Water Extractor Swirl Grooves Reduce Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water extractors in environmental control systems cause a pressure drop in air flow due to structural obstructions, such as swirlers, which reduces the power available for the turbine in air cycle machines.
Innovation Solution
A water extractor design featuring a supply duct with swirl grooves that gather and convey entrained water without a swirler, minimizing obstruction and using a labyrinthine scupper to efficiently remove water from high-pressure air flows, thereby reducing pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a swirler is used to swirl the air flow and enable water collection, then water removal efficiency is improved, but pressure drop increases causing power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the swirler component from the system entirely. Instead of using a swirler to create rotational flow for water separation, the invention employs a scupper with a specific geometric configuration (inclined at 30-60 degrees relative to the horizontal plane) that enables water removal through gravitational and centrifugal forces inherent in the air cycle machine operation, thereby eliminating the pressure drop associated with swirler obstruction while maintaining water removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The scupper acts as an intermediary structure between the air flow path and water collection. Its inclined geometric configuration mediates the separation process by providing a surface that facilitates water droplet coalescence and runoff into the collection chamber, replacing the need for active swirling while maintaining effective water removal
2Reliability
If a swirler and scupper arrangement is used for water extraction, then water can be removed from high pressure air flow, but the swirler presents resistance to air flow causing pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the swirler component from the water extraction system, retaining only the scupper structure. The scupper is configured with an inclined surface (30-60 degrees) that enables water separation through the natural forces present in the high-pressure air flow, eliminating the need for the swirler and its associated pressure drop while preserving water extraction functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the scupper, specifically its inclination angle (30-60 degrees relative to horizontal), to optimize water separation performance. This parameter modification allows the scupper to effectively separate water from high-pressure air flow without requiring the additional pressure drop caused by a swirler
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 design achieves efficient water removal with minimal pressure loss, maintaining airflow efficiency and power utilization in air cycle machines, comparable to traditional systems with in-line swirlers.
Implementation Method 1
The interior surface defines one or more swirl grooves within the wall for gathering and conveying liquid water entrained in an airflow traversing the inlet duct to the scupper inlet
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A water extractor (100) for an environmental control system includes a primary duct having an inlet and an outlet, a scupper (110) with a scupper inlet (120) extending about the inlet of the primary duct, and a supply duct. The supply duct (102) is in fluid communication with the primary duct and has a wall with an interior surface terminating at the scupper inlet. The interior surface defines one or more one swirl groove within the wall for gathering and conveying liquid water entrained in an airflow traversing the inlet duct to the scupper inlet. Environmental control systems, methods of making water extractors, and methods of removing water from air flows are also described.