Dual fuel valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual fuel devices face safety risks due to the incorrect selection of fuel at the selector valve, leading to potential explosions when high-pressure liquid propane is inadvertently directed through a larger orifice intended for natural gas.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control system with a gas judgment assembly, oxygen depletion sensor, and ion induction needle is implemented to determine the correct fuel type. This system senses the presence of a flame and uses a control system to disconnect the solenoid valve if the wrong fuel is detected, preventing fuel flow to the burner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If liquid propane is delivered to a natural gas system with larger orifice, then high pressure fuel flows through large opening, but this causes excessive fuel emittance and explosion risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of fuel type before allowing main fuel flow. The gas judgment assembly and oxygen depletion sensor detect the fuel type in advance, and the control system预先 closes the solenoid valve if mismatch is detected, preventing the harmful effect before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The solenoid valve acts as an intermediary control element between the fuel source and the burner. It mediates the fuel flow by being controlled by the electronic control system based on fuel type detection, preventing direct uncontrolled flow that would cause the harmful effect
2Reliability
If electronic control system with sensors is added to detect fuel type, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen depletion sensor serves multiple functions: it detects oxygen levels in the environment and also indirectly detects fuel type by measuring combustion characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each detection task, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the combustion process itself to generate detection signals. The combustion of different fuels produces different oxygen depletion patterns, allowing the sensor to self-diagnose fuel type without requiring external detection equipment, thus improving safety without proportionally increasing complexity
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 effectively prevents the combustion of the wrong fuel, reducing the risk of explosions and ensuring safe operation of dual fuel devices by accurately determining the fuel type and controlling the solenoid valve accordingly.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen depletion sensor assembly (147) including a nozzle (148)
Implementation Method 2
ion induction needle (146) to provide a signal to the control system (155)
Implementation Method 3
a solenoid valve (127) configured to open and allow the passage of fuel when provided with the electrical current
Implementation Method 4
a natural gas thermocouple (151) configured to provide electrical current when heated
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic control system connected to a gas judgment assembly with an oxygen depletion sensor assembly and a sensor such as an ion induction needle to determine whether a flame is present. The gas judgment assembly includes a nozzle associated with the oxygen depletion sensor assembly that is large enough to permit a flame if the fuel is liquid propane, but small enough to prevent a flame if the fuel is natural gas, and send a signal indicating a flame or no flame status to the control system. The control system can thereafter determine whether a flame is present and, if so, conclude that liquid propane fuel is being directed to the gas judgment assembly while the system is in the natural gas mode. The control system can then open a relay, disconnecting current flow to a solenoid valve if a flame is sensed.