Ball Valve Purge Inlet Using Coanda Flow for Residue Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball valves require increased time and purging fluid to effectively clear process residue from the downstream cavity, as the current purging system relies on turbulent secondary flows that are less effective in reaching and removing residue due to the structural limitations of lateral purging fluid entry.
Innovation Solution
The downstream purging inlet is positioned and directed to intentionally impact the ball, utilizing the Coanda effect to ensure the purging fluid follows the convex surface, efficiently reaching and removing residue from the ball and adjacent areas, thereby reducing the amount of purging fluid required and increasing the speed of residue removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the purging inlet is positioned to allow lateral entry of purging fluid, then the valve structure is simple, but the purging fluid cannot effectively reach and remove residue from the downstream cavity
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing purging fluid to flow laterally past the ball (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by directing the purging fluid to impact the ball surface directly. This inversion enables the fluid to follow the ball contour via the Coanda effect, effectively reaching all surfaces including the downstream cavity where residue accumulates, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and purging efficiency
2Device complexity
If the purging fluid flows laterally past the ball, then the valve structure remains simple, but the fluid creates recirculation zones that reduce purging effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional lateral flow approach by directing purging fluid to impact the ball surface. This creates a Coanda effect where the fluid adheres to and follows the ball contour, eliminating recirculation zones and ensuring effective coverage of all surfaces including the downstream cavity, thus improving purging effectiveness without complicating the valve structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes hydraulic principles by optimizing the flow dynamics of the purging fluid. By directing the fluid to impact the ball and exploit the Coanda effect, the system creates controlled fluid attachment and following behavior, eliminating turbulent recirculation zones and achieving reliable, effective purging through hydraulic flow management
3Reliability
If more purging fluid is used to clear residue, then residue removal is more thorough, but fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the conventional approach and directing purging fluid to impact the ball surface, the invention creates efficient Coanda effect-driven flow that follows the ball contour and thoroughly covers all surfaces including the downstream cavity. This inverted approach achieves complete residue removal with optimized fluid usage, eliminating the need for excessive fluid consumption while maintaining thoroughness
4Device complexity
If the purging system relies on turbulent secondary flows, then the valve structure is simple, but the time required to clear residue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional reliance on turbulent secondary flows by directly impacting the ball surface with purging fluid. This creates a Coanda effect-driven flow that rapidly adheres to and follows the ball contour, quickly reaching all surfaces including the downstream cavity. This inversion dramatically reduces residue clearance time without complicating the purging system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical reliance on turbulent secondary flows with a more efficient fluid dynamic mechanism—the Coanda effect. By directing purging fluid to impact the ball and exploit this effect, the system achieves rapid, direct coverage of all surfaces, substituting slow turbulent flow with faster, more controlled fluid attachment and following behavior, thereby reducing clearance time
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 approach allows for faster and more effective purging of process residue from the downstream cavity with reduced fluid usage, as the fluid is directed to adhere to and follow the ball's surface, enhancing residue removal efficiency and reducing recirculation zones.
Implementation Method 1
the purging fluid intentionally impacts the ball. Rather than being blocked, the fluid is directed around the ball, at least in part due to the Coanda effect, such that it reaches most of the surface of the ball and of the adjacent valve seat
Data Source
AI summary
A downstream ball valve purging inlet directs purging fluid intentionally onto a downstream portion of the valve ball. The Coanda effect attaches some of the fluid to the ball's surface, so that it flows around the ball to an opposite side thereof, thereby purging the downstream valve cavity more efficiently than designs that avoid impacting the ball and depend on mixing to distribute the purging fluid onto the ball. The purging inlet can be downstream of the ball and directed at an acute angle, proximate the ball and directed perpendicular to the outlet axis, or some combination thereof. A central cavity purging drain can be connected with the purging inlet, so that the same fluid purges both the valve interior and the downstream cavity. Embodiments include a plurality of downstream purging inlets, which can have equal purging angles and can be equally spaced about the outlet axes.