Control Valve Flow Passage Geometry for Lower Turbulence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control valves experience turbulence and reduced flow rates due to sharp angles and obstructive support members, which impede fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A control valve design featuring a body with a flow passage having an inlet, outlet, and portions with aligned axes, a valve seat positioned at the junction, and a stem with a seal that moves axially to control fluid flow, minimizing directional changes and eliminating obstructive support members to reduce turbulence and enhance flow rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional control valve design with support members and sharp angles is used, then structural support is provided, but turbulence increases and flow rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the obstructive support members from the flow passage. The seat retainer is redesigned to eliminate protruding support members that extended into the flow path, thereby removing the source of turbulence and flow obstruction while maintaining the structural function of retaining the seat ring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curved transition sections instead of sharp angles in the flow passage. The body incorporates rounded corners and smooth curved transitions at the inlet, outlet, and especially at the junction where the first and second legs meet, eliminating flow separation and reducing turbulence caused by sharp directional changes.
2Shape
If sharp angles and multiple directional changes are used in flow passage, then compact design is achieved, but fluid flow is impeded and turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces all sharp angles with curved transitions. The flow passage features rounded corners at the inlet, outlet, and particularly at the junction of the first and second legs. These curved transitions allow fluid to change direction smoothly without flow separation, maintaining compact geometry while improving flow characteristics.
3Reliability
If support members extend through flow passage is done, then seat ring is held in position, but flow obstruction and turbulence are caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the protruding support members from the flow passage while retaining the seat retainer structure. The support members are either eliminated or repositioned to not extend into the flow path, thereby maintaining seat ring positioning reliability without causing flow obstruction or turbulence.
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve body has a flow passage including an inlet, an outlet, a first portion, and a second portion, the first portion having a first axis centered through the inlet, a first bend, and a second axis, the second portion having a third axis centered through the outlet, a second bend, and a fourth axis, the fourth axis perpendicular to the second axis. The first portion is to an upstream side of a junction of the first portion and the second portion, and the second portion is to a downstream side of the junction. The second axis is centered through the junction. An opening to the second portion has a fifth axis aligned with the second axis.