Bernoulli-Actuated Emergency Stop Valve for Rupture Shut-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid systems lack rapid and reliable mechanisms to respond to catastrophic ruptures, leading to potential harm from hazardous gas or fluid spills due to delays in sensing and manual or electronic shut-off systems.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical fluidic valve that utilizes the Bernoulli force to automatically close upon detecting a sudden increase in fluid flow, using a stop mass and adjustable secondary flow damper to sense and respond to ruptures, ensuring rapid shut-off without external power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic sensors and shut off valves are used, then sensing and response capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensing and actuation systems with a purely mechanical fluid-driven system. The valve uses Bernoulli force generated by the fluid flow itself to actuate the closure mechanism, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, power sources, and control systems while maintaining rapid response capability to ruptures
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is self-actuating using the fluid flow characteristics. The increased flow velocity through the rupture automatically generates the Bernoulli force needed to close the valve, making the system self-regulating without external control systems or power sources
2Device complexity
If manual observation and shut off methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by utilizing the fluid flow itself to generate the actuating force. The Bernoulli force created by the increased flow velocity directly moves the stop mass to close the valve, providing rapid automatic response without manual intervention while maintaining mechanical simplicity
3Measurement precision
If electronic sensor networks are deployed, then detection precision is improved, but ease of operation and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential sensing function from complex electronic networks and implements it through a simple mechanical principle. The valve directly senses the rupture through the change in flow velocity and pressure (Bernoulli force) and responds automatically, eliminating the need for external sensor networks and their associated maintenance requirements
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 valve effectively inhibits or stops fluid flow within seconds of a rupture, reducing the risk of hazardous spills and damage by leveraging fluid dynamics for rapid response.
Implementation Method 1
the operating mechanism advantageously relies upon an increased Bernoulli force acting on a mass opposing a damping force
Data Source
AI summary
The subject invention pertains to an automatic fluid-mechanical actuated emergency stop valve for inhibiting fluid flow following a catastrophic rupture or other failure in a fluid delivery system carrying a fluid from an upstream source to a downstream destination. A fluidic stop valve which responds to a sudden downstream pipe rupture by closing is provided. The operating mechanism relies upon an increased Bernoulli force acting on a mass opposing a vacuum force tunable by a secondary flow damper. When the mass experiences sufficient Bernoulli force it is then brought up into position to block further fluid flow through the stop valve. The sensitivity of the stop valve to ruptures or sudden flow increases can be tuned by geometric parameters, the stop mass density, and an adjustable setting of the secondary flow damper.