Venturi Fuel Pump Flow Controller for Air Gap Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel pumps with venturi designs often experience efficiency losses due to air gaps forming in the venturi area, especially at low flow rates, which reduces the pressure drop and overall performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flow controller downstream of the venturi outlet with a non-parallel wall that directs fuel to wet the entire cross-sectional area of the venturi, preventing air gaps and ensuring efficient operation across a range of flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a venturi design is used in the fuel pump, then fuel flow is generated through pressure drop, but air gaps form in the venturi area especially at low flow rates which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The flow controller is positioned downstream of the venturi outlet to preliminarily direct fuel flow back toward the venturi area, ensuring the venturi remains wetted before air gaps can form and degrade performance. This preliminary action prevents the harmful condition rather than correcting it afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by directing liquid fuel flow through the flow controller to physically wet the venturi area. The liquid fuel acts as a hydraulic medium to displace air and maintain continuous liquid contact with the venturi surface, preventing air gap formation through fluid dynamic action.
2Stress or pressure
If the venturi area is not fully wetted, then air gaps form reducing pressure drop, but increasing fuel flow rate may not always ensure complete wetting especially at low flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow controller serves as an intermediary device between the venturi outlet and the downstream system. It redirects a portion of the fuel flow to act as a mediating fluid that wets the venturi area, ensuring continuous liquid contact and maintaining pressure drop effectiveness regardless of the main fuel flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow controller changes the flow direction parameter of the fuel discharged from the venturi outlet. By altering the flow path to redirect fuel back toward the venturi area, it ensures wetting conditions are maintained even when the overall flow rate is low, thereby maintaining the pressure drop parameter.
3Device complexity
If a parallel wall flow controller is used, then structure is simple, but fuel flow does not effectively wet the entire venturi cross-sectional area
Solution Approach 1:
The flow controller employs a non-parallel wall configuration that is asymmetric relative to the venturi axis. This asymmetric geometry creates a flow pattern that effectively directs fuel across the entire venturi cross-sectional area, ensuring complete wetting. The asymmetric design compensates for the simplicity constraint by using geometric orientation rather than complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-parallel wall in the flow controller introduces a dimensional change in the flow direction, angling the fuel flow to cover the entire cross-sectional area of the venturi. This dimensional adjustment in wall orientation creates a more effective wetting pattern compared to a simple parallel wall configuration.
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 flow controller effectively maintains the venturi area wetted, enhancing the pressure drop and maintaining high efficiency of the fuel pump even at low flow rates, ensuring consistent fuel delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The nozzle has an orifice through which fuel is ejected
Implementation Method 2
the venturi is downstream of the nozzle and has an inlet through which fuel discharged from the orifice flows, a passage downstream of the venturi inlet through which fuel flows to create a drop in pressure in the area of the venturi
Implementation Method 3
The flow controller causes fuel to fill the venturi to ensure efficient performance of the fuel pump
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel pump for a fuel system includes a nozzle, a venturi, a pump inlet and a flow controller. The nozzle has an orifice through which fuel is ejected and the venturi is downstream of the nozzle and has an inlet through which fuel discharged from the orifice flows, a passage downstream of the venturi inlet through which fuel flows to create a drop in pressure in the area of the venturi, and an outlet through which fuel is discharged from the venturi. Fuel is drawn through the pump inlet by the drop in the pressure created in the area of the venturi and the flow controller is downstream of the outlet and has a chamber in which fuel from the venturi outlet is received. The flow controller causes fuel to fill the venturi to ensure performance of the fuel pump.