×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

(OP)
I am trying to make a prototype of a new kind of pulsating machine similar to the pulsations and water pressure seen in a Water Pick(Oral Irrigation) device. I am going to try to use a paddle-wheel mounted inside a water tight cylinder that barely circumscribes the paddle-wheel. The entering pipe will be positioned parallel to the exiting pipe and will be located near the edge of the paddle-wheel for the larger moment force. There will also be a one way air valve attached to the cylinder. Now I think the device will pulsate, but I don't know if it will because of temporary pressure change when the paddle-wheel blocks the exit or if it will because of air being sucked into the system. Anyone have any advice??

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

(OP)
I forgot to mention that this machine must run off just regular house water pressure, and no electrical source of energy is possible.

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

spinning, relatively large, paddle wheel is too complicated and precisiion intense. Try a wing section shaped flapper, lift generated by passing water pulls flapper slightly into water stream, opens an air entry port and the reduced pressure draws air in just as the flapper begins to restrict the water flow causing the flapper to close and seal the air inlet again. Something like that.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it's not safe ... make it that way.

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

(OP)
By precision intense do you mean the angle the water is hitting the wheel? The diameter of the wheel would be about 2.5 times as large as the inlet tubing. This is based off quarter or half inch tubing also.

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

fabricating tiny paddle wheels, then spinning them in tight quarters at high rpm and keeping the bearing surface from wearing down and the clearances tight isn't as easy as it looks. If you manage to do it economically, it probably won't run very long.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If it's not safe ... make it that way.

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

How about a miniature sprinkler head? Similar to the showerhead suggestion.

RE: Creating a pulsating water flow with a paddlewheel.

It sounds like a mini-horizontal centrifugal "pump" - something like a Goulds-ITT 3144 model ? - but you're removing energy instead of adding it.

But those don't "pulsate" when they add pressure to a system, why would expect the waterwheel to pulse? If the wheel is restricted (by a brake or by friction) wouldn't that be a wear point or fouled by deposits and scum/biologics buildup?

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources