A bidirectional pressure regulating tower

Abstract

This invention discloses a bidirectional pressure regulating tower, relating to the field of water hammer protection for water transmission pipelines. The invention includes a tower body, base, valve disc, diaphragm, shield, overpressure relief assembly, bypass connection assembly, and pressure detection assembly. The built-in shield protects the diaphragm, and the top tower cover protects precision components. A matching ball valve enables online maintenance of components. This device retains the traditional passive pressure relief and water replenishment functions, and achieves active regulation by remotely controlling the electric valve of the bypass pipeline. The bypass pipeline also serves as a redundant channel, mitigating the risk of core component failure. This equipment can be integrated into a smart water management system, solving the problems of passive functionality, vulnerability, lack of backup, and inconvenient maintenance associated with traditional pressure regulating towers. It is suitable for long-distance pressurized water transmission systems.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of water hammer protection technology in pipeline water conveyance systems, and particularly to a bidirectional pressure regulating tower. Background Technology

[0002] In long-distance pressurized water transmission systems, water hammer caused by sudden power outages, pump shutdowns, or excessively rapid valve operation is a major factor leading to pipeline ruptures and equipment damage. To mitigate water hammer hazards, bidirectional pressure regulating towers are often installed at pump outlets or high points in the pipeline. When system pressure surges, the pressure regulating tower automatically opens its pressure relief channel to discharge high-pressure water to the atmosphere; when system pressure drops sharply (or even reaches negative pressure), the pressure regulating tower automatically replenishes water into the pipeline to prevent water column separation and to mitigate water hammer caused by flow interruption.

[0003] Currently, the more common bidirectional pressure regulating towers (such as the adjustable bidirectional pressure regulating tower disclosed in Chinese patent CN217463693U) adopt a mechanical structure of spring-diaphragm-valve disc. Its working principle is as follows: the spring preload presses the valve disc tightly against the sealing surface of the tower body, closing the pressure relief port during normal operation; when the pressure inside the pipeline rises and exceeds the spring's set value, the water pressure pushes the diaphragm and valve disc upwards against the spring force, opening the pressure relief port, and high-pressure water overflows from the pressure relief outlet; when the pipeline pressure drops sharply, water stored in the tower body is reversed and replenished into the pipeline, while the air valve opens to replenish air and prevent negative pressure.

[0004] However, existing pressure regulating towers of this type have the following technical problems in practical applications: (1) Passive function, unable to actively intervene: The pressure regulating tower relies entirely on the mechanical balance between pipeline pressure and spring force to trigger the action. When the system needs to be forcibly depressurized (such as when repairing downstream equipment), the operator cannot remotely or locally open the pressure relief channel. They can only passively wait for the pressure change to make the valve act on its own, lacking active control capability. (2) No redundancy backup, high risk of single point failure: Once the core mechanical components of the pressure regulating tower (such as spring breakage, diaphragm damage, valve jamming) fail, the entire water hammer protection function is lost. Before the fault is cleared, the pipeline system is in an unprotected operating state, which poses a great safety hazard. (3) The diaphragm is easily damaged by water flow: Compared with the patent, the pressure regulating tower does not have a baffle inside. When the water pressure suddenly rises (especially when the pressure drops first and then rises), the high-pressure water flow will directly impact the diaphragm, causing the diaphragm to tear or even break. In actual engineering applications, the diaphragm damage rate of this structure is high, and the damage mode is tearing rather than aging, which is a structural design defect. (4) The adjustment components are exposed, easily damaged and cannot be repaired online: The adjustment screw, spring seat air inlet and exhaust valve and other components of the patent are exposed outside the tower body without a protective cover. During transportation and installation, the adjustment rod is easily deformed, tilted and painted off due to bumps. During long-term operation, wind and rain cause rust and dust accumulation. Even small animals / insects can enter the air hole, causing blockage or poor sealing. In addition, there is no shut-off valve below the air inlet and exhaust valve (air valve). During maintenance, the main pipeline must be closed or the pump must be stopped, causing water supply interruption and making it impossible to repair online. (5) Unable to be remotely automated: The opening pressure adjustment of the existing pressure regulating tower relies on manual on-site turning of the regulating screw, and the valve status cannot be uploaded to the central control room. Therefore, it is difficult to connect to the PLC or SCADA system, and it is impossible to achieve interlocking with the pump group to start and stop, automatic adjustment according to the working conditions, and remote pressure relief by the dispatch center in emergency situations. In summary, existing mechanical bidirectional surge tanks have significant shortcomings in terms of active control, redundancy backup, structural protection, online maintenance, and remote automation. There is an urgent need for an improved bidirectional surge tank with active pressure relief / water replenishment functions, redundancy backup capabilities, protected core components, online maintenance, and remote control. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a bidirectional voltage regulating tower to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The present invention provides a bidirectional pressure regulating tower, comprising a tower body, a base connected to the bottom of the tower body, an inlet on the base, a drain outlet and a pressure relief outlet on the side wall of the tower body, a valve shaft, a valve disc and a diaphragm inside the tower body, the valve disc being guided by the valve shaft and moving up and down along the axis of the tower body, a pressure cap being provided on the valve disc, and a composite bushing being embedded inside the valve disc; A baffle plate is fixed inside the tower body. The baffle plate is an annular cylinder. The valve flap moves up and down inside the baffle plate. Holes are opened around the cylinder of the baffle plate towards the center. The holes are located in the center of the valve flap. The diaphragm is placed on the upper part of the valve flap and the top of the baffle plate. The top of the tower body is provided with a valve cover, and the valve cover is provided with four O-ring seals. An overpressure relief assembly is provided above the valve cover. The top of the overpressure relief assembly is covered with a tower cover. The tower cover is detachably connected to the valve cover or the tower body. The valve cover is connected to an air valve via a manual ball valve. One end of the manual ball valve is connected to the valve cover, and the other end is connected to the air valve. The inlet and outlet are connected to bypass connection components; The tower body is equipped with a pressure detection component.

