Gas Valve Throttle Position Sensing Beyond Stepper Motor Missteps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for determining the position of a throttle in a gas valve are prone to errors due to stepper motor missteps, leading to inaccurate gas flow regulation in combustion processes.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a throttle with a movable blade and a housing that changes an electrical parameter, such as capacitance, to independently verify the throttle's position, using a stepper motor connected to a controller to register and determine the change in position based on this parameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a stepper motor is used to determine throttle position by counting steps, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to missed steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a capacitor as an intermediary element between the throttle blade and the measurement system. The capacitor's capacitance changes in response to the throttle blade's position, providing an independent measurement mechanism that does not rely on stepper motor step counting, thereby resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical step-counting method with an electrical field-based measurement system. Instead of relying on mechanical coupling and step counting, the system uses changes in electrical capacitance to determine throttle position, eliminating the fundamental limitation of missed steps in mechanical systems
2Measurement precision
If flame ionization detection is used to detect throttle position, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the system becomes inapplicable to hydrogen combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces flame ionization detection with an electrical field-based capacitance measurement system that does not depend on combustion characteristics. This substitution enables the system to measure throttle position independently of fuel type, making it universally applicable to different combustion processes including hydrogen combustion
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor serves as a mediator that responds to the physical position of the throttle blade through electrical field interactions rather than chemical combustion processes. This intermediary mechanism decouples the measurement system from fuel-specific combustion characteristics, enabling broad fuel type compatibility
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
Provides accurate and reliable measurement of the throttle's position, ensuring precise regulation of gas flow and air-to-gas ratio, particularly in applications where flame ionization detection is not feasible, like hydrogen combustion.
Implementation Method 1
the movement of the of the first member relative to the second member changes an electrical parameter representative of the position and/or movement of the throttle
Data Source
AI summary
A system for measuring position of a gas valve throttle (212) is provided, the system comprising a gas valve throttle, arranged to adjust the flow of a gas; a stepper motor (204) connected to the throttle by a connecting member (205), the stepper motor being arranged to move the connecting member and the throttle; a first member (203), arranged to be movable together with connecting member; a second member (201), arranged such that the movement of the of the first member relative to the second member changes an electrical parameter representative of the position and/or movement of the gas valve throttle.