Ball Valve Seat Ring Support for Wear-Resistant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid flow control valves, particularly ball valves used in fire protection applications, face premature wear due to rigorous testing conditions that exceed normal operating parameters, leading to potential failure in safety certification tests.
Innovation Solution
A control valve assembly featuring a quarter-turn ball valve with dynamic sealing seat rings and a retainer ring to prevent deformation, along with a valve actuation system that rotates the ball 90° between open and closed positions, independent of pressure differential, ensuring robust sealing and reduced operating torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigorous testing conditions exceeding normal operating parameters are applied to ball valves for safety certification, then safety standards are improved, but premature wear of valve components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retainer ring positioned between the dynamic sealing seat ring and the rotatable ball to prevent deformation of the seat ring toward the ball. This protective structure is installed beforehand to cushion against the harsh conditions of rigorous testing, preventing premature wear and deformation that would otherwise occur during safety certification testing.
2Reliability
If dynamic sealing seat rings are used to improve sealing performance, then sealing ability is improved, but deformation of the seat ring toward the ball occurs under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer ring serves as an intermediary element positioned between the dynamic sealing seat ring and the rotatable ball. It mediates the interaction between these components by providing mechanical support to the seat ring, preventing it from deforming toward the ball under pressure while maintaining the sealing performance benefits of the dynamic seat ring design.
3Reliability
If the valve actuation assembly rotates the ball independent of pressure differential, then operational reliability is improved, but the complexity of the actuation mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pressure-differential-dependent mechanical operation with a direct mechanical actuation system. The valve actuation assembly with the stem extending through the valve body provides direct rotational control of the ball, substituting the need for pressure-driven operation with a mechanically actuated system that offers more reliable and predictable operation independent of pressure conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve assembly includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet and a fluid flow pathway therebetween. A ball valve is positioned within the fluid flow pathway and includes a rotatable ball having an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a flow pathway therebetween, an upstream seat ring positioned at an inlet side of the ball, and a downstream seat ring positioned at a downstream side of the ball, the seat rings being configured to substantially seal off fluid flow between upstream and downstream sides of the ball except through the ball fluid flow pathway. At least one of the upstream and downstream seat rings is a dynamic sealing seat ring. A retainer ring is positioned between the dynamic sealing seat ring and a portion of the rotatable ball to substantially prevent deformation of a portion of the dynamic sealing seat ring in a direction toward the ball.