Volume Compensating Element for Urea Filter Freezing Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter systems for urea solutions in SCR systems face issues with residual liquid freezing and expanding, leading to material fatigue due to deformable volume compensating elements that leave open space and are prone to wear from repeated deformation cycles.
Innovation Solution
A deformable volume compensating element that substantially fills the internal cavity of the filter media, providing increased compressible volume to accommodate expansion while reducing residual liquid, and a combined first end cap and volume compensating element design for easier assembly and removal, with a coupling mechanism to transmit pulling forces and ensure secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deformable volume compensating element is used to accommodate liquid expansion, then the system can handle freezing conditions, but the element leaves open space that allows residual liquid to freeze and expand, causing material fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the compensating element by using a two-phase fluid system (liquid and gas phases) that can transition between states to accommodate volume changes. This replaces the solid deformable element with a fluid system that naturally adapts to pressure changes without material fatigue, solving both the freezing protection need and the durability issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pneumatic-hydraulic compensation system where a fluid-carrying space contains both liquid and gas phases. The gas phase acts as a compressible cushion to accommodate volume expansion during freezing, eliminating the need for repeated deformation of solid materials and thus preventing material fatigue while maintaining freezing protection.
2Volume of stationary object
If the volume compensating element is made larger to fill more cavity space, then expansion accommodation improves, but the amount of residual liquid increases, creating more freezing risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the composition parameters of the compensating medium by introducing a gas phase alongside the liquid phase. This creates a two-phase system where the gas occupies part of the volume, providing expansion accommodation without requiring additional liquid, thus increasing compensating volume while reducing residual liquid quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fluid system combining liquid and gas phases in the same space. This composite approach allows the system to provide both liquid sealing and gas compressibility, achieving effective volume compensation with reduced liquid content compared to using liquid alone.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the compensating element is designed to be highly deformable for volume change, then expansion accommodation improves, but the element becomes prone to wear from repeated deformation cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanically deformable solid element with a pneumatic-hydraulic system using compressible gas. This eliminates repeated mechanical deformation of solid materials, thereby preventing material fatigue while maintaining volume adaptability through the compressibility of the gas phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from solid mechanical deformation to fluid phase compression. By using the compressibility parameter of gases rather than the elasticity parameter of solids, the system achieves volume adaptability without the wear and material fatigue associated with repeated solid deformation cycles.
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 mitigates the issues of residual liquid freezing and material fatigue by ensuring the volume compensating element fills at least 90% of the cavity, reducing the need for expansion space and facilitating easy filter element removal without damage, while maintaining mechanical rigidity and elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
the elongate volume compensating element is deformable under the exercise of external pressure
Implementation Method 2
it provides a greater compressible volume to free up space for the expansion of the liquid as it comes under pressure or freezes
Data Source
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AI summary
Volume compensating assembly comprising a first end cap and an elongate volume compensating element arranged on said first end cap, wherein said elongate volume compensating element is shaped, in its uncompressed state, so as to substantially fill an internal cavity of a substantially tubular filter media when said first end cap is arranged at an end of a filter media. The present invention also pertains to a device for filtering liquids, the device comprising: a filter media having an internal cavity; said volume compensating assembly, having said first end cap arranged on an end of said filter media and having said elongate volume compensating element arranged inside said internal cavity; a second end cap arranged at a second end of said filter media; wherein said elongate compensating element takes up a reduced volume when subjected to a pressure from the outside.