Yarn Cooler Flow Adjustment Plates for Uniform Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing yarn coolers experience uneven cooling due to non-uniform airflow distribution in the passage-enlarged portion of the duct, leading to disturbances and high dispersion in flow rates, which affects the cooling capability of yarns spun from a spinning device.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of radially arranged flow adjustment plates with bulging portions at their entrance-side ends, arranged in an arc shape, to guide airflow smoothly into the gaps between the plates, reducing the likelihood of flow deviation and enhancing uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If partition plates are arranged radially in the passage-enlarged portion with upstream end portions aligned in a straight line, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the airflow becomes disturbed and flow rate dispersion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidflow uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The upstream end portions of the flow adjustment plates are formed with curved surfaces instead of straight edges. Specifically, each flow adjustment plate has a curved surface at its upstream end that faces the incoming airflow, and these curved surfaces are arranged to form an arc shape. This curvature design allows the airflow to follow the curved surfaces smoothly, reducing flow separation and disturbance, thereby improving flow uniformity while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Manufacturing precision

If flow adjustment plates are arranged to equalize flow rates in the passage-enlarged portion, then cooling uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling uniformityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow adjustment plates are designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, being thicker at the upstream end and thinner at the downstream end. This local variation in thickness allows different parts of the passage to receive appropriately adjusted airflow. The upstream portions with greater thickness provide more flow resistance where needed, while downstream portions with lesser thickness allow smoother flow continuation, achieving uniform cooling without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If the passage width increases toward the yarn cooling unit, then the cooling coverage area increases, but the airflow becomes non-uniform with higher flow rates at the center and lower at the edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverage areaVSAvoidflow distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The passage-enlarged portion is divided into multiple flow adjustment plates arranged radially, creating multiple flow channels. These plates segment the airflow into discrete paths that can be individually controlled. By adjusting the position, angle, and shape of each plate, the airflow is distributed more evenly across the expanded passage width, preventing central concentration and improving edge flow rates, thus achieving uniform cooling coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This arrangement minimizes flow disturbances and dispersion in airflow, resulting in more uniform cooling across the width of the passage-enlarged portion, thereby reducing variations in cooling capability among yarn cooling units.

Implementation Method 1

gas collides with the entrance-side end portion of each flow adjustment plate... the flow of gas tends to greatly deviate from the flow adjustment plates to cause a disturbance of the flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Data Source

PatentEP3208367B1Yarn cooler
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 TMT MACHINERY INC
  • EP3208367B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3208367B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3208367B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object is to suppress a disturbance of flow in a passage-enlarged portion and to minimize the degree of dispersion in flow rates with respect to the width direction of a passage. A yarn cooler 3 includes cooling cylinders 21 and a duct 25 through which air is supplied to the cooling cylinders 21. The duct 25 includes: a sector-like passage-enlarged portion 28 in which the width of the passage increases toward the cooling cylinders 21; and a plurality of flow adjustment plates 29 arranged in the passage-enlarged portion 28 so as to radially fan out toward an exit portion of the passage-enlarged portion 28. Each of the flow adjustment plates 29 includes a bulging portion 32 at its end portion closer to an entrance portion of the passage-enlarged portion 28. The bulging portions 32 are arranged in an arc protruding toward the exit portion of the passage-enlarged portion 28.