[0007] Furthermore, the base is connected to the tower body by bolts, and O-ring one and O-ring two are provided between the base and the tower body for sealing.

[0008] Furthermore, an O-ring is provided between the gland and the valve disc.

[0009] Furthermore, the valve disc is provided with a sealing ring, which is locked onto the valve disc by bolts, one-way sealing plate one, and one-way sealing plate two.

[0010] Furthermore, the overpressure relief assembly includes a guide cover disposed above the valve cover, an adjusting screw passing through the top of the guide cover, a spring seat and a spring inside the guide cover, a bearing connected below the spring seat, the upper end of the spring abutting against the spring seat, and the lower end of the spring abutting against the valve disc through the bearing.

[0011] Furthermore, a sealing ring is fixed at the bottom of the valve disc to cooperate with the sealing surface of the tower body to form a seal.

[0012] Furthermore, the inner ring of the diaphragm is connected to the valve disc via an upper diaphragm pressure plate, and the outer ring of the diaphragm is bolted to the valve cover and the lower diaphragm pressure plate onto the tower body.

[0013] Furthermore, the bypass connection component includes a bypass pipe, the inlet end of which is connected to the inlet via a manual ball valve, and the outlet end of which is connected to the drain via an electric valve and a force-transmitting expansion joint.

[0014] Furthermore, the pressure detection component includes a pressure sensor and a pressure gauge, the signal output terminal of the pressure sensor is connected to the remote control system, and the electric valve is signal-connected to the remote control system.

[0015] Furthermore, the tower body is also equipped with a manhole cover and a manual drain ball valve. The manhole cover is hinged to the tower body and is equipped with a sealing gasket.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. Achieve active control function: By setting up electric valves and a remote control system, operators can remotely open or close the bypass pipeline in the central control room to achieve active pressure relief or active water replenishment, filling the technical gap that existing pressure regulating towers can only respond passively. 2. Provides redundant backup channels: When the mechanical parts of the pressure regulating tower body fail, the bypass pipeline can be used to replace the pressure relief, ensuring that the water hammer protection is not interrupted, which greatly improves the system reliability; 3. Protect the diaphragm from water flow impact: By setting an annular cylindrical baffle with holes around it, high-pressure water flow is guided to directly impact the valve disc, avoiding tearing damage to the diaphragm caused by water flow impact and extending the service life of the diaphragm. 4. Protect precision adjustment components: By setting up a tower cover, precision components such as adjustment screws, spring seats, bearings (15), and air valves are covered inside, preventing them from being bumped and deformed during transportation and installation, as well as from being exposed to wind and rain, rust, dust, and small animals during operation, thus improving the reliability and service life of the equipment. 5. Enable online maintenance of air valves: By connecting a manual ball valve in series below the air valve, the air circuit can be cut off by closing the manual ball valve. The air valve can be maintained without shutting down the main pipeline, which greatly improves the convenience of operation and maintenance and avoids owner complaints and economic losses caused by air valve blockage or poor sealing. 6. Connectable to smart water systems: Electric valves can be connected to PLC, SCADA or the owner's smart water system. Pressure sensors upload pressure data in the tower in real time, realizing functions such as interlocking with pump set start and stop, automatic adjustment according to pipeline pressure, and remote status monitoring, providing a hardware foundation for smart water management. 7. Bypass pipe diameter can be flexibly configured: The diameter of the bypass pipe can be enlarged according to the actual active pressure relief flow requirements, flexibly adapting to different engineering scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a front view of the bidirectional pressure regulating tower of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a side view of the bidirectional voltage regulating tower of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the bidirectional pressure regulating tower of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure relief port and sealing surface structure; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Base; 101. Inlet; 2. O-ring one; 3. O-ring two; 4. Tower body; 401. Drain outlet; 402. Pressure relief port; 403. Sealing surface; 5. Valve shaft; 6. Composite bushing; 7. Sealing ring; 8. O-ring three; 9. Gland; 10. Valve disc; 11. Diaphragm; 12. Valve cover; 13. Spring; 14. Tower cover; 15. Bearing; 16. Adjusting screw; 17. Spring seat; 1 8. Guide cover; 19. Air valve; 20. Manual ball valve one; 21. Diaphragm lower pressure plate; 22. O-ring four; 23. Diaphragm upper pressure plate; 24. Cover plate; 25. One-way sealing plate one; 26. One-way sealing plate two; 27. Manual drain ball valve; 28. Pressure sensor; 29. ​​Pressure gauge; 30. Manhole cover; 31. Sealing gasket; 32. Bypass pipe; 33. Force transmission expansion joint; 34. Electric valve; 35. Manual ball valve two. Detailed Implementation

