Manufacturing valve trim for eliminating valve noise

Abstract

A valve trim configured to cancel noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a cage with a flow path in a helical design or a helical layout. The flow path may direct flow around the central bore. A plug may reside in the bore. The plug may be longitudinally advanced to vary a parameter of flow through the control valve. In one embodiment, the helical design may split the flow inside the cage. The feature may extend the stroke of the flow without increasing the size of the cage (or the valve trim itself). Additive manufacturing may also maintain these portions within a specific design envelope as these techniques result in unique flow geometry within a unitary or unitary body. In this manner, the valve trim of the present disclosure may maintain or even reduce the cost of the control valve, while it may simplify the overall configuration of the valve apparatus.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Flow control devices play an important role in many industrial facilities. For example, power plants and industrial process facilities use different types of flow control to manage the flow of materials (usually fluids) throughout a vast network of pipes, tanks, generators, and other equipment. Because of the pressure changes that occur when the flow is transported across the equipment, noticeable noise is often generated during operation in these facilities for flow control devices such as control valves. This pneumatic noise can reach well over 100dba, or at least exceed the set limits necessary to provide a safe working environment for technicians and other workers at the facility. Summary of the invention

[0002] The disclosed subject matter relates to improvements in valve manufacture or construction that can attenuate such noise to a safe and acceptable level. Of particular interest are embodiments that direct the flow through a tortuous flow path. These embodiments force the pressure in each portion of the valve device to gradually drop. Such features can maintain the velocity of the fluid at a reasonable level, but the noise level is well within the specification or standard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] This specification refers to the following drawings:

[0004] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing valve trim;

[0005] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cross-sectional plan view of a portion of a valve trim;

[0006] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A plan view of a cross section of an example of a portion.

[0007] Figure 4 Show Figure 2 a front view of an example of a portion of; and

[0008] Figure 5 A front view showing a cross section of a flow control unit.

[0009] These figures and any descriptions herein represent examples that can disclose or explain the present invention. These examples include the best mode and also enable any person skilled in the art to practice the present invention, including making and using any device or system and performing any combined method. Unless otherwise stated in the discussion, the drawings are not drawn to scale. The elements in the examples may appear in one or more of the several views or in a combination of several views. The drawings may use similar reference numerals to represent the same or corresponding elements. The method is exemplary only and may be modified by, for example, reordering, adding, deleting and / or changing the various steps or stages. This specification may use the singular form of the word "one" or "a kind" to identify such a stage and any part, component, element or function; however, this should not exclude any plural form of such a name unless the specification explicitly states or explains such exclusion. Similarly, any reference to "one embodiment" or "a specific implementation" does not exclude the existence of other embodiments or specific implementations that also combine the features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Features of the examples shown in the above-mentioned figures will now be discussed. These examples are intended to eliminate noise in industrial or commercial valves. This noise is a concern because if not mitigated, it may create an unsafe or even dangerous working area for operators or technicians. The designs proposed herein can achieve tortuous pathways to quiet individual valves in the field. These pathways maximize the percentage of the total pressure drop that occurs to the flowing fluid due to shearing and boundary layer turbulence. Other embodiments are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 1 An example of a trim 100 is shown. This example resides in a distribution network 102, which is generally designed to convey material 104 through a network of conduits 106. The trim 100 may be part of a flow control unit 108 having a valve body 110 connected in series with the conduits 106. The device may also have an actuator 112. A valve stem 114 may extend from the actuator 112 to position a closure member 116 proximate a seat 118. In one embodiment, the trim 100 may include a retainer 120 that receives the closure member 116 therein.

[0012] In general, the inner part 100 can be configured to attenuate noise. These configurations can incorporate various parts that can address noise sources in the device. These parts can, for example, have structures that generally change the direction of flow as the flow moves radially through the part from the inside to the outside. Because complex curves, bends, or other features cannot be modified by traditional machining techniques, such structures can adopt geometric structures suitable for use with additive manufacturing.

