Venturi Aspirator Vacuum Generation for Engine Air Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for generating vacuum using the Venturi effect are limited in suction mass flow rate, especially when the motive flow is boosted, and consume significant engine air, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a device with a housing defining a suction chamber and ports connected to an engine, utilizing a Venturi gap and optimized port configurations to increase suction flow rate without increasing motive flow rate, and optionally incorporating a solenoid valve for flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum pump is installed to compensate for vacuum shortfall, then vacuum availability is improved, but cost and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vacuum pump system with a fluid dynamics-based Venturi aspirator system. The aspirator uses the engine's existing air flow through a specially designed Venturi geometry to generate vacuum, eliminating the need for a separate mechanical pump and its associated weight, cost, and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the engine's own air intake flow to generate vacuum without requiring external power sources or additional mechanical components. The Venturi aspirator is integrated into the engine's air intake system, allowing the engine to serve its own vacuum generation needs.
2Weight of moving object
If a Venturi aspirator is used to generate vacuum, then cost and weight are reduced, but suction mass flow rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the Venturi aspirator by changing geometric parameters including the throat area ratio, divergent angle, and inlet area to maximize suction flow. The specific design parameters are tuned to achieve higher suction mass flow rates while maintaining efficient operation with boosted motive flows from turbochargers or superchargers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeled spout geometry that protrudes into the suction chamber, creating a more complex three-dimensional flow pattern. This 3D spout design enhances mixing and suction capabilities compared to traditional two-dimensional Venturi geometries.
3Reliability
If engine air is used for vacuum generation, then vacuum is produced, but engine air consumption increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The Venturi aspirator is integrated into the engine's existing air intake system, allowing it to utilize air that would otherwise be part of the normal intake flow. The design ensures that the vacuum generation process does not create additional parasitic losses beyond the minimal pressure drop required for Venturi operation.
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 effectively enhances suction mass flow rate under boosted conditions while minimizing engine air consumption and costs, providing a more efficient vacuum generation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
Devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect and systems, such as internal combustion engine systems, including the same are disclosed. The devices include a housing defining a suction chamber, a motive passageway converging toward the suction chamber and in fluid communication therewith, a discharge passageway diverging away from the suction chamber and in fluid communication therewith, and a suction passageway in fluid communication with the suction chamber. Within the suction chamber, a motive exit of the motive passageway is generally aligned with and spaced apart from a discharge entrance of the discharge passageway to define a Venturi gap, and the suction passageway enters the suction chamber at a position that generates about a 180 degree change in the direction of suction flow from the suction passageway to the discharge passageway.