[0019] like Figure 1-4 As shown, a bidirectional pressure regulating tower includes a tower body 4, with a base 1 connected to the bottom of the tower body 4. The base 1 is connected to the tower body 4 by bolts. An O-ring 1 2 and an O-ring 2 3 are provided between the base 1 and the tower body 4 for sealing, forming a water storage pressure vessel.

[0020] The base 1 is provided with an inlet 101 for connecting to the main pipe, and the side wall of the tower body 4 is provided with a drain outlet 401 and a pressure relief outlet 402.

[0021] The tower body 4 is equipped with a valve shaft 5, a valve disc 10, and a diaphragm 11. The valve disc 10 is guided by the valve shaft 5 and moves up and down along the axis of the tower body 4. The valve shaft 5 acts as a guide, restricting the degree of freedom of the valve disc, allowing it to move up and down along the valve shaft axis. The valve disc 10 adopts an unequal area design ratio, which is adjusted according to the working conditions, typically between 3% and 20%. A pressure cap 9 is provided on the valve disc 10, and an O-ring seal 8 is provided between the pressure cap 9 and the valve disc 10, preventing water flow from passing through the gap between the valve shaft and the valve disc, thereby achieving a sealing effect. A composite bushing 6 is embedded in the valve disc 10 to reduce friction and wear, prevent the O-ring seal 8 from failing due to wear of the valve shaft, and improve the overall service life.

[0022] A baffle plate 24 is fixed inside the tower body 4. The baffle plate 24 is an annular cylinder. The valve disc 10 moves up and down inside the baffle plate 24. Holes are formed around the perimeter of the cylinder of the baffle plate 24, slightly towards the center. These holes allow water to flow normally. When a peak high-pressure water flow arrives, the water directly impacts the valve disc, preventing damage to the diaphragm from direct water impact. The holes are located in the center of the valve disc 10. The diaphragm 11 is positioned above the valve disc 10 and on top of the baffle plate 24. The inner ring of the diaphragm 11 is connected to the valve disc 10 via an upper diaphragm pressure plate 23. The outer ring of the diaphragm 11 is bolted to the valve cover 12 and the lower diaphragm pressure plate 21 on the tower body 4.

[0023] The top of the tower body 4 is provided with a valve cover 12, and an O-ring seal 22 is provided on the valve cover 12. An overpressure relief assembly is provided above the valve cover 12. The overpressure relief assembly includes a guide cover 18 provided above the valve cover 12. An adjusting screw 16 is provided on the top of the guide cover 18. A spring seat 17 and a spring 13 are provided inside the guide cover 18. A bearing 15 is connected below the spring seat 17. The upper end of the spring 13 abuts against the spring seat 17, and the lower end of the spring 13 abuts against the valve disc 10 through the bearing 15.

[0024] The top of the overpressure relief assembly is covered with a tower cover 14. The tower cover 14 is detachably connected to the valve cover 12 or the tower body 4. The tower cover 14 is used to protect precision components such as the adjusting screw 16, spring seat 17, and bearing 15, and to prevent them from being bumped and deformed during transportation and installation, as well as from being exposed to wind and rain, rust, dust, and small animals during operation.

