Fluidic Diodes

grabcad

Fluidic diodes are leaky one way valves where resistance across the valve depends upon which port is used to introduce fluid. The original design was by Tesla and he called his a "valvular conduit". It works by directing the flow back against the inflow. Another type of fluidic diode is the vortex diode. The archetype is a Zobel diode and consists of a disk with two ports, one located axially and the other tangentially, ( bit.ly/zYZ6cG ) Flow introduced into the axial port has low resistance but flow introduced into the tangential port creates a vortex that resists further inflow. The right angle geometry, while effective, can be awkward in flowing pipes. My model functions similar to a Zobel diode but has an axial geometry. It includes a vortex chamber and a teardrop shaped crossbar. Flow introduced via the short end is split but follows the shape of the crossbar (Coanda effect) into the long end with low resistance. Flow introduced into the long end is split and directed into the vortex chamber producing resistance to flow. As with all fluidic diodes, resistance depends on a number of factors including viscosity, pressure, geometry of the valve and Reynold's number. However, diodicity is measured easily as the ratio of the pressures obtained while introducing a given volumetric flow via each port. This model can be printed in one piece without internal supports by aligning the short end down.