Vortex Chamber Swirl Channel Control for Stable Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vortex chambers face limitations in generating stable vortex flows across a wide range of flow rates, leading to issues such as insufficient vortex formation at low flow rates and potential damage at high flow rates, affecting combustion or plasma characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A vortex chamber with a swirl generator featuring a gas redistribution chamber and blocking walls that adjust the number of operational swirl channels by rotating entrances relative to blocking walls, maintaining constant velocity and controlling the vortex flow pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the gas flow rate is increased to handle higher loads, then the productivity increases, but the pressure strain on the tangential inlets increases and can damage the vortex chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The single inlet is segmented into multiple tangential inlets (at least two), distributing the gas flow across multiple channels. This reduces the pressure strain on each individual inlet while maintaining the ability to handle higher overall gas flow rates, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and structural strength.
2Productivity
If the gas flow rate is increased to sustain higher power, then the productivity increases, but the vortex flow pattern changes significantly, affecting combustion or plasma characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the inlet into multiple tangential channels, the gas flow is distributed in a manner that maintains consistent vortex flow characteristics across different total flow rates. Each inlet contributes to the overall vortex pattern, ensuring stability even as total productivity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple tangential inlets are designed to work together as a unified system that maintains consistent vortex flow patterns across a wide range of operating conditions. The geometry and arrangement of the inlets ensure that whether one or all inlets are active, the vortex flow characteristics remain stable, providing universal performance across different power levels.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the gas flow rate is decreased to reduce power consumption, then the energy use decreases, but the vortex flow cannot be generated and the plasma temperature increases, overheating the reactor
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented inlet design allows for flexible operation where individual tangential inlets can be activated or deactivated based on flow rate requirements. Even at lower total flow rates, the tangential geometry ensures sufficient velocity is achieved in the active inlets to generate and maintain vortex flow, preventing plasma temperature runaway.
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
Enables operation across a broader range of gas flow rates while maintaining vortex stability, supporting wider ranges of power, flow rate, pressure, and gas mixtures in applications like plasma reactors and combustion devices.
Implementation Method 1
a swirl generator having one or more swirl channels configured for injecting the gas into the cavity of the vortex chamber... when gas is injected in the cavity through the swirl channels, the gas is swirling and follows a vortex gas flow path
Implementation Method 2
the vortex chamber is further configured for relatively rotating the channel entrances with respect to the one or more blocking walls from a first angular position to at least a second angular position and vice versa
Implementation Method 3
a distribution channel configured for distributing the gas received from the one or more main gas supply inlets to the channel entrances of the swirl channels
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a vortex chamber comprising a cavity elongating along a central axis and a swirl generator. The swirl generator comprises a plurality of swirl channels configured for introducing a gas flow into the cavity as a vortex flow about the central axis, each swirl channel comprising a channel entrance and a channel exit. The swirl generator further comprises a gas redistribution chamber comprising one or more main gas supply inlets for receiving a gas, a distribution channel configured for distributing the gas received from the one or more main gas supply inlets to the channel entrances of the swirl channels, and one or more blocking walls configured for blocking and unblocking one or more entrances of the plurality of swirl channels. The vortex chamber is further configured for relatively rotating the channel entrances of the swirl channels with respect to the one or more blocking walls from a first angular position to at least a second angular position and vice versa, and wherein when in the second angular position the one or more blocking walls block a larger number of channel entrances than when in the first angular position.