Emergency Device for Gas Supply Pressure-Relief Valve Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas supply systems with pressure-relief valves struggle to safely interrupt gas flow during emergencies like fires, as they can cause further fueling of the fire or explosions due to gas leaks from overheated or damaged pipes, even when the system is intact.
Innovation Solution
An emergency device with suction means and sensor-activated prestressing mechanism generates underpressure to exceed the nominal flow intensity and pressure difference, causing the pressure-relief valve to close, and remains closed until counterpressure is restored, allowing normal gas flow to resume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure-relief valve is used to automatically close when flow velocity or flow rate exceeds a predetermined threshold, then gas leakage and fire hazards are prevented, but the system cannot be manually closed during emergencies like fires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (suction device with piston) that mediates between the sensor detection and the pressure-relief valve closure. When the sensor detects fire conditions, it triggers the suction device to create negative pressure, which then causes the pressure-relief valve to close. This intermediary mechanism enables emergency shutdown without directly operating the valve, resolving the contradiction between automatic safety and emergency adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service emergency shutdown by using the sensor to automatically trigger the suction device, which then closes the pressure-relief valve without requiring external manual operation. The gas supply system serves itself by detecting the emergency condition and autonomously initiating the closure sequence, improving both reliability and adaptability.
2Reliability
If the pressure-relief valve has a small equalizing passage to maintain closed position, then gas leakage is prevented, but gas pressure restoration is slow and may cause unnecessary prolonged closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the suction area variable rather than fixed. The piston can adjust the suction area size dynamically - using a smaller suction area during normal operation for stable valve closure, and expanding to a larger suction area when rapid pressure equalization is needed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between closure stability and pressure restoration speed.
3Device complexity
If external operation is required to close the pressure-relief valve during emergencies, then the valve structure remains simple, but emergency response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning the suction device and prestressing the piston ready to actuate. The sensor is continuously monitoring for emergency conditions, and the prestressing means are pre-loaded to provide immediate force when needed. This preliminary preparation enables rapid emergency response without requiring complex active control mechanisms during the actual shutdown event.
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 effectively interrupts gas supply without external operation, preventing fire fueling and reducing risk of explosions by rapidly increasing flow intensity to close the pressure-relief valve, ensuring safety until the emergency is resolved.
Implementation Method 1
suction means for generating an underpressure in the gas pipe section between the gas take-off point and the pressure-relief valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a gas supply system situated between a gas take-off point, such as a gas meter (27), provided in a building (2), and a gas pipe (1) accommodated underground (3), comprising a branch pipe piece (9) connected to the gas pipe, a connection pipe piece (10) fed into the building, and a pressure-relief valve (20) which is in an open position in the at-rest state and which can be brought to the closed position when a predetermined nominal flow intensity and/or a predetermined nominal pressure difference across the pressure-relief valve is exceeded. The invention also provides an emergency device (26) which has suction means (29-32) for generating an underpressure in the gas pipe section between the gas take-off point (27) and the pressure-relief valve (20), and sensor means (36) for activating the suction means. Said suction means (29-32) are able to generate an underpressure of a magnitude such that the resultant flow intensity and/or the resultant pressure difference across the pressure-relief valve (20) is greater than the predetermined nominal flow intensity and/or the predetermined nominal pressure difference across the pressure-relief valve and such that the pressure-relief valve closes under the influence of said flow intensity and/or said pressure difference.