Vortex Flow Damper Venting for Stable Water Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow dampers in pressure-accumulation and water-injection apparatuses face issues with maintaining a required water injection flow rate due to air accumulation in pressure equalization pipes, which disrupts the pressure difference offsetting effect, leading to inefficient water injection.
Innovation Solution
A flow damper design with a pressure equalization pipe positioned above the vortex chamber and equipped with an outgassing hole at its uppermost part, along with a liquid-inflow prevention unit such as a check valve or breathable waterproof membrane, to collect and discharge gas while preventing liquid inflow, ensuring effective pressure difference offsetting and maintaining required flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure equalization pipe is provided in a conventional flow damper, then the pressure difference offsetting effect is improved, but air accumulation in the pipe disrupts this effect and reduces water injection flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful element (air) is extracted from the pressure equalization pipe through the outgassing hole. The outgassing hole is specifically positioned at the highest point of the pressure equalization pipe to enable efficient air removal while maintaining the pressure equalizing function, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining pressure difference offsetting and preventing air accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the pressure equalization pipe is changed by positioning it above the vortex chamber and providing an outgassing hole at its highest point. This structural parameter change allows the pipe to fulfill dual functions: pressure equalization and air venting, thereby maintaining water injection flow rate while preserving the pressure difference offsetting effect.
2Ease of operation
If the pressure equalization pipe is positioned at a higher location, then air discharge is improved, but the pipe may interfere with other apparatus components
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equalization pipe is extended vertically into the third dimension (above the vortex chamber) rather than being confined to the horizontal plane. This dimensional change allows the pipe to access the highest point for optimal air discharge while being positioned in a spatial zone that minimizes interference with other components of the water injection apparatus.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pressure equalization pipe passes through the side of the vortex chamber, then installation is simplified, but water may accumulate in the pipe causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The potential harmful effect of water accumulation is converted into a beneficial design feature. By positioning the pressure equalization pipe above the vortex chamber with the outgassing hole at the highest point, any water that enters the pipe naturally drains back to the vortex chamber through gravity, while air can still be effectively discharged. This converts the potential harm of water accumulation into a self-draining system.
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 allows for sufficient pressure difference offsetting, enabling water injection with a required flow rate while preventing water wastage and interference with the apparatus's components, ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure equalization pipe is arranged such that at least a part of the pressure equalization pipe is located at a higher position than a top surface of the vortex chamber
Implementation Method 2
jets from the small flow-rate pipe and from the large flow-rate pipe impinge on each other in the vortex chamber, and the impinging jets form a non-swirling flow that flows straight toward the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A flow damper including a cylindrical vortex chamber, a small flow-rate pipe connected to a peripheral plate of the vortex chamber along a tangential direction, a large flow-rate pipe connected to the peripheral plate with a predetermined angle with respect to the small flow-rate pipe, an outlet pipe connected to an outlet formed in a central part of the vortex chamber, and a pressure equalization pipe with respective ends being connected to the peripheral plate on opposite sides of the outlet and at positions closer to a connection portion between the small flow-rate pipe and the large flow-rate pipe than positions facing each other, putting the outlet therebetween. The pressure equalization pipe is arranged with at least a part thereof is located at a higher position than a top plate of the vortex chamber, and an outgassing hole is provided at an uppermost part of the pressure equalization pipe.