Electric Spindle Slide Valve for Leak-Free High-Force Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slide valves in chemical and petrochemical plants require frequent maintenance, hydraulic fluid, and risk leaks due to hydraulic drives, especially when operating at high temperatures and high switching frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A slide valve design featuring an electric motor-driven spindle drive with a wedge arrangement and lock plates that eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid, using a robust and precise actuation mechanism to maintain a reliable seal with reduced wear, and allows for precise adjustment of contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a hydraulic drive is used to actuate the slide rod, then large driving forces can be transmitted, but the system requires hydraulic fluid, field piping, flushing, and intensive maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic drive system entirely and replaces it with an electric motor-driven spindle drive. This extraction of the hydraulic subsystem eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid, field piping, and associated maintenance while retaining the capability to transmit large driving forces through the electric motor and spindle mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the hydraulic mechanical system with an electromechanical system. The electric motor drives a spindle that converts rotational motion into linear motion of the slide rod, replacing the hydraulic actuation mechanism while maintaining the necessary force transmission capability
2Force
If a hydraulic drive system is implemented, then the slide rod can be actuated with sufficient force, but the risk of leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
By completely removing the hydraulic system from the actuation mechanism, the patent eliminates the sealed hydraulic circuits that are prone to leaking. The electromechanical drive system with electric motor and spindle has no fluid seals, thereby eliminating leak risks while maintaining sufficient actuating force
3Force
If a double spindle drive is used to transmit large driving forces, then the slide rod can be actuated effectively, but uniform advance of the two double spindles becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single spindle driven by an electric motor, eliminating the need for synchronized dual spindles. The wedge arrangement is actuated by this single spindle through the slide rod, ensuring uniform motion without the complexity of coordinating two separate spindle drives
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical synchronization system of dual spindles is replaced with a simple electromechanical single-spindle drive. The electric motor provides precise control of the single spindle's rotation, which translates to precise linear motion of the slide rod and wedge arrangement without synchronization issues
4Reliability
If the lock plates are pressed against body seal seats with high contact pressure, then reliable sealing is achieved, but wear of the lock plates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of contact pressure through the electric motor-driven spindle system. The motor can vary the spindle's rotational speed and torque to adjust the contact pressure between lock plates and seal seats in real-time, applying high pressure only when sealing is required and reducing it during other operations to minimize wear
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the contact pressure parameter between lock plates and body seal seats. The electric motor control allows the contact pressure to be increased to maximum levels only during sealing operations and reduced during opening or idle periods, thereby maintaining sealing reliability while extending the service life of the lock plates
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 provides a low-maintenance, leak-free operation with high feed speeds and precise actuation, reducing wear and eliminating the need for hydraulic systems, while ensuring reliable sealing and durability in harsh conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a wedge arrangement (16) for pressing the lock plates (14, 15) against body seal seats (17) of the slide valve (10). The wedge arrangement (16) is connected to the slide rod (12)
Implementation Method 2
The spindle drive has a spindle (19) and a spindle nut (18). In this embodiment, the spindle (19) is moved translationally, but not rotatably. The conversion of the rotary motion of the electric motor into the translational motion of the spindle (19) is done by the spindle nut (18)
Data Source
AI summary
A slide valve for chemical and/or petrochemical plants, in particular of the round, oval or flat slide valve type, having a locking device (11) which is movable by a slide rod (12) into an open and closed position, and a drive which has an electric motor (13) for adjusting the slide rod (12), the locking device (11) having two lock plates (14, 15), between which a wedge arrangement (16) for pressing the lock plates (14, 15) against body seal seats (17) of the slide valve is arranged and connected to the slide rod (12), wherein the drive has a spindle drive (18) which is aligned with the slide rod (12) and connected thereto for transmitting an actuating force.