Using shunt path in valve trim to mitigate valve noise

Abstract

A valve trim configured to cancel noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a holder having a flow path with an inner opening and an outer opening. The holder may also have a bore to receive a closure member or a "plug". The stopper may be longitudinally advanced to vary a parameter of flow through the control valve. In one embodiment, the discharge ports of the flow paths with adjacent inlets are offset or spaced apart from each other. In one embodiment, the outer opening is vertically offset. However, other designs may also employ a combination of radial, helical, or angular offset. This feature may prevent mixing of streams from jets in the same inlet plane. This feature may in turn reduce jet-to-jet interactions that may mitigate noise.

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 devices to manage the flow of materials (usually fluids) throughout a vast network of pipes, tanks, generators, and other equipment. Since pressure changes occur as the flow transports across devices, significant noise is typically generated during operation in these facilities for flow control devices such as control valves. This pneumatic noise can reach well above 100 dBA, or at least exceed the set limit necessary to provide a safe working environment for technicians and other workers at the facility. Summary of the Invention

[0002] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to improvements in valve manufacturing or construction that can attenuate such noise to a safe and acceptable level. Particular interest lies in embodiments that separate the outlets of flow paths having inlets in adjacent inlet planes. This feature can reduce the impact of jet-to-jet interaction at the outlet without increasing the size of the underlying component structure. As an additional benefit, multiple flow paths force a gradual pressure drop to occur within the valve device. This feature can maintain the velocity of the fluid at a reasonable level while keeping the noise level well within the specifications or standards. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] This specification refers to the following drawings:

[0004] Figure 1 A schematic diagram depicting an exemplary embodiment of a valve internals;

[0005] Figure 2 Depicting Figure 1 A front view of a cross-section of an example of valve internals;

[0006] Figure 3 Depicting Figure 1 A front view of a cross-section of an example of valve internals;

[0007] Figure 4 Depicting Figure 1 A front view of a cross-section of an example of valve internals; and

[0008] Figure 5 A front view depicting an exemplary structure of a flow control device.

[0009] These figures of this document and any description represent examples that may disclose or explain the invention. These examples include the best mode and also enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any device or system and performing any combined method. Unless otherwise stated in the discussion, the figures are not drawn to scale. Elements in the examples may appear in one or more of several views or in combinations of several views. The figures may use like reference numerals to denote the same or corresponding elements. The methods are merely exemplary and may be modified, for example, by reordering, adding, deleting, and / or changing individual steps or stages. This specification may identify such stages and any parts, components, elements, or functions with the singular words "a" or "an"; however, this should not exclude the plural forms of any such names unless the specification expressly recites or states such an exclusion. Similarly, any reference to "an embodiment" or "a mode of implementation" does not exclude the existence of additional embodiments or modes of implementation that also incorporate the recited features.

[0010] Specification

[0011] The features of the examples shown in the above figures will now be discussed. These examples are intended to eliminate noise in industrial or commercial valves. Such noise is a concern because if not mitigated, it can create a work area that is unsafe or even dangerous for operators or technicians. The design proposed herein enables a tortuous path to silence the respective valves in the field. These paths maximize the shear action and the percentage of the total pressure drop occurring in the flowing fluid due to boundary layer turbulence. Other embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0012] Figure 1 An example of a valve internals 100 is depicted. This example exists in a distribution network 102 that is generally designed to transport a material 104 through a network of conduits 106. The valve internals 100 can be part of a flow control 108 that has a valve body 110 connected in series with the conduit 106. The device may also have an actuator 112. A valve stem 114 can extend from the actuator 112 to position a closure member 116 in proximity to a seat 118. In one mode of implementation, the valve internals 100 can include a cage 120 that receives the closure member 116 therein.

[0013] Generally, the valve internals 100 can be configured to attenuate noise. These configurations can incorporate parts that address the noise sources in the device. These parts can, for example, have a structure that generally changes the direction of the flow as the flow moves radially from the inside to the outside through the part. As noted, this structure takes advantage. This feature can improve or increase the pressure drop because it provides a greater flow path density within the existing dimensions of the component.

[0014] The distribution system 102 can be configured to convey or move resources. These configurations can manifest as vast infrastructure. The material 104 can also include gases, liquids, solids, or mixtures. The conduit 106 can include pipes or pipelines that are typically connected to pumps, boilers, etc. The pipe can also be connected to tanks or reservoirs. In many facilities, this equipment forms a complex network.

