Gas Meter Valve Assembly With Particle-Guiding Flow Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas meters face issues with fouling due to dust and solid residues in the gas stream, which can lead to wear of valve components and pressure loss, compromising measurement accuracy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a stream conveyor device, annular in shape, is integrated into the gas meter. This device has a non-increasing monotonic inner dimension, ensuring that solid particles are effectively guided away from the valve's sealing surfaces, reducing fouling and maintaining a reliable seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical filtration elements are added to retain particles, then fouling of valve surfaces is reduced, but pressure loss between inlet and outlet increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the filtration element (causing pressure loss) is extracted and eliminated. Instead of using a filtration element, the patent uses the gas stream's own dynamics and the conveyor device's geometry to naturally guide particles away from the valve, achieving particle removal without adding resistance to the gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor device acts as an intermediary structure that redirects particles away from the valve sealing surfaces. Rather than directly filtering particles (which causes pressure loss), it uses its annular geometry and positioning to guide particles along the gas stream, preventing them from reaching critical components without impeding overall flow.
2Reliability
If the conveyor device narrows monotonically from upper to lower end, then particle guidance away from valve surfaces is improved, but gas stream flow resistance may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device has varying local qualities along its length - the inner dimension narrows monotonically from upper to lower end to create specific flow patterns. This gradual narrowing creates local turbulence and directional flow that guides particles away from the valve sealing surfaces, while the gradual (monotonic) nature of the narrowing prevents sudden constrictions that would cause excessive pressure loss.
3Device complexity
If valve elements are left exposed to gas stream, then device complexity is reduced, but fouling and wear of valve components occur over time
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device performs a preliminary action by guiding and redirecting particles away from the valve sealing surfaces before the gas stream reaches the valve. This preventive measure protects the valve components from fouling and wear without requiring additional protective structures, maintaining simplicity while improving durability.
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 solution significantly enhances the reliability and accuracy of gas stream measurement by minimizing fouling and maintaining a consistent seal over time, even in the presence of solid particles in the gas stream.
Implementation Method 1
larger corpuscles can rest by gravity on the lower walls of the ducts and slowly be pushed by the gas stream
Implementation Method 2
dust and lighter corpuscles can be suspended in the gas stream and move therewith
Data Source
AI summary
A gas meter and a valve assembly, the gas meter including a box-shaped casing defining measuring compartment and including an inlet and outlet section for a gas stream. The meter further includes a gas stream measuring device, arranged inside the measuring compartment and a valve assembly housed inside the measuring compartment and connected to the inlet section. The valve assembly includes a valve body accommodating a shutter element cooperating with a sealing element having an inner diameter defining a passage opening of the gas stream through the valve body, the shutter element movable between an open position and a closed position of the gas stream passage opening. The valve assembly further includes a connecting element, in flow communication with the inlet section and the valve body to which it is connected, including a stream conveyor device and extending between an upper end and lower end portion thereof.