Balanced Port Regulator With Targeted Boost Sensing Against Droop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diaphragm-type balanced pressure regulators suffer from droop, or a decrease in setpoint, as flow increases, due to the design of balancing passages that do not effectively counteract fluid forces at high flow rates, leading to inconsistent downstream pressure regulation.
Innovation Solution
A balanced port pressure regulator design featuring a sleeve with strategically located openings between the valve seat openings, allowing fluid to flow into a balancing chamber to counteract fluid forces, particularly by placing the opening upstream of the seating surface within the orifice, reducing pressure transmission and enhancing the boost near the fully open position to prevent droop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional balancing passages are used in diaphragm-type balanced pressure regulators, then the valve plug is balanced by diverting upstream pressure to act on an unexposed portion, but droop occurs as flow increases due to ineffective counteraction of fluid forces at high flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically locating the sleeve opening within the orifice at a specific position upstream of the seating surface. This localized placement creates a targeted boost sensing passage that specifically captures high-pressure fluid forces where they are most intense, allowing the balancing chamber to receive proportional pressure signals that accurately reflect instantaneous flow conditions. This local modification to the balancing passage geometry resolves the droop issue by ensuring the balancing force scales correctly with flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pressure transmission by using the sleeve opening to selectively transmit only a portion of the upstream pressure to the balancing chamber. The opening's location within the orifice creates a pressure differential that provides a substantial boost near the fully open position. This parameter change allows the balancing force to dynamically adjust with flow conditions, counteracting the droop that occurs in traditional designs where the balancing passage does not effectively capture high-flow pressure forces.
2Reliability
If the sleeve opening is placed within the orifice upstream of the seating surface, then a substantial boost is provided near the fully open position to prevent droop, but the valve stem and plug must be movable relative to the sleeve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the valve stem and plug movable relative to the sleeve rather than fixed. This dynamic arrangement allows the valve components to respond to the pressure forces transmitted through the sleeve opening, enabling the system to automatically adjust the balancing force in response to changing flow conditions. The movability permits the valve plug to experience the substantial boost near the fully open position while maintaining the structural integrity and sealing function of the sleeve opening within the orifice.
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 maintains more constant outlet pressures by reducing pressure transmission through the sleeve and providing a substantial boost as the valve approaches full openness, effectively combating regulator pressure droop at high flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a balancing passage fluidly connects the fluid passageway with the balancing chamber
Implementation Method 2
A balanced port pressure regulator having a targeted boost sensing tube that senses pressure within the valve orifice
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A balanced port pressure regulator includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a fluid passageway, an orifice being disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A valve seat is disposed within the fluid passageway. A valve plug is also disposed within the fluid passageway. A piston is disposed within the valve body, the piston separating the fluid passageway from a balancing chamber. A sleeve extends away from the piston, the sleeve forming a balancing passage that fluidly connects the fluid passageway with the balancing chamber. The sleeve includes an open end that terminates within the orifice. By terminating within the orifice, the open end of the sleeve generates boost only towards the end of a valve opening cycle when the valve plug approaches a fully open position, which is where boost is most needed.