[0015] The flow control 108 can be configured to regulate the flow of the material 104 through the conduit 106 in these complex networks. These configurations can include control valves and similar devices. The valve body 110 in such devices is typically made of cast or machined metal. This structure can form flanges at the openings I, O. Adjacent conduits 106 can be connected to these flanges. The actuator 112 can use compressed air or pressurized air and, together with a piston, one (or more) springs, or a flexible diaphragm, generates a load. The valve stem 114 can form an elongated cylinder or rod that directs this load to the closure member 116, which is typically a cylindrical block or plug. The load can manage the position of the plug within the valve internals 100 to regulate the flow of the material 104 through the opening in the seat 118. The position of the plug may expose some parts of the valve internals 100, for example, allowing flow to the outlet O. However, due to its size or other considerations, the plug may not expose other parts of the valve internals 100 at all.

[0016] The cage 120 can be configured to reside near the seat 118. These configurations can include a "porous" design or a design that enables the material to flow from the inside of the device to the outside of the device. Since the paths direct the fluid in all directions within the material of the cage 120, this feature can be beneficial for achieving a pressure drop. These paths reduce or attenuate noise. As noted, when the cage 120 is in place in the valve body 110, the paths can have openings that are vertically offset from each other. Since the openings can reside in areas where the plug is not typically exposed to the flow, this arrangement can utilize the "full" surface area of the cage 120.

[0017] Figure 2A front view depicting a cross-section of an exemplary structure of a cage 120 is shown. The structure may be embodied as a cylinder 122 having a body that includes a bore 124 with a central axis C. The body may also have an outer surface 126. A flow-through structure 128 may be filled within the body. The configuration of the flow-through structure 128 may convey a flow F of a material 104 through one or more tortuous or winding paths. These paths may include flow paths 130 that extend through the body and terminate, for example, at openings 132, each opening being present at the bore 124 and the outer surface 126. The cross-section of the flow paths 130 may be circular; however, other cross-sections, such as square or rectangular, may also be employed. Its surface may be textured, for example, with bumps or dimples. Such texture may be configured to increase the friction or resistance of the flow F. Along its length, the flow path 130 may exhibit a geometry having a design or layout that dissipates the pressure of the flow F. Such design may extend or maximize the travel of the material 104 through the body. For example, when the flow F exits the cylinder 122 at the opening 132 on the outer surface 126, such feature may cause a pressure drop to reduce noise.

[0018] One design may separate the exits of the flow paths 130 having adjacent inlets. This example includes a set of individual flow paths 130, typically identified by the letters A, B, C, D, each flow path terminating at an internal (or “inlet”) opening A1, B1, C1, D1 and an external (or “exit”) opening A2, B2, C2, D2, respectively. The internal openings A1, B1, C1, D1 are arranged in vertically adjacent planes. In one embodiment, the flow paths 130 connecting the openings 132 may adopt a geometry that “winds” tortuously through the body of the cylinder 122. Such tortuous geometry may create an axial flow (i.e., along the axis C) as well as an angled, radial, or helical flow within the body of the cylinder 122. It may also offset the exit openings 132 of the flow paths A and B, B and C, and C and D from each other. The offset or spacing S may prevent mixing of the fluid F discharged from the device. For example, in addition to the vertical offset described herein, a radial offset 140 may define the degree or amount of the offset or “radial asymmetry” that the design employs around the central axis C between the internal openings A1, B1, C1 and the external openings A2, B2, C2.

[0019] The complexity of the serpentine design and the offset spacing S can lead to asymmetry in the design. Since any complex curves, bends, or other features in the serpentine geometry are not amendable to traditional machining techniques, this asymmetry can lend itself to the use of additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing. These techniques can help fabricate or embed a serpentine path 130 or other complex geometries within the body of the cylinder 122, especially such that the body of the cylinder 122 is a single or monolithic structure or device. In other embodiments, separate "plates" can be stacked on top of each other. This assembled stack can form the body of the cylinder 122. However, the present disclosure recognizes that using additive techniques obviates the need to stack "plates", thus providing a better solution as it is less costly, simpler, or achieves other beneficial effects over stacked plate designs.

