Annular Piston Valve for Multi-Path Water Flow Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve systems for liquid flow management in water treatment processes are complex and require multiple valves and piping for tasks like chemical removal and resin regeneration, lacking a unified solution for efficient fluid flow control across multiple paths.
Innovation Solution
A control valve with a movable piston and annular flow cavities within a cylindrical bore, allowing selective fluid communication between multiple ports, enabling the valve to direct liquids through various flow paths, shut off, and bypass functions, integrated with a controller for operation in water treatment systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate valves and piping are used to control liquid flow through multiple paths, then reliable flow control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single integrated valve body with a piston that can selectively direct liquid flow through multiple paths. The piston with its profile configuration and annular flow cavities consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate valves and complex piping arrangements into one unified component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable flow control across different process steps
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is designed as a multi-functional device where a single piston component performs multiple flow control functions. The piston can selectively place different ports in fluid communication, enabling it to handle various flow paths, mixing operations, and bypass functions throughout different process steps, eliminating the need for multiple specialized valves
2Device complexity
If a single valve is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to handle multiple flow paths and process steps is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple ports and annular flow cavities, with the piston featuring a profile configuration that includes multiple longitudinally disposed annular flow cavities. This segmentation allows the single valve to independently control multiple flow paths simultaneously, providing the versatility needed for different process steps while maintaining a simplified single-valve architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses annular flow cavities arranged longitudinally along the piston, adding a dimensional aspect to flow control. This annular configuration allows multiple flow paths to be managed within the single valve body by utilizing different radial and axial positions, enabling complex multi-path flow control without requiring multiple separate valves
3Reliability
If separate valves are used for shutoff and bypass functions, then reliable flow control is achieved, but device complexity and piping requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single piston valve integrates both shutoff and bypass functions that would traditionally require separate valves. The piston's movement between different positions allows it to simultaneously or selectively perform shutoff operations and bypass operations, consolidating multiple valve functions into one component and eliminating the need for additional piping
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve includes a valve body with a plurality of ports and a plurality of annular flow passages. At least one valve element such as a piston which includes a plurality of annular flow passages and a longitudinal flow passage is selectively movable within a bore within the valve body through operation of a valve controller. The valve controller includes a motor that is selectively operative to control the position of the at least one valve element to enable liquid flow through a plurality of flow paths. The valve may be utilized in system arrangements which oxidize and filter out contaminants in liquids such as water.