Fluid Regulating Valve

Abstract

A valve for regulating the fluid pressure and/or the fluid flow in a fluid distribution network. The valve comprises a stator (10, 110) defining an interior space (14, 114); at least one inlet port (15, 131a, 132a) and at least one outlet port (15, 133a, 134a). The inlet port and outlet port are arranged for being connected to a fluid duct. A rotor (20, 120) is arranged rotatable about a rotational axis in the interior space and is provided with a rotor core (21, 121) and a number of vanes (23, 123), which are movable in relation to the core. The rotor continuously divides, in sealing relation with the stator, upon rotation of the rotor the interior space into at least two mutually separated chambers (14a, 14b, 114a-d). Each chamber comprises an inlet opening (17a, 17b, 112a) and an outlet opening (18a, 18b, 112b). The valve further comprises at least one inlet channel (17, 131, 132) which connects the at least one inlet port with at least one inlet opening of each of said at least two chambers and at least one outlet channel 18, 133, 134) which connects at least one outlet opening of each of said at least two chambers with the at least one outlet port

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a valve for regulating the fluid pressure and / or the fluid flow in a fluid distribution and transportation network. In particular the invention relates to such a valve comprising a stator and a rotor arranged in the stator. The valve may be used to decrease the fluid pressure and / or flow, i.e. to produce a negative differential pressure or flow between the inlet port and the outlet port of the device by extracting power from the fluid. The rotor may be connected to a braking means for causing a decrease of the fluid pressure or the fluid flow.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0002]There often exists a need for regulating the fluid pressure and / or the fluid flow in fluid distribution networks. An example of such a fluid distribution network is a water distribution system used in cities for distributing drinking water from a central reservoir to a plurality of households and other water consumers. Such networks or systems typically comprise one or ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]An inlet opening and an outlet opening for each chamber are arranged in the stator. The inlet openings may be arranged at a first circumferential end of each chamber and the outlet openings may be arranged in the stator at the opposite circumferential end of the respective chamber. Alternatively, the inlet and outlet openings may be arranged in end walls of the stator. In both cases, each chamber extends between the respective inlet opening and outlet opening arranged in the stator. Upon rotation of the rotor, the rotor core or at least one vane is always in sealing contact with the stator between each chamber. In this way all chambers are mutually separated from each other. Additionally, at least one vane is always in sealing contact with the stator between the inlet and outlet of each chamber. The fluid pressure prevailing in the upstream duct thus acts on the vane in each chamber and drives the rotor to rotation. By braking the rotor, energy is harvested from the fluid, whereby the pressure and/or the flow at the outlet is lower than the pressure and/or the flow at the inlet.

[0014]By means of the at least one inlet channel, which connects an upstream portion of the conduit to each chamber and the at least one outlet channel which connects each chamber with a downstream portion of said conduit, essentially the same pressure will prevail in each chamber. Hereby a number of advantages are achieved. The pressure equilibrium entails for that the rotor is at least essentially balanced in a radial direction. Hereby, the radial forces acting on the rotor's bearings will be reduced, which in turn results in reduced bearing friction. By this means the efficiency of the device is increased at the same time as the wear of the bearings is reduced and the service life increased. The radial balancing of the rotor also reduces the radial deflection of the rotor. This also entails for a reduced wear of the rotor and the surrounding housing. Additionally the reduced radial deflection allows for that the rotor and thereby the entire device may be constructed with a comparatively large axial extension in relation to the radial strength of the rotor and its supporting components. The inventive balancing of the rotor also reduces the internal leakage, which in previously known arrangements is caused by t

Problems solved by technology

Even though the previously known valves may be utilized at and adapted for harvesting of energy while regulating the fluid pressure and/or the fluid flow in different types of fluid distribution networks, there still remain disadvantages of the known arrangements.

A major disadvantage of the previous known

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