[0025] The valve cover 12 is connected to the air valve 19 via a manual ball valve 20. One end of the manual ball valve 20 is connected to the valve cover 12, and the other end is connected to the air valve 19. The connection sequence is: tower body 4 → manual ball valve 20 → air valve 19. The manual ball valve 20 is used to cut off the air supply when inspecting the air valve 19, enabling online maintenance without shutting down the system.

[0026] A bypass connection assembly is connected to the inlet 101 and the outlet 401. The bypass connection assembly includes a bypass pipe 32. The inlet end of the bypass pipe 32 is connected to the inlet 101 via a manual ball valve 35, and the outlet end of the bypass pipe 32 is connected to the outlet 401 via an electric valve 34 and a force-transmitting expansion joint 33. The series sequence is: inlet 101 → manual ball valve 35 → electric valve 34 → force-transmitting expansion joint 33 → bypass pipe 32 → outlet 401.

[0027] The manual ball valve 35 is used to temporarily shut off the bypass pipe 32 when the electric valve 34 is being inspected. The electric valve 34 is a pilot-controlled electric on / off valve, including a main valve and a solenoid pilot valve. The solenoid pilot valve is connected to a remote control system, and the opening and closing of the main valve is controlled by the on / off state of the solenoid pilot valve, which is used to quickly open and close the bypass pipe. A force-transmitting expansion joint 33 is also provided at the connection between the bypass pipe 32 and the inlet 101 or the drain outlet 401 to compensate for installation errors.

[0028] The nominal diameter of the bypass pipe 32 can be configured according to actual needs (e.g., DN80, corresponding to DN800 at the tower inlet), and can be enlarged according to the active pressure relief flow requirements.

[0029] The tower body 4 is equipped with a pressure detection component, which includes a pressure sensor 28 and a pressure gauge 29. The pressure gauge 29 is used for on-site pressure display. The signal output terminal of the pressure sensor 28 is connected to a remote control system (such as a smart water management platform, which is existing technology) for real-time uploading of pressure data inside the tower. The electric valve 34 is signal-connected to the remote control system to achieve remote active control.

[0030] The valve disc 10 is provided with a sealing ring 7, which is locked onto the valve disc 10 by bolts, one-way sealing plate 25 and one-way sealing plate 26, and is used to cooperate with the sealing surface 403 of the tower body 4 to form a seal.

[0031] The tower body 4 is also provided with a manhole cover 30 and a manual drain ball valve 27. The manual drain ball valve (27) is used to drain the water stored in the tower during maintenance. The manhole cover 30 is hinged to the tower body 4 and is provided with a sealing gasket 31 for internal maintenance.

[0032] The operation process of this invention is as follows: (1) Normal standby conditions The valve disc in the tower body closes the pressure relief port under the preload of the spring, and both the manual ball valve and the electrically controlled valve are in the closed state, with no water flowing through.

[0033] (2) Passive pressurization (water replenishment) working condition When the pressure inside the pipeline suddenly drops (such as when the pump stops), the water flow will continue due to inertia, causing the pump outlet pressure to drop sharply. At this time, the water accumulated in the tower will drop rapidly, and the air valve 19 will open rapidly after losing buoyancy due to the drop in water level. A large amount of air will be supplied from the air valve into the main pipeline, completing the passive pressurization.

[0034] (3) Passive pressure relief condition When the pressure in the pipeline suddenly increases (such as when a pump stops and water hammer occurs) and exceeds the set value of spring 13, the water pressure pushes the diaphragm 11 and valve disc 10 to move upward against the spring force, opening the pressure relief port. The high-pressure water is discharged from the drain port 401 to the atmosphere, completing the passive pressure relief. During this process, the baffle 24 guides the high-pressure water flow to directly impact the valve disc 10, preventing the diaphragm 11 from being directly impacted and damaged.

[0035] (4) Active pressure relief condition When the dispatch center needs to force pressure relief (such as during downstream equipment maintenance or when pipeline pressure slowly rises but does not reach the spring's activation value, yet still poses a potential hazard), the operator remotely issues an opening command. The solenoid pilot valve of electric valve 34 is energized, the main valve opens, and the pressurized water in the pipeline flows sequentially through inlet 101, manual ball valve 2 35, electric valve 34, force-transmitting expansion joint 33, and bypass pipe 32, exiting from drain outlet 401, thus achieving active and controllable pressure relief. When it is necessary to stop pressure relief, electric valve 34 can be remotely closed.

