Balanced Angle Valve With Integral Passage for Plug Pressure Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing angle valves face reduced flow efficiency due to elongated plug designs and the inability to form reliable internal passageways, leading to unbalanced plugs and increased energy requirements for actuation.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a balanced valve design with a post guide member and dual plugs, featuring an integral balancing passage that connects the cavity to the outlet downstream of the valve seat, reducing turbulence and eliminating the need for an elongated plug guide, thereby stabilizing fluid flow and reducing actuator energy demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an elongated plug design is used in angle valves, then the valve can handle choking gas flow, but the flow efficiency is reduced due to flow obstruction created by the liner guide protrusion and elongated plug configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into two separate plugs instead of one elongated plug. The first plug handles the primary flow control while the second plug provides balancing functionality. This segmentation eliminates the need for an elongated single plug design, removes the liner guide protrusion that caused flow obstruction, and restores efficient fluid flow through the valve body.
2Reliability
If a longitudinal internal passageway is formed through an elongated plug, then pressure balancing can be achieved, but the manufacturing reliability is compromised because the extended length and small diameter make the process unreliable and inserts may break or become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a longitudinal passageway through one elongated plug, the invention uses two separate plugs where the balancing passage is formed only through the second (shorter) plug. This segmentation allows standard drilling and machining processes to be used on a manageable length, eliminating manufacturing reliability issues while still achieving pressure balancing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing passage functionality is extracted from the first elongated plug and placed in the second shorter plug. This extraction allows the balancing passage to be manufactured reliably using standard processes on a shorter component, while the first plug maintains its primary flow control function without the manufacturing complexities.
3Ease of operation
If an elongated plug guide is used to guide the elongated plug, then the plug movement can be controlled, but the flow efficiency is further reduced and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug guide functionality is segmented and applied only to the second shorter plug instead of an elongated plug guide. This reduces the guide length and eliminates flow obstruction issues while maintaining adequate movement control for the balancing plug. The first plug uses standard guiding mechanisms without the need for an extended guide.
Data Source
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AI summary
A balanced valve (200) includes a valve body (202), a valve stem (216), and first (220) and second (230) flow control members. The valve body forms a channel defining a fluid flow path extending from the valve inlet to the valve outlet via a valve gallery (210) and defines an opening (212) in fluid communication with the gallery. The valve stem has first (216a) and second (216b) portions and is at least partially disposed within the opening and the gallery. The first flow control member is coupled to the first portion of the valve stem and controls fluid flow along the fluid flow path. The second flow control member is coupled to the second portion of the valve stem and is disposed in the opening of the valve body. The second flow control member and the valve body define a cavity (250). An integral balancing passage (240) is formed within the valve body and fluidly connects the cavity and the outlet.