Introduction
Vortex Amplifier is a device which is used for regulating the flow pressure.
The Vortex amplifier has advantages over other flow pressure controller devices like quick response, no moving mechanical parts, which means no problem of wear and tear and hence it is maintenance free. It can instantly react to pressure variations and hence it is more efficient than other conventional pressure controller device
Working
The vortex amplifier or VXA is a square box with inlet and outlet on the either sides. The center of the Vortex Amplifier consists of a flat square opening to which four control ports are attached.
The outlet side of the vortex amplifier is connected to the off gas train and fan. The inlet side is connected to the system under control. On turning the fan on, air is drawn from the glovebox through the VXA, over the square plate and out of the VXA into the off gas train. As the glovebox depression increases, air passes through the four control ports to maintain a steady flow to the fan. The control ports are arranged in such a manner that as air is drawn through them, a vortex is set up on the side of the square plate nearest the outlet. This vortex sets up a pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the VXA.
Under normal operating conditions, the vortex set up in the Vortex Amplifier produces a pressure drop across the device. In an accident condition, there is a sudden loss of primary containment, which causes a large volume of air to be sucked into the low pressure inside the glovebox. The air is sucked through the vent system and across the VXA. This large volume flow swamps the vortex in the VXA, and therefore instantaneously connects the fan to the System under control. In this way a flow of air is maintained in through the System under control, through the VXA, and out through the vent system.
Characteristics
- It is compact and light weight, and hence mobile
- It operates at high speeds
- The device is easy to operate since its operation is based on few basic principles, thus making troubleshooting simpler.
- It is 100% hazard-free.
Designs
The new, the Dual Mode Vortex Amplifier (DMVA), device is based around existing vortex amplifier (VA) technology. This was untested. Experimental and computational evaluation using both liquid and gaseous control fluids has shown that the device is capable of achieving the goals set by the theoretical modeling of the combustion chamber.