Control Valve Element Pressure Relief Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Control valve elements in heating or cooling systems face issues with position dependency on water flow rate and pressure, leading to undefined control behavior and additional disruptive forces due to varying pressure conditions across the control element's surface.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-relieved control valve element design with separate, sealed chambers for central and peripheral areas of the control element's end face, using radially spaced orifices to isolate and manage pressure differences, allowing for independent actuation based on externally specified variables rather than water flow rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the control element is exposed to water flow through the valve seat, then the valve can control flow and pressure, but the control element position becomes dependent on water flow rate causing undefined control behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The end face of the control element is divided into two separate pressure zones: a central area and a peripheral area. Each zone is equipped with its own pressure relief orifice (central orifice and peripheral orifice) that communicates with separate chambers. This segmentation allows independent pressure management in different regions, eliminating the coupling between water flow rate and control element position.
Solution Approach 2:
Two separate chambers are introduced as intermediaries between the water flow and the control element. The central chamber receives pressure through the central orifice, and the peripheral chamber receives pressure through the peripheral orifice. These chambers act as pressure buffers that decouple the direct relationship between water flow and control element forces, providing stable pressure conditions regardless of flow rate variations.
2Ease of operation
If pressure relief orifices are positioned in the center and periphery of the control element, then pressure distribution can be managed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the control valve component and the pressure distribution element. The end face of the control element itself forms the sealing surface against the valve seat while also containing the central and peripheral orifices. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressure distribution components, maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief orifices are integrated directly into the control element body rather than being separate components. The central orifice and peripheral orifice are formed as part of the control element's internal structure, and the chambers are formed within the valve body in direct communication with these orifices. This merging reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall structure.
3Reliability
If separate sealed chambers are used for central and peripheral areas, then pressure conditions are stabilized independent of water flow rate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central chamber and peripheral chamber are nested within the valve body structure. The chambers are formed as cavities within the valve body material, with the control element positioned such that its central and peripheral orifices communicate directly with these nested chambers. This nesting approach allows multiple pressure zones to coexist within a single compact structure without requiring separate external components.
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 solution ensures consistent control behavior independent of water pressure and flow rate, with a simple structure and reduced dependency on water flow rate, achieving precise control characteristics and a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
the control element is deflected by this high pressure, for example against the pressure of a spring
Implementation Method 2
the control element is deflected, for example against the pressure of a spring
Implementation Method 3
the pressure of the water flowing through the valve seat is not constant, but decreases due to the narrowing of the flow cross section when flowing through the valve seat
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a control valve element, comprising a valve housing (1), through which a displaceable adjusting element (2) extends, which carries a cylindrical piston-shaped control element (3) at the end thereof that is removed from the valve housing (1). According to the invention, the control element (3) comprises at least one central passage (4), a central chamber (5) into which one end of the central passage (4) leads is designed between the valve housing (1) and the control element (3), the central chamber (5) is delimited by an inner partial region of the back surface of the control element (3) located opposite of the face, the central passage (4) has a central mouth (47) at the face (31) of the control element (3), a peripheral chamber (8) that is sealed with respect to the central chamber (5) is designed between the valve housing (1) and the back surface of the control element (3), the control element (3) has a spaced peripheral passage (7) which at one end opens into the peripheral chamber (8) and at the other end thereof opens into the face (31), and the mouth (77) of the peripheral passage (7) is spaced from the mouth (47) of the central passage (4) at a predetermined radial distance (A).