Design and Optimization of the Faucet Flow Channel Structure

Abstract

Faucet is the most commonly used water saving device in daily life, but to improve the hydraulic performance of the faucet, its flow structure should be innovative design. According to the hydraulic performance requirements, two main factors(pressure,outflow)are analyzed by using TRIZ theory. For the faucet selected in this study, five factors (upper and lower curvature radius, maximum caber height, outlet angle and horizontal distance between inlet and outlet) are optimized using fluid simulation software FLUENT which is based on the standard k–e turbulence model, and the motion of the fluid in the channel is analyzed in detail. The results showed that, under the condition of test pressure, the curved flow channel has a significant effect on the decrease of the lower pressure area in the flow channel of faucet and so the maximum camber height is. The variation of the outlet angle and the horizontal distance of the inlet and outlet also affects the flow characteristics. It may be noted from the numerical simulation results that pressure contour and streamline, the optimized flow channel are more conducive to the water flow, which could reduce the impact of the flow channel and improve the stability of the flow field. The analysis provides a reference for the design of the flow channel structure.