Emergency Stop Valve With Guided Gas Flow and Rapid Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shut-off valves for compressed gases face issues such as rapid gas flow leading to particle impact ignition, adiabatic compression causing temperature increases and potential ignition, and time-consuming closure mechanisms, particularly problematic with highly oxidized gases.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off valve with an emergency stop mechanism and a pin element design that allows for quick and controlled opening and closing, featuring a sliding spindle, biasing element, and guiding means to manage gas flow, reducing adiabatic compression and enabling rapid closure with minimal rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional shut-off valves are used with compressed gases, then the valve can control gas flow, but the rapid gas flow causes particle impact ignition and adiabatic compression leading to temperature increase and potential ignition
Solution Approach 1:
A needle valve mechanism is introduced as an intermediary flow control device between the main valve and the gas outlet. This needle valve gradually restricts the gas flow area, reducing the gas flow speed and preventing particle impact ignition and adiabatic compression temperature increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system incorporates dynamic flow control through the adjustable needle valve mechanism, allowing the flow area to be gradually reduced from fully open to fully closed position. This dynamic adjustment enables controlled reduction of gas flow speed while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If conventional shut-off valves are used, then gas flow can be controlled, but the closing operation requires several turns of the hand wheel which is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is pre-configured with a quick-closure capability through the needle valve design. In normal operation, the main valve body handles flow control, but in emergency situations, the needle valve can be rapidly actuated to achieve immediate flow shutdown without requiring multiple hand wheel turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is segmented into two functional parts: the main valve body for normal flow control and the needle valve for emergency quick closure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the needle valve providing rapid response capability independent of the main valve's multi-turn operation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional shut-off valves are used, then gas flow can be controlled, but it is difficult for the user to determine if the valve is open or closed
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates visual status indication mechanisms that change appearance based on valve position. Different colors or visual markers are displayed to clearly indicate whether the valve is in the open or closed position, eliminating ambiguity for the user.
4Reliability
If the valve opening area is reduced to reduce gas flow speed, then ignition risk is reduced, but the valve structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The needle valve mechanism is nested within the existing valve body structure. The needle valve component is positioned inside the valve assembly, utilizing the existing flow passage space. This nesting approach adds the flow control function without significantly increasing the overall valve size or structural 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 provides a quicker and safer operation by reducing the risk of ignition and extending valve component life through controlled gas flow and reduced pressure variations, allowing for rapid closure with minimal rotation and clear status indication.
Implementation Method 1
a spring which provides the abrupt closure of the tap by thrust on the valve stem
Implementation Method 2
adiabatic compression caused by the opening of the shut-off valve and gas entering non-pressurised areas may lead to increase in temperature of the gas for a moment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to shut-off valve for controlling flow of a pressurised gas. The shut-off valve comprising a body defining a passage extending between a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel, a sealing element, and an emergency stop mechanism. The sealing element arranged to, in a first position, close the passage, and in a second position, open the passage to allow gas to flow between the gas inlet channel and the gas outlet channel through the passage. The invention also relates to a method for controlling flow of a pressurised gas with a shut-off valve and a method for activating an emergency stop of a shut-off valve.