, preventing air accumulation issues.
2Device complexity
If a traditional single-chamber buffer box is used, then the structure is simple, but air accumulation over condensate fluid prevents effective vacuum drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer box is segmented into a main compartment for condensate accumulation and a suction compartment for vacuum evacuation. The baffle separation ensures that air accumulated over the condensate does not enter the suction compartment, maintaining vacuum integrity and drainage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle acts as an intermediary element between the main compartment and suction compartment. It physically blocks air accumulation from the main compartment from entering the suction compartment, allowing effective vacuum drainage to occur despite the low overall buffer box height.
3Length of stationary object
If the buffer box height is reduced to fit under modern cabinets, then space utilization is improved, but the ability to handle air accumulation and maintain proper fluid flow is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The design shifts from vertical space utilization to horizontal compartmentalization. By creating separate main and suction compartments side-by-side with a baffle, the system achieves effective fluid flow management in a low-height configuration that fits under modern cabinets.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction compartment is designed to work with vacuum pressure to draw condensate through the outlet. The pneumatic design allows effective fluid flow management despite the reduced height, using pressure differentials to move condensate efficiently.
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 buffer box efficiently removes condensate with reduced air flow, preventing overflow and maintaining a clean pneumatic sensing chamber, capable of handling sudden and sustained surge flows, and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (48) connected to the vacuum drainage piping (41) and configured to create negative pressure in the vacuum drainage piping (41)
Implementation Method 2
using a pre-aeration port to create a vacuum for efficient fluid removal
Implementation Method 3
A low-profile buffer box with a baffle structure that separates the main compartment from the suction compartment, preventing air from entering
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a buffer box of a vacuum drainage system, which vacuum drainage system comprises the buffer box (10), which buffer box (10) comprises as an outer frame structure side walls (21, 22), end walls (23, 24), a top wall (25) and a bottom wall (26) and which buffer box (10) further comprises at least one inlet (13) and an outlet (14), a vacuum drainage piping, at least one collection branch connected to the vacuum drainage system and to the outlet (14) of the buffer box (10), wherein each of the collection branches comprises a suction valve, a pump connected to the vacuum drainage piping and configured to create negative pressure in the vacuum drainage piping. The buffer box (10) comprises at least two compartments, which comprise a main compartment (11) and a suction compartment (12) with a suction outlet (16). Between the main compartment (11) and the suction compartment (12) a baffle (15) is located. The baffle (15) extends from the top wall (25) towards the bottom wall (26) and is located at a distance from the bottom wall (26) such that a baffle opening is formed between the main compartment (11) and the suction compartment (12). The baffle (15) is configured to prevent the air on top of the liquid in the main compartment (11) to enter the suction compartment (12).