Water Spraying System with Flow Sensor and Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household garden hoses produce water streams with low pressure and flow rate, making them inadequate for tasks requiring higher pressure and flow, such as cleaning surfaces, while traditional pressure washers provide excessive pressure and reduced flow, which can be damaging.
Innovation Solution
A portable water spraying system with a centrifugal pump driven by an engine, featuring a flow restriction valve, trigger for controlling the valve, and a flow sensor connected to a controller that turns off the engine when the flow rate falls below a threshold, optimizing pressure and flow for everyday cleaning tasks without the high pressures of heavy-duty washers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If nozzles are used to increase water pressure and exit velocity, then the outgoing velocity of the water stream is improved, but the outgoing flow rate is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the nozzle characteristics and pump operation based on detected flow rate conditions. When flow rate drops below the threshold, the controller modifies the nozzle opening or pump speed to restore flow while maintaining adequate pressure, rather than using a fixed high-velocity nozzle configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters (nozzle opening degree, pump speed) based on feedback from the flow rate sensor. This allows the system to transition between different operating states: high flow mode, balanced mode, and pressure-only mode, optimizing both velocity and flow rate according to actual conditions.
2Stress or pressure
If heavy duty pressure washers are used to provide extremely high pressure streams, then demanding tasks such as resurfacing or cutting are facilitated, but the flow rate is reduced and may cause damage for everyday cleaning tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pump speed and nozzle characteristics based on detected flow rate conditions. When flow rate drops below the threshold, the controller increases pump speed or modifies nozzle opening to restore flow while maintaining adequate pressure, rather than operating at fixed high-pressure settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters (pump speed, nozzle opening) based on feedback from the flow rate sensor. This allows the system to transition between different operating states: high flow mode for everyday cleaning, balanced mode, and pressure-only mode for demanding tasks, optimizing both velocity and flow rate according to actual conditions.
3Stress or pressure
If the pump operates continuously to maintain high pressure, then the water pressure is improved, but energy consumption increases and the system may operate unnecessarily when flow rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller, which monitors actual flow conditions and adjusts pump operation accordingly. When flow rate is sufficient, the pump can operate at reduced speed or remain idle, consuming minimal energy. When flow rate drops below the threshold, the controller increases pump speed or activates the pump to restore proper flow and pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous high-speed operation, the pump operates periodically or at variable speeds based on detected conditions. The controller monitors flow rate and activates or adjusts pump operation only when necessary, creating a periodic or demand-based operation pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate pressure when needed.
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 system provides a balanced increase in water pressure and flow rate suitable for household cleaning tasks, avoiding the damage caused by high-pressure washers while maintaining a flow rate sufficient for effective cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of water into the pump
Implementation Method 2
a pump driven by the engine, the pump including a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A water spraying system includes an engine, a pump driven by the engine, the pump including a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure, a sprayer fluidly coupled to the pump outlet, the sprayer including a flow restriction valve and a trigger for manipulating the flow restriction valve so that movement of the trigger selectively opens and closes the flow restriction valve, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of water into the pump, and a controller coupled to the flow sensor. The controller is configured to turn off the engine following a set time period of sensed flow below a threshold flow.