Spring-Biased Emergency Drain Valve for Floating Roofs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drainage systems for floating roofs on liquid storage tanks are not reliable enough to handle excessive rainwater accumulation, leading to potential inundation and interference with the sealing mechanism, and do not effectively prevent hydrocarbon vapor escape under extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
A self-opening and closing emergency drainage valve with a spring-biased sealing disk that automatically opens when a predetermined head of water is reached, allowing water to drain through side-facing discharge openings and then returns to a closed position to prevent gas escape, constructed from durable, corrosion-resistant materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a basic centrally positioned drain is used, then the drainage system is simple, but it cannot handle excessive rainwater accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is segmented into multiple emergency drain valves distributed across the floating roof surface, rather than relying on a single central drain. This segmentation allows each valve to independently handle localized water accumulation, collectively providing high drainage capacity while maintaining relatively simple individual valve structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Each emergency drain valve is equipped with a float-operated mechanism that automatically opens when water accumulates to a certain level and automatically closes when the water level recedes. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high drainage productivity.
2Reliability
If complex roof drain apparatus is used, then drainage capability is improved, but debris interferes with proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The float mechanism is extracted as a separate, simple component that operates independently within the valve housing. This simple float element, disconnected from complex control systems, reliably opens the valve when water accumulates and closes it when the water recedes, preventing debris interference while maintaining high drainage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each emergency drain valve is designed as a simple, localized device with a float mechanism tailored to its specific function. The simplicity of each individual valve unit prevents debris interference, while the distributed network of these valves across the roof provides comprehensive drainage coverage and high overall reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the floating roof is allowed to accumulate water, then the drainage system remains simple, but the roof may be forced into the liquid in the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency drain valves are positioned and configured to activate before the water accumulation becomes critical. The float mechanism is calibrated to open the valves at predetermined water levels, preliminarily preventing the roof from becoming too heavy and potentially breaching the tank, while maintaining simple sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The float-operated valves provide automatic feedback control: when water accumulates to a critical level, the float rises and automatically opens the valve to drain water; when the water level recedes, the float drops and automatically closes the valve. This feedback mechanism prevents harmful water accumulation and hydrocarbon vapor escape while keeping the sealing mechanism relatively simple.
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 reliable and automatic drainage system that effectively reduces hazardous conditions by preventing water accumulation and hydrocarbon vapor escape, even under extreme conditions, while being simple, rugged, and cost-effective to manufacture and install.
Implementation Method 1
A self-opening and closing emergency drainage valve with a spring-biased sealing disk that automatically opens when a predetermined head of water is reached
Implementation Method 2
returns to a closed position to prevent gas escape
Data Source
AI summary
A valve for a floating roof emergency drainage system for draining fluid accumulated atop the floating roof, including a valve body having a top part having a cylindrical bore of first diameter, a bottom part formed by a circumferential wall which extends axially downward from the top part and defines within the wall a cylindrical bore of second diameter that is generally coaxial with and greater than the first diameter, thereby defining at the junction of the top and bottom part bores a downward facing shoulder which serves as a valve seat, the circumferential wall of the bottom part having at least one fluid discharge passage extending transversely therethrough for discharge of the fluid from the valve, a valve seal element axially movable in the bottom part bore between an upper closed position where it abuts the shoulder, and a lower open position spaced axially downward from the upper closed position, and a spring mounted in the bottom part and constantly biasing the valve seal element toward the upper closed position, the valve seal element in the open position being at least partially below the fluid discharge passage in the bottom part bore, thus providing a passageway, when the valve seal element is in the open position, for fluid to flow through the top part bore, past the shoulder and to exit the valve via the fluid discharge opening.