Break Check Valve Closure Control to Mitigate Water Hammer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Break check valves in fluid distribution systems can cause water hammer and pressure spikes when they close too quickly, leading to potential infrastructure failure and water loss.
Innovation Solution
A break check valve system with a hingedly connected valve member and an expandable bladder or telescopic valve member that controls fluid flow, allowing gradual closure upon decoupling from the pipe fitting, reducing water hammer and pressure buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the break check valve closes quickly to stop fluid flow during dislocation, then the response time and protection effectiveness are improved, but water hammer and pressure spikes occur causing potential infrastructure failure
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member transitions from a static rapid-closure design to a dynamic controlled-closure design. The valve member is configured to rotate from an open position to a closed position, allowing the closure speed to be controlled by the rotation mechanism rather than occurring as an abrupt event. This dynamic approach enables the valve to close at a controlled rate, preventing water hammer while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure parameter (closure speed) is changed from rapid to gradual. By modifying how the valve closes—from instantaneous to controlled rotation—the system achieves both quick response for protection and slow enough closure to prevent water hammer. The valve member's rotation mechanism allows adjustment of the closure parameter to optimize both protection and water hammer prevention.
2Loss of time
If the break check valve closes quickly to stop fluid flow, then the response time is improved, but pressure spikes occur resulting in excessive load on system components
Solution Approach 1:
The valve closure process is made dynamic through rotation control. Rather than a fixed rapid closure, the valve member rotates to closed position, enabling the system to respond quickly to dislocation while controlling the pressure buildup during closure. The rotational mechanism provides dynamic control over the closure process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for pressure spike prevention by designing the valve closure mechanism to inherently control pressure buildup. The rotation-based closure system is designed beforehand to close gradually, cushioning against pressure spikes before they can occur. This preventive design ensures that even during rapid response, pressure spikes are avoided.
3Ease of operation
If the valve member is configured to rotate from open to closed position, then the closure control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism uses rotation as its primary motion mode, which is a simple and well-understood mechanical movement. The valve member rotates from open to closed position, providing intuitive and easy-to-control operation. This rotational approach maintains relative simplicity while achieving superior closure control compared to more complex actuation systems.
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 system mitigates water hammer and pressure spikes by ensuring gradual closure, thereby protecting infrastructure and minimizing water loss.
Implementation Method 1
Such a valve can be considered a break check valve in that it 'checks' movement of the fluid when the pipe system fitting is broken away from the valve but not in the sense that it necessarily prevents backward flow of liquid. Moreover, overly rapid closure of such valves can cause not only water hammer but also a pressure spike
Implementation Method 2
an expansion device for a break check valve that can be coupled to a pipeline and to a pipe system fitting can include a valve member hingedly connected to the break check valve and configured to rotate from an open position to a closed position only when the pipe system fitting is separated from the break check valve
Implementation Method 3
an inner telescopic valve member; and a telescopic valve member that can be positioned between the outer telescopic valve member and the inner telescopic valve member, the telescopic valve member can be slidably coupled to each of the outer telescopic valve member and the inner telescopic valve member
Data Source
AI summary
A valve member for a break check valve coupled to a pipe system fitting includes a valve member positioned in fluid communication with a piping system and configured to move from an open position to a closed position in response to a break between the pipe system fitting and the break check valve.