6-Way HVAC Valve Layout for Compact Low-Leakage Flow Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements for indoor temperature regulating systems, such as HVAC and liquid radiator systems, face challenges in efficiently switching between different supply liquids and maintaining a compact design, with issues like close proximity of supply/return ports leading to leakage risks and difficulty in detecting the valve's position.
Innovation Solution
A 6-way valve with a moveable valve selector that allows switching between two fluid sources and a treatment unit by turning a single control pin, enabling recirculation flows from either fluid source to the treatment unit, and featuring a disc plate with specific openings and channels for flow paths, ensuring a compact and reliable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a 6-way valve is constructed by superimposing two 3-way valves, then the valve can control flow between multiple temperature conditioning liquid supplies, but the supply and return ports are in close proximity leading to leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed with ports arranged in different spatial dimensions and orientations. The first and second supply ports are positioned on opposite sides of the valve body, while return ports are arranged in a different plane, increasing the spatial separation between supply and return flows and reducing leakage risk between adjacent ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is segmented into distinct flow paths with separate inlet and outlet openings for each temperature conditioning liquid supply. Each supply line has its own dedicated inlet and outlet ports, allowing independent control and reducing cross-contamination or leakage between different fluid streams.
2Volume of moving object
If supply and return ports are placed close together to maintain compact valve design, then the valve size is reduced, but the proximity increases leakage risk and makes position detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Ports are distributed in three-dimensional space rather than clustered in one location. The valve body utilizes multiple faces and levels to position ports, maintaining a compact overall valve volume while ensuring adequate spacing between supply and return ports through spatial distribution.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate valves are used for hot side and cold side flow control, then each valve can be optimized for its specific function, but the system complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate 3-way valves are merged into a single integrated 6-way valve body. The valve incorporates multiple inlet and outlet openings for different temperature conditioning liquid supplies within one unified structure, reducing the total number of valves while maintaining the ability to control multiple fluid streams independently through a single actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed as a universal component that can handle multiple temperature conditioning liquid supplies simultaneously. A single valve assembly provides the functionality of multiple valves, with each supply line having dedicated control paths through the valve body, reducing system complexity while maintaining manufacturing flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve (1) for an indoor temperature regulating system, e.g. a Heating and Ventilating Air Condition (HVAC) system or liquid radiator heating system. The valve (1) comprises a fixed valve housing (2) provided with at least six valve connections (201-206, 205', 206') and a valve selector (3) for switching between providing a circulating flow from a first fluid source F1and a second fluid source F2 thereby enabling fluid of different temperatures to a treatment unit (T). The valve selector (3) comprises a disc plate (67) provided with openings (601-606, 605', 607'', 609, 610) and the valve main body (4) is provided with valve openings (401-406, 402', 404', 405', 406', 402'', 404'') being connected via channels to said valve connections (201-206, 205', 206'). The valve selector (3) and valve main body (4) are designed such that they may slide against each other. In the first mode are valve openings in register with lower disc plate openings such that two flow paths connecting the first fluid source F1 with the treatment unit T are enabled and in the second mode are valve openings in register with lower disc plate openings such that two flow paths connecting the first fluid source F1 with the treatment unit T are enabled. The switching between the first and second mode may be done by a turning motion of the moveable valve selector (3) relative the valve housing (2).