Automatic Gas Purge Valve with Segmented Control Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas purge valves are not effectively designed to handle high flow rates and varying liquid conditions, such as dirty or clean liquids, efficiently, particularly in systems requiring automatic operation based on liquid levels.
Innovation Solution
An automatic gas purge valve system with a normally closed gas discharge faucet and an automatic valve unit, featuring a flexible closure membrane and a float member, which is responsive to liquid levels within the housing to selectively open and close the valve, allowing high flow rate gas discharge. The system includes a mounting flange and a control chamber for pressure regulation and airing, suitable for both dirty and clean liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a gas purge valve is designed to discharge gas at high flow rates, then the gas discharge capability is improved, but the valve becomes more complex and difficult to control automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into two separate housings: a first housing containing the gas discharge faucet and a second housing containing the automatic valve unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the gas discharge faucet for high flow rate and the automatic valve unit for automated control based on liquid level sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
A control chamber is introduced as an intermediary between the automatic valve unit and the gas discharge faucet. The control chamber receives pressure signals from the automatic valve unit and uses this pressure to actuate the gas discharge faucet, enabling indirect control that simplifies the overall system architecture.
2Extent of automation
If the valve is designed to respond automatically to liquid level changes, then the automation level is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic valve unit uses the liquid level itself as the actuating force. When the liquid level drops, the reduced hydrostatic pressure directly causes the flexible membrane to deform and open the valve, eliminating the need for separate sensors, actuators, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic valve unit utilizes hydraulic pressure from the liquid column to control valve operation. The pressure differential caused by liquid level changes is transmitted through the fluid to deform the flexible membrane and actuate the valve, providing automatic control through fluid mechanics principles.
3Reliability
If the valve uses a flexible membrane closure mechanism, then the sealing capability is improved, but the flow rate capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into two functional parts: the automatic valve unit with flexible membrane for sealing and the gas discharge faucet for high flow rate discharge. This allows the flexible membrane to provide reliable sealing in the automatic valve unit while the separate faucet structure optimizes for high flow rate gas discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The control chamber acts as an intermediary that decouples the sealing function from the discharge function. The flexible membrane seals the automatic valve unit, and through pressure transmission in the control chamber, actuates the separate gas discharge faucet that provides high flow rate capability.
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 system efficiently discharges large volumes of gas at high flow rates while maintaining a normally closed position, suitable for both dirty and clean liquids, with the ability to automatically respond to liquid level changes, ensuring effective gas purging in various fluid systems.
Implementation Method 1
displacement of said membrane displacing member in a downwards sense progressively detaches successive transverse portions of the flexible closure membrane so as to open the outlet port
Implementation Method 2
an automatic valve unit having a second housing, an inlet port in flow communication with the first housing and an outlet port being in flow communication with the control chamber, and configured for selectively generating a flow pulse at the control chamber to displace the gas discharge faucet into its open position, wherein the automatic valve is manipulable between a closed position and an open position solely responsive to liquid level within the first housing
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An automatic gas purge valve system ( 10 ) comprising a normally closed gas discharge faucet ( 100 ) configured for discharging gas at substantially high flow rates, and an automatic valve unit ( 46 ) configured for selectively generating a flow pulse to displace the gas discharge faucet into its open position.