Electromagnetic Valve Pilot Bore Sealing for Cryogenic Leak Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Valves used for switching cryogenic substances, such as hydrogen, often experience issues with tightness due to the low temperatures, leading to potential leaks and improper sealing.

Innovation Solution

An electromagnetically operated valve design featuring a linearly movable armature and sealing nipple, with a pilot bore and nipple guide, ensures precise alignment and movement, preventing leaks by maintaining consistent contact with the valve seat and allowing for pressure equalization to facilitate opening, thus overcoming temperature-related sealing challenges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional valve design is used for cryogenic substances, then the structure is simple, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to low temperature effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is divided into multiple functional components: a sealing element for primary sealing, a pilot bore system for pressure equalization, and a nipple guide for precise positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring reliable sealing in cryogenic conditions while maintaining manageable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pilot bore enables preliminary pressure equalization between the inlet and outlet sides before the main sealing element opens. This preliminary action reduces the pressure differential that the sealing element must overcome, preventing sudden thermal shock and maintaining sealing integrity during operation with cryogenic substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the sealing nipple is allowed to move freely, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to misalignment with the valve seat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing alignment precisionVSAvoidsealing nipple mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The nipple guide acts as an intermediary component between the sealing nipple and the valve body. It provides precise linear guidance for the sealing nipple's movement while ensuring consistent alignment with the valve seat. This intermediary structure enables the sealing nipple to move freely during operation without compromising manufacturing precision or alignment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the valve uses a pilot bore for pressure equalization, then the reliability of opening is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve opening reliabilityVSAvoidvalve component quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pilot bore is integrated directly into the sealing nipple component, combining the pressure equalization function with the sealing element. This merging approach enables reliable pressure equalization and valve opening without adding separate complex components, thus improving opening reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 valve ensures reliable sealing and prevents leaks by maintaining precise alignment of the sealing nipple with the valve seat, even at low temperatures, allowing for efficient fluid flow while maintaining tightness, especially when handling cryogenic substances.

Implementation Method 1

The valve contains a coil which, when current flows through it, generates a magnetic field that moves the armature along the spatial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3696455B1Electromagnetically actuated valve
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 SVM SCHULTZ VERWALTUNGS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3696455B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696455B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3696455B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an electromagnetically actuated valve comprising: - a valve body (10) in which an inlet (6) and an outlet (7) are formed, - a valve seat (20) which encloses a main nozzle (25) and is arranged in the valve body (10) in terms of flow between the inlet (6) and the outlet (7), - an armature (30), - a coil (40), - a preload device (50), - a sealing nipple (60) in which a pilot bore (65) is arranged, - a nipple guide (70) in which the sealing nipple (60) is received and which is arranged in the valve body (10) for movement only linearly along the spatial direction between a closed position and an open position, wherein the nipple guide (70) and the armature (30) are movable relative to each other to a limited extent.