Flow Control Valve Geometry for Constant Cross-Section Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow control valves experience a change in cross-sectional area during operation, leading to variations in flow characteristics, which decreases flow rate and increases pumping costs.
Innovation Solution
A flow control valve design with radially oriented throttling elements and a central part having a symmetrical multiprong star cross-section, where the inner diameter of the central part is slightly larger than the nozzles, allowing for minimal deviation in cross-sectional area, enabling radial motion of movable elements to maintain consistent flow characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional throttling elements are arranged to taper toward the center, then the valve can close the flow completely, but the cross-sectional area of the flow changes during operation, leading to decreased flow rate characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the central part of the control element have a different cross-sectional area than the nozzles. Specifically, the central part's cross-sectional area is made larger than the nozzle area to compensate for the volume occupied by throttling elements, maintaining consistent flow characteristics throughout the control zone while preserving complete closure capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the central part's cross-sectional area relative to the nozzles. By making the central part area larger than the nozzle area by a specific amount, the design compensates for the blocking effect of throttling elements, ensuring that the effective flow area remains constant from nozzle to nozzle, thus maintaining optimal flow rate characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the cross-sectional area of the flow part changes during operation, then the valve can regulate flow, but this leads to changes in flow characteristics and increased pumping costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the central part with a specific cross-sectional area that compensates for the throttling elements' volume. This local geometric modification ensures that the effective flow area remains constant throughout the control zone, maintaining consistent flow characteristics and eliminating the need for increased pumping energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotentiality in the flow path by ensuring that the cross-sectional area of the flow part remains constant from the inlet nozzle to the outlet nozzle. By making the central part area larger than the nozzle area, the design equalizes the flow potential throughout the control zone, preventing energy losses and maintaining optimal flow characteristics during regulation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A flow control valve containing an actuator and a housing with a control element having inlet and outlet nozzles with through openings of the same diameter and a central part located coaxial therewith between the nozzles with radially directed, longitudinally oriented throttling elements evenly located on its inner cylindrical surface: fixed throttling elements (2) in the form of projections, each having the shape of a triangular tooth in cross-section, and movable throttling elements (1) located between them, made in order to change the size of the through opening of the central part configured to enable radial translational motion along the side walls of the fixed throttling elements, contacting them; where all throttling elements have a terminal part in the form of a triangular wedge with a vertex angle size of 360/n, where n is the number of movable throttling elements, the cross-section of the through opening of the central part of the control element in the "open" position of the regulator has the shape of a symmetrical multiprong star, and the inner diameter of the central part of the control element is larger than the inner diameter of any of the nozzles by an amount at which the area of any cross-section of the specified central part, taking into account the cross-sectional area of the throttling elements in the "open" position of the regulator, has a deviation from the cross-sectional area of the flow part of any of the nozzles of no more than 2%.