Water Injector Nozzle Reduced Cross-Section Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water injector assemblies require six INCONEL bolts for support due to their cross-sectional size and operational pressures, making them costly and impractical to reduce the number of bolts used.
Innovation Solution
A water injector assembly with a reduced cross-sectional size is designed, utilizing a hollow injector body with varying interior sections and a spray control assembly that includes a biasing device, allowing for the use of fewer fasteners, such as four, to securely attach the assembly to a pipeline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If six INCONEL bolts are used to support the water injector assembly, then the assembly can withstand operational pressures and forces, but the cost increases due to the high number of bolts and expensive INCONEL material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the injector body by introducing varying wall thicknesses (thicker at mounting surfaces, thinner in mid-section) and optimized internal flowpath dimensions. This allows the assembly to maintain structural strength at critical load-bearing points while reducing overall material consumption and cross-sectional size, enabling fewer bolts to suffice.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector body employs non-uniform wall thickness distribution, with thicker sections strategically positioned at bolt mounting locations to withstand operational pressures and forces, while thinner sections are used in non-critical areas. This localized quality optimization maintains strength where needed while reducing overall material usage and assembly size.
2Strength
If six INCONEL bolts are used to support the water injector assembly, then the assembly can withstand operational pressures and forces, but the cost increases due to the expensive INCONEL material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters including wall thickness variations, flowpath dimensions, and overall assembly size. These parameter changes reduce the total volume of INCONEL material required, directly lowering material costs while maintaining the structural integrity needed to withstand operational pressures with fewer bolts.
Solution Approach 2:
By concentrating thicker material sections only where structural strength is critical (at bolt mounting surfaces and pressure-bearing areas), the design minimizes INCONEL material usage in non-critical regions. This local quality approach reduces overall material consumption and manufacturing cost while preserving necessary strength properties.
3Area of stationary object
If the cross-sectional size of the water injector assembly is reduced, then fewer bolts can be used to support the assembly, but the assembly must still maintain structural integrity under operational pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs varying wall thickness parameters throughout the injector body, with thicker sections at critical mounting and pressure-bearing locations and thinner sections elsewhere. This parameter variation allows the assembly to have a reduced overall cross-sectional size while maintaining sufficient structural integrity at load-bearing points with fewer bolts.
Solution Approach 2:
The design concentrates material thickness and structural reinforcement only where needed for withstanding operational pressures and forces, rather than uniformly thickening the entire assembly. This local quality approach enables a smaller overall cross-sectional footprint while preserving necessary strength at critical locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A water injector assembly includes an injector body having a substantially hollow interior. The injector body defines an inlet opening defined within an outer radial surface of the injector body at a first axial location along the injector body. The injector body defines a flowpath opening in fluid communication with the inlet opening such that the flowpath opening is configured to receive the fluid from the inlet opening. The injector body defines an outlet opening defined within the injector body at a second axial location along the injector body. The outlet opening is in fluid communication with the flowpath opening, such that the outlet opening receives the fluid from the flowpath opening. The second axial location of the outlet opening is different than the first axial location of the inlet opening.