Electric Flow Control Valve With Back Pressure Chamber Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically-driven flow rate control valves require high electric power to maintain valve position due to direct pressure application and suffer from precision issues due to hysteresis in spring and actuator systems, leading to increased energy consumption and component complexity.
Innovation Solution
An electrically-driven flow rate control valve design featuring a main valve body with a back pressure chamber and a sub valve body, where the sub valve body is driven by an electric motor, reducing direct pressure application to the main valve body and eliminating the need for an energizing member, allowing precise position control and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conventional electrically-driven valve is used with direct pressure application to the valve body, then the valve can control fluid flow, but high electric power is required to maintain valve position
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into a main valve body and a sub valve body. The main valve body controls the main fluid flow path, while the sub valve body controls a back pressure chamber. This segmentation allows the electric motor to only overcome spring force and friction rather than direct fluid pressure, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable valve position control.
Solution Approach 2:
A back pressure chamber is introduced as an intermediary between the main fluid pressure and the sub valve body. The chamber receives pressurized fluid through a flow rate regulating mechanism, creating a controlled pressure environment that reduces the force the electric motor must overcome, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining valve stability.
2Measurement precision
If a pilot operated valve with spring and actuator is used, then valve position can be controlled, but precision varies due to hysteresis
Solution Approach 1:
The opening spring is completely removed from the system. Instead of using a spring to maintain valve opening, the invention uses fluid pressure in the back pressure chamber to balance forces on the main valve body. This extraction eliminates hysteresis associated with spring mechanics while simplifying the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spring system is replaced with a fluid pressure system. The back pressure chamber uses pressurized fluid to create balancing forces on the main valve body, replacing the function previously performed by the opening spring. This substitution eliminates mechanical hysteresis and improves position precision.
3Power
If high pressure fluid directly acts on the pilot valve element, then the valve can control flow, but large driving force is required increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into a main valve body handling high pressure fluid and a sub valve body handling controlled pressure from the back pressure chamber. This segmentation isolates the electric motor from direct exposure to high fluid pressure, requiring the motor to generate force only against spring resistance and friction, thereby dramatically reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The back pressure chamber serves as an intermediary that decouples the high pressure fluid from direct action on the sub valve body. Fluid pressure is regulated through a flow rate regulating mechanism before entering the chamber, creating a buffered pressure environment that reduces the driving force requirement for the electric motor while maintaining effective valve control.
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 design achieves reduced electric power consumption, output, and size while maintaining stable valve positioning with precise control, suppressing high pressure application to the sub valve body and eliminating the need for additional energizing components.
Implementation Method 1
a flow-rate regulating mechanism, which is arranged in the communication path, and regulates a flow rate of the fluid so as to reduce the flow rate of the fluid flowing from the first fluid chamber toward the back pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor, and a sub valve body which is stored in the back pressure chamber... receives a driving force generated by the electric motor, thereby being capable of relatively moving along the axial direction with respect to the main valve body
Implementation Method 3
the main-valve-body distal end portion seals the fluid-chamber communication port, thereby shutting off the communication of the fluid between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrically-driven flow rate control valve capable of controlling a flow rate of fluid while application of a high pressure of the fluid to a sub valve body connected to an electric motor is suppressed. A flow rate control valve includes a casing, an elevation drive device, and a main valve body. When the sub valve body moves upward by the elevation drive device, oil in a back pressure chamber is discharged. Moreover, the oil in a first oil chamber flows into the back pressure chamber while the flow rate of the oil is regulated. A balance among pressures in the back pressure chamber, the first oil chamber, and the second oil chamber changes, and the main valve body opens. When the main valve body is closed, a direct application of the pressure of the back pressure chamber to the sub valve body is blocked.