Check Valve With Segmented Flow Path Reducing Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves experience significant pressure losses due to pipe friction and turbulent flow, which require a large amount of energy to maintain fluid flow, and existing solutions have not adequately addressed this issue.
Innovation Solution
The check valve design features a valving element with a narrow flow path, a diffuser flow path, and a uniform flow path, along with a valving element support having a convex circular arc and tapered portions, which reduces static pressure and prevents turbulent flow, increasing valve opening and reducing pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a check valve is installed with a valving element and valve seat, then back flow prevention is achieved, but the flow path area is reduced causing increased pipe friction and pressure losses
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is segmented into multiple sections: a first flow path section with a larger cross-sectional area, a second flow path section with a smaller cross-sectional area, and a third flow path section with a larger cross-sectional area. This segmentation allows the fluid to pass through different area zones, reducing turbulence and pressure losses while maintaining back flow prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer periphery of the valving element support is formed with curved surfaces including a first portion along an outwardly convex circular arc, a second portion that is substantially smoothly contiguous and gradually decreases in diameter, and a third portion that is substantially conical. These curved transitions eliminate sharp corners and abrupt area changes, preventing turbulent flow and reducing pressure losses.
2Loss of energy
If the valve opening is increased to reduce pipe friction, then pressure losses decrease, but the valve opening is determined by differential pressure which requires large energy input
Solution Approach 1:
A communication passage is provided that communicates between the downstream side of the flow path and the back-pressure chamber. This adds a new dimensional aspect to the pressure distribution, allowing downstream pressure to act on the rear surface of the valving element, increasing the differential pressure and valve opening without requiring additional energy input from the upstream side.
3Ease of operation
If a communication passage is provided between downstream side and back-pressure chamber, then differential pressure increases and valve opening increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage serves multiple functions: it equalizes pressure between chambers, increases differential pressure across the valving element, and improves valve opening characteristics. By integrating this single structural feature to achieve multiple benefits, the increase in device complexity is minimized while maximizing operational improvement.
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 significantly reduces pressure losses by increasing valve opening and decreasing pipe friction, allowing for smoother fluid flow and maintaining recovered pressure, thereby enhancing the efficiency of fluid flow through the valve.
Implementation Method 1
a diffuser flow path portion (69) which extends contiguously from the narrow flow path portion (68) and has a flow path area that gradually increases toward the downstream side
Implementation Method 2
a uniform flow path portion (70) which extends contiguously with the diffuser flow path portion (69) and has a uniform flow path area
Implementation Method 3
the outer periphery of the valving element support is formed from a first portion (46) formed along an outwardly convex circular arc, a second portion (47) that is substantially smoothly contiguous with the first portion and that gradually decreases in diameter toward the downstream side of the flow path, and a third portion that is substantially conical and smoothly contiguous with the second portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
A check valve (1) includes a casing (2) having a valve seat (10) formed in a flow path and a valving element assembly (21) disposed in the casing. A top (23) of a valving element (22) is received in a large-diameter portion (38) of a through-hole (37) in a support member (35) of the valving element assembly. A narrow flow path portion (68) is formed between an arcuate portion (46) of an outer periphery (45) of the support member and a second enlarged-diameter portion (11) of the casing. The narrow flow path portion (a first portion of an intermediate flow path) is communicated with a back-pressure chamber (50) defined in the support member at the rear of the top of the valving element through a communicating passage (67) including a gap (66) between the outer periphery of the valving element and the inner periphery of the large-diameter portion and grooves (27) on the rear surface of the top of the valving element. A low static pressure of fluid flowing through the narrow flow path portion is introduced into the back-pressure chamber. Fluid passing through the narrow flow path portion enters a diffuser flow path portion (69) as a second portion of the intermediate flow path and recovers the static pressure while flowing therethrough. Next, the fluid flows downstream through a uniform flow path portion as a third portion of the intermediate flow path while maintaining the recovered static pressure.