Piston Compressor Valve Layout for Higher Flow With Low Dead Volume

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing piston compressors face challenges in optimizing the flow area of suction and discharge valve sections, leading to increased dead volume and reduced volumetric and isentropic efficiencies, particularly in high-temperature applications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a valve arrangement with a frustopyramidal or frustoconical suction valve section and a perpendicular discharge valve section, incorporating self-actuated check valves and finger blades to enhance fluid communication without significantly increasing dead volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the flow area in suction and discharge valve sections is increased, then fluid flow performance is improved, but dead volume increases and volumetric efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow performanceVSAvoidvolumetric efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction valve section is designed with a frustopyramidal form, transitioning from a conventional flat or simple curved shape to a three-dimensional truncated pyramid structure. This dimensional change allows the valve section to provide increased flow area through its inclined surfaces while maintaining a compact volume, thus improving fluid flow performance without significantly increasing dead volume and preserving volumetric efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the suction valve section uses a frustopyramidal form, then available flow area is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable flow areaVSAvoidvalve section structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frustopyramidal form of the suction valve section utilizes smooth curved surfaces transitioning from the cylindrical working chamber to the discharge valve section. This curved geometry, rather than sharp angular transitions, simplifies manufacturing while providing increased flow area through the inclined surfaces, thus improving available flow area without excessively increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4707595A1Piston compressor valve arrangement and method of use
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HEATEN AS
  • EP4707595A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707595A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4707595A1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

A cylinder head (400, 4000) for a piston compressor, the cylinder head (400, 4000) comprising a suction valve section (200, 2001), a discharge valve section (300, 3001), and an extended cup (500, 5001) forming a discharge channel (510, 5101), wherein the extended cup (500, 5001) comprises a plurality of discharge valve section bolt bosses (520) each configured to receive a discharge valve section bolt to secure a top plate (600) to the cylinder head (400, 4000) in use.