Cryogenic Ball Valve Assembly for Low Heat Transfer Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic valves with extended configurations face challenges in achieving high flow rates with low pressure drops, while maintaining thermal insulation and ease of servicing, particularly in cold box applications where heat transfer between different temperature parts is a concern.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic ball valve design with a removable closure member assembly, extended stem, and thermal insulation assembly forms a single removable unit, allowing easy servicing and minimizing heat transfer between cryogenic and higher temperature parts, while ensuring high flow rates and low pressure drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a valve with extended configuration is used to allow servicing from outside the cold box, then ease of repair is improved, but heat transfer between valve parts at different temperatures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into distinct thermal zones using insulation barriers and thermal breaks in the extended stem and valve body extension, separating the cryogenic internal components from the warmer external actuation components. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of each zone while maintaining functional connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal insulation materials and vacuum spaces act as intermediary elements between the cryogenic valve internals and the warmer external environment. These intermediaries reduce direct thermal coupling while allowing mechanical transmission of actuation forces through the extended stem.
2Ease of operation
If the valve body extension is made larger to accommodate the extended stem, then ease of operation is improved, but volume of stationary object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body extension utilizes the longitudinal dimension (height) rather than increasing transverse dimensions. The extended stem protrudes axially from the valve body through a relatively small opening, allowing full actuation capability without proportionally increasing the valve's footprint or displacement volume.
3Productivity
If the valve is designed for high flow rates with low pressure drops, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ball closure member features a spherical geometry with a flow bore that can be oriented to provide full-port (100% open) flow capability. The spherical shape naturally guides fluid flow with minimal direction changes, reducing turbulence and pressure drops while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for the closure member.
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 design achieves high flow rates with minimal pressure drops, effective thermal separation, and easy servicing, even when installed in a line, with reduced conductive and convective heat transfer, and is cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal insulation assembly removably received in the inner chamber and configured so as to thermally separate a first region of the inner chamber adjacent to the valve body from a second region of the inner chamber adjacent to the top entry opening
Data Source
AI summary
A cryogenic ball valve is provided, particularly for cold box applications, which allows high flow rates with low pressure drops, which is easily serviceable even in a condition installed in a line, and in which heat transfer between valve parts at different temperatures under operating conditions is as low as possible.