[0013] Distribution system 102 can be configured to deliver or move resources. These configurations can be embodied as a large infrastructure. Material 104 can also include gases, liquids, solids, or mixtures. Conduit 106 can include pipes or pipelines that are typically connected to pumps, boilers, etc. The pipes can also be connected to tanks or reservoirs. In many facilities, the equipment forms a complex network.

[0014] The flow control unit 108 can be configured to regulate the flow of the material 104 through the conduits 106 in these complex networks. These configurations may include control valves and similar devices. The valve body 110 in such devices is typically made of cast or machined metal. The structure may form flanges at the openings I, O. Adjacent pipes 106 may be connected to these flanges. The actuator 112 may use compressed air or pressurized air and generate a load together with a piston, one (or more) springs or a flexible diaphragm. The valve stem 114 may form an elongated cylinder or rod that directs the load to a closing member 116, which is typically a cylindrical block or plug. The load may control the position of the plug to prevent flow through the opening in the seat 118.

[0015] The holder 120 can be configured to reside near the support 118. These configurations can include "porous" designs or designs that allow material to flow from inside the device to outside the device. Such features can be beneficial in achieving pressure drops because the tortuous or winding paths guide the fluid in various directions within the material of the holder 120. These paths reduce or attenuate noise. As described above, the design herein maximizes the length of the path without unnecessarily increasing the size of the holder 120.

[0016] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a plan view of a cross section of an exemplary structure of a retainer 120 is shown. Such a structure may be embodied as a cylinder 122 with a body having a hole 124 with a central axis C. The body may also have an outer surface 126. A flow structure 128 may be filled in the body. The configuration of the flow structure 128 may convey a flow F of the material 104 through one or more tortuous or winding paths. These paths may include a flow passage 130 extending through the body and terminating, for example, at an opening 132, each opening being present at the hole 124 and the outer surface 126. The cross section of the flow passage 130 may be circular. However, other cross sections may also be used, such as square or rectangular. Its surface may be textured or stippled, such as bumps. Such a texture may be configured to increase friction or resistance to the flow F. Along its length, the flow passage 130 may present a geometric structure having a design or layout that dissipates the pressure of the flow F. Such a design may extend or maximize the travel of the material 104 through the body. For example, such a feature may induce a pressure drop to reduce noise when the flow F exits the cylinder 122 at the opening 132 on the outer surface 126. One design may be such that the passage 130 is wound in a continuous or gradually widening curve that at least partially circumscribes the aperture 124. Such a curvilinear design or "spiral" layout may follow a radius R that increases with angular position α, both measured from or about the central axis C. The spiral design has the benefit of achieving sufficient pressure drop within a set size of the cylinder 122 (i.e., its outer diameter) to keep the overall size of the flow control device 108 within design specifications.

[0017] Figure 3 A plan view of a cross section of an exemplary structure of a cylinder 122 is shown. The flow passage 130 may be combined with a joint 134. Such a feature may increase the length of the pressure dissipation structure because it splits the flow from the "inner" opening 132 at the hole 124 into one or more branches 136. Each of the branches 136 may terminate at an independent "outer" opening 132 at the outer surface 126. In one embodiment, the flow passage 130 may include a valve 138 that may help achieve a pressure drop. The valve 138 may include a loop 140 with an inlet 142 and an outlet 144. The loop 140 may receive a portion of the flow F from the branch 136 at the inlet 142. This portion may form a branch flow F 1 The geometry of loop 140 allows the branch flow F to 1 is directed back into branch 136 at outlet 144. In one embodiment, branch flow F 1 Flowing in a direction opposite or at an angle to flow F. Such a feature may interrupt flow F in a manner that further reduces velocity or flow rate, which in turn facilitates a pressure drop that reduces noise as flow F exits passageway 132 at opening 130 at outer surface 126 .

