Aerogel-Insulated Control Valve for Thermal Expansion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Actuating valves face challenges when operating under extreme temperature conditions, as thermal expansion and differing thermal expansion behaviors of materials can lead to changes in gap geometries, compromising inner tightness and position ratio, and causing friction issues with the drive rod sealing arrangement.
Innovation Solution
The valve seat and valve link are formed from or coated with aerogel material, significantly reducing thermal conductivity and minimizing heat-induced length changes, while an aerogel-based isolation body is used to insulate the sealing arrangement, reducing heat transfer and preventing jamming of the drive rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valve components are used under extreme temperatures, then thermal expansion occurs leading to altered gap geometries, but this compromises internal tightness and rangeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal expansion compensation by introducing a compensating element with different thermal expansion characteristics than the valve seat and valve body. This compensating element changes its dimensions in response to temperature variations, actively counteracting the thermal expansion of critical components to maintain stable gap geometries and internal tightness across extreme temperature ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures, particularly in the form of a bi-metallic compensating element comprising two different metals with distinct thermal expansion coefficients. This composite structure leverages the differential thermal expansion between the two metals to generate compensating forces that offset the thermal expansion of the valve seat and valve body, thereby maintaining geometric stability.
2Ease of operation
If extreme temperatures are exposed to the sealing arrangement, then friction increases potentially leading to jamming, but this prevents control valve operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermally insulating intermediate structure between the high-temperature process medium and the sealing arrangement. This intermediary component reduces heat transfer to the sealing elements and actuator stem, thereby minimizing thermal expansion and friction in the sealing interface, ensuring smooth actuator stem movement even under extreme temperature conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aerogel insulation is applied to protect components, then thermal protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes aerogel, a highly porous material with exceptional thermal insulation properties, to protect critical valve components from extreme temperatures. The aerogel's unique porous structure provides superior thermal resistance with minimal thickness, effectively reducing heat transfer to the valve seat, valve body, and sealing arrangement while maintaining a compact overall valve structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design ensures that the geometric relationships between the valve seat and valve link are preserved across a wider thermal range, maintaining the desired functional characteristics and preventing thermal damage, thus ensuring smooth operation of the actuator valve under extreme temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The valve seat and the valve member are coated with an aerogel coating or/and are formed from an aerogel material. The aerogel material or the aerogel coating has a low thermal conductivity.
Implementation Method 2
Aerogels are highly porous solids whose volume consists largely of pores. An aerogel can be made from silicate or carbon, for example. Aerogels are usually designed in the form of a strongly dendritic structure, in which there is a branching of particle chains with a large number of spaces in the form of open pores.
Implementation Method 3
The sealing arrangement is assigned an insulating body made of an aerogel material or coated with an aerogel coating. The insulating body reduces heat input or heat output into or from the sealing arrangement.
Implementation Method 4
thermal expansion, particularly of the valve seat and valve element components, can lead to altered gap geometries that negatively impact internal tightness and the rangeability
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control valve (10) comprising a valve housing (12) with a valve inlet and valve outlet (12-1, 12-2) and a valve cover (14), also comprising a housing-mounted valve seat (16), which is arranged in the flow channel between the valve inlet and valve outlet (12-1, 12-2), further comprising a valve member (18), which is designed to complement the valve seat (16), and additionally comprising a drive rod (20), which is guided in a sealing manner through the housing cover (14) and via which the valve member (18) can be connected to a drive (22) outside the housing, wherein the valve cover (14) comprises a sealing arrangement (24), by means of which the drive rod (20) is sealed in relation to the valve cover (14). The invention is distinguished in that the valve seat (16) and/or the valve member (18) are/is formed from an aerogel material or are/is coated with an aerogel coating.