[0020] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A front view depicting a cross-section of an exemplary structure for the cage 120 is shown. An additional flow path 138 can also be incorporated within the cylinder 122. In Figure 3 this case, the flow path 138 can be embodied as a through-hole 140 that substantially radially directs flow from the interior of the device. This through-hole can penetrate the lower section 134 in any number or arrangement as needed. As Figure 4 best shown in

[0021] Figure 5 A front view is depicted as seen from the side showing an exemplary structure of the valve internals 100. The cylinder 122 can reside within a housing 144 made of metal (or a material with suitable properties). The housing 144 can have a flow path 146 that terminates at a flange-like opening 148. The flow path 146 can receive material 104 from an adjacent conduit 106 that attaches to the housing at the flange-like opening 148. The closure member 116 can be embodied as a movable plug 150 residing within the bore 124 of the cylinder 122. The valve body 110 can include a valve cap 152 fixed to the housing 144. Fasteners F such as nuts and bolts can be used for this purpose. The valve stem 114 can extend through the valve cap 152. In one embodiment, a packing 154 can be fitted above the valve stem 114. The packing 154 can be used to enable the valve stem 114 to move while preventing the flow control 108 from discharging fugitive emissions.

[0022] In view of the foregoing, improvements can generally optimize the use of surface area for noise cancellation in valves or flow controls. Due to the additional flow paths available to direct flow from the interior of the cage to the exterior, the design can maximize the flow through the cage walls. Additive manufacturing can provide a degree of flexibility to achieve layout complexity.

[0023] The following examples include certain elements or clauses that describe embodiments contemplated within the scope of this specification. These elements may be combined with other elements and clauses to further describe 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 not different in literal language from the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that are not materially different in literal language from the claims, then these other examples fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A valve, the valve comprising: A closing member; And A cage that surrounds at least a portion of the closing member, the cage including a hole having an axis, the cage introducing a flow path that terminates at an opening, the opening including an inlet on the inner surface of the hole and an outlet on the outer surface of the cage, Wherein the outlets of the flow paths with adjacent inlets are separated from each other to prevent the fluid discharged from the outlets from mixing.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outlets of the flow paths with adjacent inlets are vertically separated from each other.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outlets of the flow paths with adjacent inlets are radially separated from each other.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outlets of the flow paths with adjacent inlets are angularly separated from each other.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is angularly offset from the inlet on each flow path.

6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is radially offset from the inlet on each flow path.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is configured to guide the flow through the cage in the axial and radial directions relative to the axis of the hole.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path is configured to guide the flow through the cage in a helical direction relative to the axis of the hole.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the flow path has a tortuous geometry.

10. The valve according to claim 1, the valve further comprising: A through hole in the cage, the through hole having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the hole.

11. The valve according to claim 1, the valve further comprising: A through hole in the cage, the through hole having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the hole and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening on the inside of the hole.

12. The valve according to claim 1, the valve further comprising: A plurality of through holes in the cage, each through hole having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the hole.

13. A valve, the valve comprising: A cage having a hole; A closing member that can move in the hole; And A support that is stationary relative to the cage, Wherein the cage includes a body that is configured with a pair of outlets that are connected to a pair of adjacent inlets inside the hole, and Wherein the pair of outlets are arranged to prevent the fluid discharged from the outlets and originating inside the hole from mixing.

14. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the pair of outlets reside in different planes perpendicular to the hole.

15. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the pair of outlets reside in different planes perpendicular to the hole and are radially offset from each other.

16. The valve according to claim 13, wherein the pair of outlets reside in different planes perpendicular to the hole and are angularly offset from each other.

17. The valve according to claim 13, the valve further comprising a pair of spiral flow paths connecting the pair of outlets to the pair of inlets.

18. A valve, the valve comprising: a valve internals having a first outlet and a second outlet arranged to prevent mixing of respective fluid flows; and a closure member residing in the valve internals, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are respectively connected to a first inlet and a second inlet, the first inlet and the second inlet being adjacent to and close to the closure member.

19. The valve according to claim 18, wherein a third outlet is provided between the first outlet and the second outlet.

20. The valve according to claim 18, wherein the third outlet is connected to a third inlet adjacent to the second inlet, and wherein the third outlet is provided between the first outlet and the second outlet.

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