Flow Regulating Device Piston Area Ratio for High-Pressure Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow regulating devices are unable to effectively regulate high-pressure fluids without requiring expensive pressure regulating mechanisms, as they struggle to generate sufficient air pressure to separate the valve element from the valve seat when dealing with fluids at pressures significantly higher than atmospheric pressure.
Innovation Solution
A flow regulating device design featuring a piston with an area that is equal to or greater than twice the area of the diaphragm, allowing the valve element to be separated from the valve seat by setting the operating gas pressure to half the fluid pressure, thereby eliminating the need for an expensive pressure regulating mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the area of the piston receiving operating gas pressure is made equal to or more than twice the area of the diaphragm, then the valve element can be separated from the valve seat using lower operating gas pressure (half the fluid pressure), but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a diaphragm for fluid pressure sensing, a piston for operating gas pressure application, and a valve element for flow control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the piston to have a larger area than the diaphragm to achieve mechanical advantage and reduce the required operating gas pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston acts as an intermediary between the operating gas and the diaphragm/valve element system. By positioning the piston between the operating gas pressure source and the valve mechanism, it transmits and amplifies the operating gas pressure force onto the diaphragm, enabling effective valve control with reduced pressure requirements.
2Device complexity
If a conventional flow regulating device is used with high-pressure fluid, then the device structure remains simple, but the air pressure in the pressure chamber cannot be increased sufficiently to separate the valve element from the valve seat
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the area parameter of the piston relative to the diaphragm, making the piston area equal to or more than twice the diaphragm area. This parameter change creates a mechanical advantage that reduces the required operating gas pressure by half compared to conventional designs, enabling reliable valve element separation even with limited pressure supply capabilities.
3Stress or pressure
If an expensive pressure regulating mechanism is added to the air-pressure supplying device, then sufficient air pressure can be generated to separate the valve element from the valve seat, but the device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the available operating gas pressure (without requiring expensive pressure regulation) and combines it with the fluid pressure acting on the diaphragm to achieve valve element separation. The piston's larger area allows the system to 'self-service' by leveraging the existing pressure differential rather than requiring additional expensive pressure regulation equipment.
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
Enables the regulation of high-pressure fluid flows without the need for an expensive air-pressure supplying device with a pressure regulating mechanism, ensuring efficient operation by balancing forces from the spring and fluid pressure with the operating gas pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a piston part for transmitting pressure of the operating gas that is introduced into the pressure chamber to the second surface of the diaphragm
Implementation Method 2
a spring part for exerting an urging force on the valve element part in a direction to bring the valve element part into contact with the valve seat part
Implementation Method 3
The pressure applied to the first diaphragm is transmitted to a second diaphragm through an annular curved portion provided therebetween. A valve element is fixed to the second diaphragm, and the air pressure in the pressure chamber causes a force to be exerted on the valve element
Data Source
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AI summary
A flow regulating device 1 is provided which includes: a valve element 19 which is movable into contact with or away from a valve seat 18; a spring 21 for exerting an urging force on the valve element 19; a diaphragm 20 fixed to an end of the valve element 19, the diaphragm having a fluid contact surface 20a and a back surface 20b; a pressure chamber 24 into which compressed air is externally introduced; and a piston 25 for transmitting the pressure of the compressed air that is introduced into the pressure chamber 24 to the back surface 20b of the diaphragm 20, wherein a portion of the piston 25 which portion receives the pressure of the compressed air has an area equal to or more than twice the area of the fluid contact surface 20a of the diaphragm 20.