Vacuum Activated Closed Loop Siphon Air Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing siphon systems fail to effectively manage air accumulation and bubble size, leading to inefficiencies in energy extraction from atmospheric pressure, as they rely on inadequate air intake mechanisms and lack proper methods for priming and maintaining vacuum conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a micro-bubble diffuser with pores or tubules of specific diameters to break up air into micro-bubbles, a scavenger loop to prevent air accumulation, and a vacuum pump for priming, eliminating the need for flow regulating valves and ensuring efficient air removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air intake is placed at the top of the siphon structure, then air can be introduced into the system, but air accumulates at the apex and kills the siphon effect
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful air accumulation is extracted from the apex chamber through a separate air removal system. The air escape tube with its check valve mechanism removes air that accumulates at the top of the siphon structure, preventing the siphon effect from being killed while allowing air introduction to continue at the top.
Solution Approach 2:
A porous plate is placed at the air intake location to break incoming air into small bubbles. This porous material allows air to pass through while creating sufficient bubble dispersion, enabling air introduction without immediate accumulation that would kill the siphon effect.
2Reliability
If flow velocity is reduced to allow bubble diffusion, then air bubbles can be carried away, but energy extraction efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The air intake is segmented into multiple small bubbles through the porous plate, and air removal is segmented into a separate system with check valves. This segmentation allows the main flow to maintain high velocity for energy extraction while air is handled through specialized pathways that ensure removal without requiring flow reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve acts as an intermediary mechanism that allows air to be removed from the apex chamber without requiring the main liquid flow to slow down. The valve opens only when air pressure builds up, allowing intermittent air removal while maintaining continuous high-velocity flow for energy extraction.
3Reliability
If small holes are used in the air plate, then small bubbles are produced, but the hole size and procedure for attaining same are not specified
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of specifying individual hole dimensions, the invention uses a porous plate with defined porosity characteristics (5-50% open area). This approach ensures consistent small bubble production through the porous structure's inherent properties rather than relying on precise hole-by-hole fabrication, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliability.
4Productivity
If the siphon system is primed and then air bubbles are introduced through the top air plate, then energy extraction begins, but maintaining the prime while elevating the apex air entry point above 10m is unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The system is primed in advance before operation, and the air removal system is pre-configured with check valves positioned at the apex. This preliminary setup ensures that when air is introduced during operation, the removal pathways are already in place to prevent prime loss, even when the apex is elevated above 10m.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve mechanism provides feedback-based air removal - it remains closed during normal operation to maintain the prime, and automatically opens when air pressure builds up in the apex chamber. This feedback control maintains the prime while allowing air introduction, enabling operation with the apex elevated above 10m.
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 enables sustainable energy extraction from atmospheric pressure by preventing air accumulation, optimizing bubble sizes, and maintaining a stable vacuum, thus enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the siphon-based energy recovery system.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-bubble diffuser (7) designed to break up the air into micro-bubbles. The diameters of the porous openings should be in the order of five microns, and no greater than ten microns.
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum is created by water flowing at high speeds through a pipe. The water flows continuously based on the siphon effect.
Implementation Method 3
energy to be extracted from the atmosphere by creating a vacuum into which atmospheric air is drawn through a vacuum operated motor. The motor operates on the pressure differential between atmospheric pressure at the motor inlet and the vacuum level created by liquid flowing vertically through a tube via gravity.
Implementation Method 4
a scavenger loop operates independently to prevent air and/or gas from accumulating at the siphon apex
Implementation Method 5
The first embodiment uses a hydrophobic microporous membrane. The microporous membrane is a thin, planar or cylindrical sheet of polymeric material containing a very large number of microscopic pores. Hydrophobic membranes block liquids, while allowing air to flow through the membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
The Present Invention enables energy to be extracted from the atmosphere by creating a vacuum into which atmospheric air is drawn through a vacuum operated motor. The motor operates on the pressure differential between atmospheric pressure at the motor inlet and the vacuum level created by liquid flowing vertically through a tube via gravity. The greater the pressure differential, the greater the airflow through the motor, and the greater the energy extracted by the vacuum motor. The Present Invention is a workable and sustainable vacuum energy recovery system based on siphon principles, and specifically addresses problem areas immediately identifiable to a siphon-based system with air infusion. A scavenger loop operates independently to prevent air and/or gas from accumulating at the siphon apex. Micro-diffusers designed for sweeping effects across the air-liquid interfaces also provide for the optimal ratios of air volumes and bubble sizes compatible with the liquid flow rates within a given siphon. Additional flow controlling valves are not required.