Balanced Regulator Variable Pressure Sense Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Balanced pressure regulators face issues such as high boost at high inlet pressures and high droop at low inlet pressures, leading to reduced flow capacity in existing edge-sense and center-sense diaphragm-type regulators.
Innovation Solution
A balanced pressure regulator design featuring a valve body with a central and peripheral balancing passage system, where the peripheral balancing passages vary in size with inlet pressure, and a pressure sensing spring biases the retainer to maintain optimal fluid flow by adjusting the balancing channels' openness based on pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed balancing mechanism is used in unbalanced valves, then the valve can maintain constant downstream pressure, but the valve experiences decaying inlet characteristic when inlet pressure decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the balancing mechanism adaptive rather than fixed. The balancing force varies dynamically with inlet pressure changes, allowing the valve to maintain proper balance across different operating conditions. This is achieved through a balancing mechanism that responds to inlet pressure variations, preventing decaying inlet characteristic while maintaining downstream pressure regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of balancing force from constant to variable. By making the balancing mechanism's force output dependent on inlet pressure, the system adapts to different operating conditions. This parameter change allows the valve to compensate for inlet pressure variations without sacrificing downstream pressure control accuracy.
2Productivity
If high inlet pressure acts on large valve orifices in unbalanced valves, then high flow capacity is achieved, but the valve seat suffers from crushing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by introducing a balancing mechanism that generates an opposing force to counteract the crushing fluid force on the valve seat. This balancing force acts in the opposite direction to the harmful fluid pressure, protecting the valve seat from damage while allowing high inlet pressures and large orifices to maintain high flow capacity.
3Reliability
If balanced pressure regulators use fixed balancing passages, then decaying inlet characteristic is eliminated, but high boost occurs at high inlet pressures reducing flow capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the balancing passage area variable rather than fixed. The balancing passage area changes in response to inlet pressure, allowing the system to eliminate decaying inlet characteristic at low pressures while reducing balancing force at high pressures to maintain flow capacity. This dynamic adjustment optimizes performance across the full pressure range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of balancing passage area from constant to variable. By making the balancing passage area dependent on inlet pressure, the system achieves different balancing characteristics at different operating points. At low inlet pressures, larger balancing area prevents decaying inlet characteristic, while at high inlet pressures, reduced balancing area maintains flow capacity by lowering boost.
4Reliability
If balanced pressure regulators use fixed balancing passages, then decaying inlet characteristic is eliminated, but high droop occurs at low inlet pressures reducing flow capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the balancing passage area variable rather than fixed. The balancing passage area changes in response to inlet pressure, allowing the system to eliminate decaying inlet characteristic while reducing droop at low pressures. This dynamic adjustment ensures optimal flow capacity across the full pressure range by adapting the balancing force to current operating 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
This design achieves low droop at low inlet pressures and low boost at high inlet pressures, resulting in increased fluid flow capacities across a range of pressures, outperforming traditional center-sense and edge-sense regulators.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensing spring biases the retainer to maintain optimal fluid flow by adjusting the balancing channels' openness based on pressure conditions
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the upstream pressure is diverted to act on a downstream portion of the valve plug. Thus, the valve plug is 'balanced,' having the same fluid pressure act on both upstream and downstream portions of the valve plug
Data Source
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AI summary
A balanced pressure regulator includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a fluid passageway. A valve seat is disposed within the fluid passageway. A balanced plug assembly is disposed within the fluid passageway, the balanced plug assembly including a valve plug that cooperates with the valve seat to selectively open or close the fluid passageway, a retainer operatively connecting the valve plug to a valve stem, a diaphragm separating a chamber from the fluid passageway, a central balancing passage that fluidly connects the fluid passageway with the chamber, and a peripheral balancing passage that fluidly connects the fluid passageway with the chamber, the peripheral balancing passage being located between the retainer and the valve plug.