Gas Valve Unit Pressure Testing with Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas valve units face challenges in pressure testing due to the risk of water entering the enclosure, which can damage sensitive measuring components, and require flexible installation to accommodate tolerances during marine vessel integration.
Innovation Solution
A gas valve unit design featuring a double-walled piping system with a blocking unit that isolates the internal piping from external piping during pressure testing, allowing for efficient pressure testing without exposing internal components to water, using a spring-activated sleeve to control flow communication between the inner and outer volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is used for pressure testing the gas valve unit enclosure, then the pressure test can be performed, but water may enter the enclosure and damage sensitive measuring components
Solution Approach 1:
The gas valve unit is divided into separate compartments: a first compartment containing the enclosure with sensitive measuring components, and a second compartment for the double-walled piping. This segmentation allows the second compartment to be pressure tested with water while the first compartment remains protected and dry, resolving the contradiction between performing pressure tests and protecting sensitive components from water damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A blocking device acts as an intermediary element between the first and second compartments. This blocking device can selectively close the communication between compartments, serving as a mediator that allows water to be introduced into the second compartment for pressure testing while preventing water from entering the first compartment containing sensitive components.
2Device complexity
If the gas valve unit is designed with fixed internal piping, then the enclosure is simple, but the unit lacks flexibility for installation in marine vessels with tolerance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the enclosure and the double-walled piping is made dynamic rather than fixed. The blocking device can be opened or closed to establish or disconnect flow communication between compartments, and the piping system can be disconnected and reconnected during installation. This dynamic design provides the flexibility needed for marine vessel installation while maintaining a relatively simple enclosure structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the internal piping is isolated from external piping during pressure testing, then sensitive components are protected, but the test setup becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gas valve unit is segmented into compartments with a blocking device that can isolate the first compartment from the second compartment. This segmentation allows pressure testing to be performed on the external piping (second compartment) while the internal piping and sensitive components (first compartment) remain isolated and protected. The blocking device integrates the isolation function into the unit's structure, minimizing additional test setup complexity.
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
Enables efficient installation and pressure testing of gas valve units by isolating internal components from water, ensuring the integrity of sensitive instruments and facilitating flexible positioning during marine vessel integration.
Implementation Method 1
the blocking unit is provided with triggering system which provides stored potential energy when the blocking unit is set to position in which the flow communication between the first volume and the second volume is closed
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a gas valve unit having an enclosure provided with an inlet and an outlet, with an inner pipe arranged to extend from the inlet to the outlet via the enclosure forming a gas tight piping inside the enclosure, and an outer pipe arranged to open into the enclosure via an at least one opening. Walls of the inner pipe and the outer pipe form a space there between as a first volume, and the enclosure forms a space inside as a second volume, the first and second volumes being arrangeable in flow communication with each other via an opening in connection with the outer pipe. At least one blocking unit selectively blocks the at least one opening in connection with the outer pipe and the flow communication between the first volume and the second volume.