Fluid Control Valve Assembly for High-Pressure Gas Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid control systems for high-pressure gas systems, such as hydrogen fuel cell systems, suffer from solenoid valve durability issues due to direct exposure to high-pressure charging gas, leading to malfunctions and damage over time.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control valve assembly with separate charging and feeding flow passages, where the solenoid valve is mounted on the feeding passage, and includes check valves to prevent high-pressure charging from reaching the solenoid valve, along with improved solenoid valve and plunger assembly structures to enhance durability and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the solenoid valve is mounted on the main flow passage to control charging gas flow, then the valve can precisely control flow according to electrical signals, but the high-pressure charging gas directly applies to the solenoid valve causing durability decrease and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the flow control system into separate charging flow passage and feeding flow passage. The solenoid valve is exclusively mounted on the feeding flow passage to control discharge, while the charging flow passage has its own manual valve. This segmentation isolates the solenoid valve from high-pressure charging gas, preventing damage and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a check valve as an intermediary component between the charging flow passage and feeding flow passage. The check valve allows one-way flow control, permitting gas to pass from charging to feeding passage but blocking reverse flow and high-pressure charging gas from reaching the solenoid valve, thus protecting the valve.
2Reliability
If separate charging and feeding flow passages are formed with solenoid valve on feeding passage, then solenoid valve is protected from charging pressure, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The main valve body is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates both the charging flow passage and feeding flow passage with their respective valves. This unified structure allows the single valve body to perform multiple functions (charging control and discharge control), reducing overall structural complexity despite having separate flow passages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the charging manual valve and feeding solenoid valve into a single integrated valve assembly mounted on the same main valve body. This combination approach consolidates components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining separate functional flow passages for reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple valves are mounted on separate flow passages, then precise flow control is achieved, but assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The main valve body serves as a universal mounting platform for both the charging manual valve and feeding solenoid valve. This multi-functional base structure simplifies assembly by providing a common installation interface, reducing the number of separate mounting operations required despite having multiple valves.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a fluid control valve assembly including: a main valve body having a first flow passage that is mounted on an inlet of a high-pressure vessel and through which a charging source gas passes, a second flow passage through which a feeding source gas passes, and a third flow passage to which the first flow passage and the second flow passage are connected; a manual valve that is mounted on the main valve body and that opens and closes the third flow passage; a solenoid valve that is mounted on the main valve body and that opens and closes the second flow passage by an electrical signal; a first check valve that is provided on the first flow passage to thus block a reverse flow of the charging source gas; and a second check valve that is provided on the second flow passage to thus block a reverse flow of the feeding source gas, and block the charging source gas from flowing in the second flow passage, to thereby prevent the charging source gas from flowing in the solenoid valve. Accordingly, a charging gas pressure of a high-pressure is prevented from being applied to a solenoid valve, to thereby prevent damage to the solenoid valve and to prevent a malfunction of the solenoid valve.