Water Hammer Mitigation Device With Deflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for mitigating water hammer in fluid flow systems, such as cylindrical dampeners and fixed choke devices, are ineffective in redirecting backward energy pulses efficiently, often causing damage before the pulse is absorbed and result in pressure drops that can affect fluid flow and system operation.
Innovation Solution
A mitigation device with an expansion housing and deflector that redirects backward energy pulses into a dampener chamber, maintaining operational pressure and minimizing pressure drops in forward flow, using a hemispherical expansion chamber and a convex-concave deflector configuration to capture and absorb the energy surge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical dampener is used to mitigate water hammer, then the backward energy pulse can be redirected, but the system must be pressurized entirely before the pulse changes direction, causing damage to pipes and components before mitigation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion chamber is pre-configured with a deflector positioned to immediately intercept and redirect backward energy pulses upon their arrival. This preliminary positioning of the deflector ensures that no time is lost waiting for system pressurization to enable pulse redirection, as the geometric structure is already in place to deflect the pulse into the expansion chamber where it can be absorbed
Solution Approach 2:
The mitigation device divides the fluid path into distinct segments: a forward flow path and a separate pulse absorption path through the expansion chamber. The deflector creates this segmentation by physically separating the backward pulse from the forward flow, allowing the pulse to be redirected into the expansion chamber while forward flow continues uninterrupted, thus providing immediate protection without affecting system timing
2Reliability
If fixed choke devices are positioned in-line to mitigate backward surge, then some mitigation is achieved, but these devices cause pressure drop in the system which adversely affects fluid flow and can cause fluid to gas off
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is designed with specific geometric properties (convex side facing forward flow, concave side facing backward pulse) that create different flow characteristics for forward and backward directions. This local quality differentiation allows the device to effectively redirect backward pulses while maintaining minimal resistance to forward flow, thus achieving surge mitigation without significant pressure drop
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion chamber acts as an intermediary space between the backward pulse and the upstream piping system. The deflector mediates the pulse direction into this intermediate chamber, where the pulse energy is absorbed by the expanding fluid volume and dampening elements, preventing direct transmission of pressure spikes upstream while maintaining normal operating pressure in the forward flow path
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 device effectively mitigates water hammer by capturing and absorbing up to 85% of the backward energy pulse, reducing pressure spikes and minimizing the impact on forward fluid flow, thus preventing damage to piping systems while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The deflector substantially redirects a backward energy pulse, which enters the expansion chamber through the outlet, away from the inlet
Implementation Method 2
The expansion housing defines an internal expansion chamber having an expansion volume sufficient to hold a plurality of volume units of the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A water hammer mitigation device (100) includes an inlet (102), an outlet (104), an expansion housing (106), and a deflector (136). The inlet (102) receives fluid from a source. The outlet (104) passes the fluid to a destination. The expansion housing (106) is disposed between the inlet (102) and the outlet (104). The expansion housing (106) defines an internal expansion chamber (132) having an expansion volume sufficient to hold a plurality of volume units of the fluid. Each volume unit is defined by a fluid flow volume over a duration of time. The deflector (136) is disposed within the expansion chamber (132). The deflector (136) substantially redirects a backward energy pulse, which enters the expansion chamber (132) through the outlet (104), away from the inlet (102).