[0036] (5) Active water replenishment mode When the pressure in the main pipeline drops suddenly and the air supply from the air valve 19 is insufficient, the operator can remotely open the electric valve 34. The water stored in the tower body 4 flows back into the bypass pipeline 32 through the drain outlet 401, and then through the force transmission expansion joint 33, the electric valve 34, and the manual ball valve 2 35, and enters the main pipeline from the inlet 101 to quickly replenish the water volume and prevent the water column from separating.

[0037] (6) Redundancy backup operation When mechanical components of the pressure regulating tower body (such as spring 13 broken, diaphragm 11 damaged, valve disc 10 stuck) malfunction and cannot release pressure normally, the operator can immediately remotely open the electric valve 34 to establish a pressure relief channel through the bypass pipe 32, replacing the failed pressure regulating tower body and ensuring that water hammer protection is not interrupted.

[0038] (7) Online maintenance conditions Repairing electric valve 34: Close manual ball valve 2 35 to isolate the bypass pipe 32 from the main pipe, and disassemble, replace or repair electric valve 34 without stopping the main pipe.

[0039] To repair air valve 19: Close manual ball valve 20 to isolate air valve 19 from tower body 4, and complete the repair or replacement without shutting down the machine.

[0040] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bidirectional voltage regulating tower, characterized in that: The tower body (4) is connected to a base (1) at its bottom. The base (1) has an inlet (101). The side wall of the tower body (4) has a drain outlet (401) and a pressure relief outlet (402). The tower body (4) has a valve shaft (5), a valve disc (10) and a diaphragm (11) inside. The valve disc (10) is guided by the valve shaft (5) and moves up and down along the axis of the tower body (4). The valve disc (10) has a pressure cap (9) and a composite bushing (6) is embedded inside the valve disc (10). The tower body (4) has a baffle plate (24) fixed inside. The baffle plate (24) is an annular cylinder. The valve disc (10) moves up and down inside the baffle plate (24). Holes are opened around the cylinder of the baffle plate (24) towards the center. The holes are located in the center of the valve disc (10). The diaphragm (11) is placed on the upper part of the valve disc (10) and the top of the baffle plate (24). The top of the tower body (4) is provided with a valve cover (12), and an overpressure relief assembly is provided above the valve cover (12). The top of the overpressure relief assembly is covered with a tower cover (14), and the tower cover (14) is detachably connected to the valve cover (12) or the tower body (4). The valve cover (12) is connected to the air valve (19) via a manual ball valve (20). One end of the manual ball valve (20) is connected to the valve cover (12), and the other end of the manual ball valve (20) is connected to the air valve (19). The inlet (101) and outlet (401) are connected to bypass connecting components; The tower body (4) is equipped with a pressure detection component.

2. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (1) is connected to the tower body (4) by bolts, and O-ring one (2) and O-ring two (3) are provided between the base (1) and the tower body (4) for sealing.

3. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: An O-ring (8) is provided between the gland (9) and the valve disc (10).

4. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve disc (10) is provided with a sealing ring (7), which is locked on the valve disc (10) by bolts, one-way sealing plate (25) and one-way sealing plate (26).

5. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The overpressure relief assembly includes a guide cover (18) disposed above the valve cover (12). An adjusting screw (16) is provided on the top of the guide cover (18). A spring seat (17) and a spring (13) are provided inside the guide cover (18). A bearing (15) is connected below the spring seat (17). The upper end of the spring (13) abuts against the spring seat (17), and the lower end of the spring (13) abuts against the valve disc (10) through the bearing (15).

6. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 5, characterized in that: The bottom of the valve disc (10) is fixed with a sealing ring (7) for use in conjunction with the sealing surface (403) of the tower body (4) to form a seal.

7. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner ring of the diaphragm (11) is connected to the valve disc (10) through the upper pressure plate (23) of the diaphragm, and the outer ring of the diaphragm (11) is connected to the valve cover (12) and the lower pressure plate (21) of the diaphragm by bolts to the tower body (4).

8. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bypass connection assembly includes a bypass pipe (32), the inlet end of which is connected to the inlet (101) via a manual ball valve (35), and the outlet end of which is connected to the drain outlet (401) via an electric valve (34) and a force-transmitting expansion joint (33).

9. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 8, characterized in that: The pressure detection component includes a pressure sensor (28) and a pressure gauge (29). The signal output terminal of the pressure sensor (28) is connected to the remote control system, and the electric valve (34) is connected to the remote control system.

10. The bidirectional voltage regulating tower according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tower body (4) is also provided with a manhole cover (30) and a manual drain ball valve (27). The manhole cover (30) is hinged to the tower body (4) and a sealing gasket (31) is provided on the manhole cover (30).

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