Cylindrical Flow Cage Fences for Linear Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control devices with nested cylindrical cages and perforations suffer from dead bands, leading to non-linear control over fluid flow, making accurate control difficult, especially when the valve is close to these dead band positions.
Innovation Solution
The flow control device features a cylindrical cage with convoluted flow paths and fences shaped with a first section, a second section, and interconnecting sections, ensuring that each perforation is surrounded by a flat land, allowing for a more linear relationship between plug movement and flow area changes, reducing or eliminating dead bands and enhancing turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional straight fences are used in flow control devices, then the structure is simple, but dead bands appear in plug movement causing non-linear flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the fence structure by replacing straight fences with curved or S-shaped fences that have varying axial positions. The fences include first sections at first axial positions, second sections at second axial positions, and interconnecting sections that curve between them. This curved geometry eliminates dead bands by ensuring continuous interaction between the plug control edge and the fences throughout the plug's travel, achieving linear flow control without excessive structural complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If perforations are positioned close to straight fences, then the device structure is compact, but dead bands occur where plug movement has no impact on flow area
Solution Approach 1:
The curved fence design allows perforations to be positioned close to the fences while eliminating dead bands. The interconnecting sections of the curved fences create continuous interaction zones that ensure the plug control edge always impacts the flow area, even when perforations are axially close to the fence structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flat lands at specific locations surrounding each perforation. These flat lands are localized features that provide continuous interaction between the plug control edge and the flow area, ensuring that plug movement always impacts flow control regardless of the overall compact dimensions of the device.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the plug moves through dead band positions, then the device structure is maintained, but accurate flow control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The curved fence configuration with varying axial positions eliminates dead bands by ensuring the plug control edge continuously interacts with the fence structure throughout its travel. The interconnecting sections create a progressive engagement pattern that maintains flow control precision while preserving device structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved fence design ensures continuous useful action by eliminating dead bands where plug movement would have no effect. The interconnecting sections of the fences create uninterrupted interaction zones that maintain continuous control over the flow area throughout the entire plug travel range.
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
This design eliminates or minimizes dead bands, achieving more accurate fluid flow control and reducing fluid pressure by ensuring continuous impact on the flow area as the plug moves, while increasing turbulence for improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
The convoluted flow paths and fences create turbulence in the fluid flow, enhancing mixing and energy dissipation
Implementation Method 2
fences restricting axial flow along at least one of the inner and outer periphery of the cage
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control device is described comprising a generally cylindrical cage 12 including a series of perforations 14 defining, in part, convoluted flow paths between inner and outer peripheries of the device 10, and fences 18 restricting axial flow along at least one of the inner and outer periphery of the cage 12, wherein at least one of the fences 18 is shaped to include a first section 18a at a first axial position, a second section 18b at an axial position spaced from the first section 18a, and interconnecting sections 18c interconnecting the first and second sections 18a, 18b.