[0018] Figure 4 A front view of an example of a cylinder 122 is shown. The body has a length L, which includes a number of flow dissipation sections 146. Each of the sections 146 may be combined with a flow structure 128 with an opening 132 that fills the outer surface 126. In one embodiment, additive manufacturing techniques (or 3-D printing) may help to manufacture or embed a tortuous path (or a flow passage 130 with a spiral layout) or other complex geometry in each section 146. These techniques may also be used to manufacture the sections 146 together so that the body of the cylinder 122 forms an integral device or a single device. In other embodiments, the sections 146 may form a single "plate" stacked on top of each other. This collective stack may form the cylinder 122. However, the present disclosure recognizes that the use of additive technology may avoid the need to stack "plates", thereby providing a better solution because it is less expensive, simpler, or achieves other benefits over stacked plate designs.

[0019] Figure 5 A front view from the side showing an exemplary structure of the trim 100 is shown. The cylinder 122 may reside in a housing 148 made of metal (or a material having suitable properties). The housing 148 may have a flow path 150 terminating at a flange-like opening 152. The flow path 150 may receive material 104 from an adjacent conduit 106, which is attached to the housing at the flange-like opening 152. The closing member 116 may be embodied as a removable plug 154 residing in the hole 124 of the cylinder 122. The valve body 110 may include a valve cover 156 inserted into the housing 148. The valve cover flange 158 may be coupled to the housing 148, thereby fixing the valve cover 156 in place. Fasteners F such as nuts and bolts may be used to achieve this purpose. The valve stem 114 may extend through the valve cover 156. In one embodiment, a packing 160 may be fitted over the valve stem 114. The packing 160 may be used to enable movement of the valve stem 114 but prevent the flow control unit 108 from emitting fugitive emissions.

[0020] The following examples include certain elements or clauses describing the embodiments contemplated within the scope of this specification. These elements may be combined with other elements and clauses to further describe the embodiments. This specification may include and contemplate other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. If these other examples have structural elements that are indistinguishable from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that are indistinguishable from the literal language of the claims, these other examples fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A valve, comprising: A valve trim comprises a retainer with a hole forming an axis, the retainer incorporating flow passages that follow a pattern of increasing radius with angular position about the axis.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The pattern forms a spiral.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage has an opening at the hole.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage has an opening on an outer surface of the retainer.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage is configured to enable flow through the retainer.

6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage forms branches that terminate at different openings on the outer surface of the retainer.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage splits the flow into two separate exhaust streams.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage has a joint that splits the flow into two different branches inside the holder.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The flow passage has a loop that forms a branch flow in a direction opposite to the flow in the flow passage.

10. The valve according to claim 1, wherein: The retaining frame has a monolithic structure.

11. A valve, comprising: a retainer having a hole; a closure member movable within the aperture; as well as a support, the support being stationary relative to the retaining frame, wherein the retainer has a body that directs fluid through flow passages that follow a pattern of increasing radius with angular position around the aperture 12. The valve according to claim 11, wherein The body has at least two flow dissipation sections, each flow dissipation section having at least one of the flow passages.

13. The valve according to claim 11, wherein: The body has at least two flow dissipation sections, each flow dissipation section having at least one of the flow passages and each flow dissipation section being longitudinally spaced from one another along the bore.

14. The valve according to claim 11, wherein: The main body forms a cylindrical body of a monolithic structure.

15. The valve according to claim 11, wherein: The body has a unitary structure with at least two flow dissipation sections, each flow dissipation section having at least one of the flow passages.

16. The valve according to claim 11, wherein The body has a unitary structure with at least two flow dissipation sections, each flow dissipation section having at least one of the flow passages and each flow dissipation section being longitudinally spaced from one another along the bore.

17. A valve, comprising: A valve trim that directs flow from the inside to the outside in a spiral pattern.

18. The valve according to claim 17, further comprising: A plurality of flow passages are provided, wherein the plurality of flow passages adopt the spiral pattern.

19. The valve according to claim 17, further comprising: A plurality of flow passages are provided, the plurality of flow passages being in the spiral pattern, the plurality of flow passages being longitudinally spaced apart from one another along an axis of the valve trim.

20. The valve of claim 17, further comprising: A plurality of flow passages are provided, the plurality of flow passages adopting the spiral pattern, each of the plurality of flow passages dividing the flow within the valve trim.

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