Flow Control Valve Partition Wall Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control valves for engine cooling systems face challenges with high water pressure loads, leading to increased actuator size and complexity, as well as potential water leakage due to abrasive seal members.
Innovation Solution
A flow control valve design featuring a cylindrical valve body with a partition wall that branches the flow path from the inflow port to the valve body towards its outer peripheral side, reducing direct water pressure on the valve body and incorporating symmetrical flow paths and seals to minimize sliding resistance and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cylindrical valve body is driven by an actuator to control cooling water flow, then the flow rate can be controlled, but the water pressure creates a large load requiring a larger actuator with sufficient driving torque
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple segments along the axial direction, with each segment having independent flow control capability. This segmentation allows the total flow control task to be distributed across multiple smaller valve bodies, reducing the driving torque required for each individual actuator while maintaining overall flow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure equalization chamber is introduced as an intermediary between the high-pressure cooling water and the valve body. This chamber equalizes the water pressure on both sides of the valve body, reducing the pressure differential that creates the large load on the actuator, thereby reducing the required driving torque.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two cylindrical valve bodies with orthogonal moving directions are provided for radiator and bypass flow control, then both flows can be controlled, but the construction becomes complicated and the housing size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve bodies that were previously arranged orthogonally in separate locations are merged into a single integrated valve body structure. This unified design achieves both radiator flow control and bypass flow control functions within one component, simplifying the overall construction and reducing housing size while maintaining dual flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed with multi-functional capability, where a single valve body structure performs both radiator flow control and bypass flow control functions. This universal design eliminates the need for separate specialized valve bodies, reducing device complexity and space requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical valve body slides relative to the housing inner surface, then the valve body can move axially, but the seal member becomes abraded leading to water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
A pressure equalization chamber is introduced as an intermediary that equalizes water pressure on both sides of the valve body. This eliminates the pressure differential that causes the valve body to press against the seal member during movement, reducing abrasion and preventing water leakage while maintaining valve body mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The water pressure parameter is equalized on both sides of the valve body through the pressure equalization chamber. By changing the pressure distribution from unequal to equal, the harmful friction and wear on the seal member are reduced, improving seal durability while maintaining axial movement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control valve includes a housing including an inflow port and an outflow port which communicates with the inflow port, a valve body housed in the housing and formed in a cylindrical form, the valve body allowing and prohibiting a fluid to flow between the inflow port and the outflow port by moving in an axial direction, an actuator moving the valve body in the axial direction, and a partition wall arranged between the valve body and the inflow port and causing a flow path from the inflow port to the valve body to be branched towards an outer peripheral side of the valve body.