Converter Safety Valve With Buffer Pressure Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard converters used in cooling media control systems, such as those in continuous casting plants, rely on auxiliary media for operation and fail to maintain position when auxiliary medium pressure drops, leading to unreliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A safety device that includes a pressure comparison device to detect falling auxiliary medium pressure, triggering the control device to switch off the supply voltage and open a valve to a buffer store, ensuring the converter can still reach a safety position by supplying the auxiliary medium at the required operating pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard converters are used that rely on auxiliary media for operation, then the converters can be controlled to specific positions under normal conditions, but the converters fail to maintain position when auxiliary medium pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing auxiliary medium in advance in a buffer reservoir at the required operating pressure. When pressure drops are detected, the pre-stored medium is immediately available to move the converter to a safety position, eliminating the need for complex real-time pressure compensation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer reservoir as an intermediary element between the auxiliary medium source and the converter. This buffer acts as a mediator that decouples the converter from direct dependence on the main auxiliary medium line, allowing the converter to maintain operation even when line pressure fluctuates.
2Reliability
If the auxiliary medium pressure drops in the auxiliary medium line, then the converter cannot be moved to specific positions, but adding a safety device increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is designed to be self-activating through a pressure-actuated mechanism. When auxiliary medium pressure drops, the pressure difference automatically opens a valve to release stored medium from the buffer reservoir, eliminating the need for external sensors, controllers, or power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic/hydraulic principles to create a self-regulating safety mechanism. The pressure difference between the buffer reservoir and the auxiliary medium line automatically controls valve operation, leveraging fluid pressure dynamics to provide fail-safe converter positioning without additional electronic or mechanical complexity.
3Device complexity
If converters are used without backup auxiliary medium supply, then the system is simpler, but the converters block undesiredly when pressure falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-storing auxiliary medium in the buffer reservoir at the required operating pressure. This creates a safety cushion that activates automatically when pressure drops, preventing the harmful effect of undesired converter blocking without requiring complex detection or control 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
Enables the converter to maintain a safety position even when auxiliary medium pressure falls, preventing undesired blocking and ensuring reliable operation of the cooling media control system.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure comparison device (150) is provided for determining whether the actual pressure of the auxiliary medium in the auxiliary medium line, upstream of a first check valve (120), falls below a predetermined operating pressure threshold value
Implementation Method 2
A first check valve (120) is installed in the auxiliary medium line (110) to prevent the auxiliary medium from flowing back from the converter (230) to the auxiliary medium source (105)
Implementation Method 3
A buffer store (130) for the auxiliary medium is branched off within the safety device (100) downstream of the first check valve (120)
Implementation Method 4
a control device (160) is provided for switching off the supply voltage (Uv) of the converter (230) and for opening of a valve device (140) according to the pressure of the auxiliary medium in the auxiliary medium line (110) measured by the pressure comparison device (150)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device for a converter that is operated with a supplied voltage and an auxiliary medium for converting an input variable into an output variable. To ensure that the converter can still be moved into a safe position even if the pressure of the auxiliary medium in the auxiliary medium line drops, the invention provides a control device within the safety device for switching off the supply voltage to the converter and for opening a valve within the safety device to supply the converter with the auxiliary medium from a buffer storage tank, wherein the pressure of the auxiliary medium there corresponds to a predetermined required operating pressure for the converter.