Valve arrangement

Abstract

Valve arrangement comprising first 10 and second 30 valve components. The first valve component has a plurality of discrete flow channels 70 each having an inlet aperture 80A and one or more outlet ap

Claims

1. A valve arrangement comprising first and second valve components, the first valve component providing a plurality of discrete flow channels, each of the discrete flow channels having an inlet aperture and one or more outlet apertures, and the second valve component providing a port arrangement having an inlet port and at least two outlet ports, the first and second valve components being movable relative to each other between a plurality of open flow positions, wherein in each of the open flow positions the port arrangement is aligned with a different one of the discrete flow channels, such that the inlet port is brought into fluid connection with the inlet aperture of said flow channel, and at least one outlet port is brought into alignment with at least one outlet aperture of said flow channel.

2. The valve arrangement of Claim 1, wherein the first valve component is an inner valve component and the second valve component is an outer valve component.

3. The valve arrangement of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the second valve component partially or fully surrounds the first valve component.

4. The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first valve component and the second valve component are arranged concentrically.

5. The valve arrangement of Claim 4, wherein the second valve component is arranged concentrically about the first valve component.

6. The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first valve component and the second valve component are arranged about the same central longitudinal axis.

7. The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second valve components are rotatable relative to each other.

8. The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the relative movement of the first and second valve components is controlled by a positioning motor.

9. The valve arrangement of Claim 8, when dependent on Claim 7, wherein the positioning motor is a rotational motor.10.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of discrete flow channels is formed in an external wall of the first valve component.11 .The valve arrangement of Claim 10, wherein the inlet apertures and the one or more outlet apertures of the discrete flow channels are formed in an exterior surface of the external wall of the first valve component.12.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first valve component and / or the second valve component are cylindrically shaped.13.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the open flow positions and the discrete flow channels are spaced about the circumference of the first valve component.14.The valve arrangement of Claim 13, wherein the open flow positions and the discrete flow channels are equidistantly spaced about the circumference of the first valve component.15.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the discrete flow channels run parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first valve component and / or the second valve component.16.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet port and at least two outlet ports are through-ports that extend through a wall of the second valve component.17.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the discrete flow channels comprises two or more outlet apertures.18.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the port arrangement has at least three outlet ports.19.The valve arrangement of Claim 18, wherein at least one of the discrete flow channels comprises three or more outlet apertures.20.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the first valve component further provides at least one discrete closed channel, the discrete closed channel comprising no outlet apertures.21 .The valve arrangement of Claim 20, the first and second valve components being movable relative to each other to a closed position, wherein in the closed position the port arrangement is aligned with the discrete closed channel, such that none of the at least two outlet ports are aligned with an outlet aperture.22.The valve arrangement of any preceding claim, wherein the port arrangement comprises an inlet connector arranged to fluidly connect the inlet port to an inlet flow in use, and at least two outlet connectors arranged to fluidly connect the at least two outlet ports to at least two separate outlets in use.

23. The valve arrangement of Claim 22, wherein the at least two outlet connectors are adjustably movable relative to the second valve component to adjust the resistance to flow through the at least two outlet ports in use.

24. A system comprising two or more valve arrangements according to any preceding claim.

25. The system of Claim 24, wherein at least one of the one or more outlet ports of the second valve component of a first valve arrangement is fluidly connected to an inlet port of the second component of a second valve arrangement.

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