Balanced Port Gas Regulator Upstream Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas regulators with balanced trim experience instability and 'droop' due to varying upstream pressures, affecting their ability to maintain consistent downstream pressure delivery, especially at high flow capacities.
Innovation Solution
A fluid regulating device with a regulator valve, actuator, and balancing diaphragm, where a sensing passage maintains constant upstream pressure on the balancing diaphragm, independent of the valve disc's position, ensuring stable operation and high flow capacity at high inlet pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If channels are longitudinally disposed within the control element to allow high flow capacity at low inlet pressures, then flow capacity is improved, but upstream pressure varies as the valve opens causing droop and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure sensing function by providing a separate sensing passage that taps upstream pressure directly from the inlet, independent of the valve position. This separates the flow path (through the valve) from the sensing path (through the sensing passage to the balancing cavity), allowing the balancing diaphragm to receive constant upstream pressure regardless of valve opening degree.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing passage acts as an intermediary element that transfers upstream pressure directly to the balancing cavity, bypassing the variable pressure conditions in the main flow path. This intermediary connection ensures the balancing diaphragm receives stable pressure input independent of valve position, resolving the instability issue while maintaining high flow capacity.
2Productivity
If the valve opens to increase flow, then flow capacity is improved, but the sensing pressure reduces causing droop
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing passage is pre-configured to tap upstream pressure directly at the inlet before the pressure drops across the valve. This preliminary action of capturing pressure upstream ensures the balancing cavity always receives the original upstream pressure level, preventing droop before it can occur during valve operation.
3Stress or pressure
If conventional balanced trim is used to reduce upstream pressure influence, then pressure balancing is improved, but instability occurs due to varying sensing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a dedicated sensing passage with specific geometry and positioning that directly taps upstream pressure at the inlet. This localized pressure sampling ensures the balancing cavity receives pressure information from a specific location (inlet) that remains constant, while other parts of the system (valve, flow path) can operate with variable pressure conditions.
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
The solution enhances the stability and performance of the gas regulator by maintaining constant pressure on the balancing diaphragm, improving the regulator's ability to manage high inlet pressures and maintain accurate downstream pressure control, thus ensuring reliable gas delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing passage extending from the inlet of the regulator valve to the balancing cavity such that the inlet of the regulator valve is in fluid communication with the balancing cavity
Implementation Method 2
The upstream pressure is placed in fluid communication with a balancing diaphragm to apply a force to the control element of the gas regulator in the opposite direction as the force of the downstream pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having a valve body defining an inlet and an outlet and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A housing assembly is disposed adjacent the valve port, and the housing assembly includes a first aperture adapted to receive a valve disc. A balancing diaphragm is secured to a portion of the valve disc and a portion of the housing assembly, and a portion of a balancing cavity is defined by a top surface of the balancing diaphragm and an interior surface of the housing assembly. A sensing passage extends from the inlet of the regulator valve to the balancing cavity such that the inlet of the regulator valve is in fluid communication with the balancing cavity.