Globe Valve Flow Path Geometry for Lower Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Globe valves in industrial applications experience significant pressure losses, leading to the need for oversizing of taps, actuators, and lines, which increases costs and reduces earthquake resistance, and existing solutions often require replacing the entire faucet.

Innovation Solution

A globe valve design with a fluid circulation channel featuring a circular section connected to a longer-than-wide section, an ascending slope, and a beveled shutter that engages with a removable annular seat and cage, minimizing pressure losses without altering the stem or shutter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional globe valve design with cast or forged body is used, then robustness is improved, but pressure losses increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverobustnessVSAvoidpressure losses
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by modifying only the internal geometry of the fluid circulation channel while keeping the overall valve body structure intact. The channel features a circular section connected to a longer-than-wide section with an ascending slope, creating optimal flow conditions in specific zones without redesigning the entire valve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes curvature by designing the fluid circulation channel with a circular section and smooth transitions. The ascending slope and curved connections eliminate sharp angles and tortuous paths, allowing fluid to flow more smoothly and reducing pressure losses while maintaining the robust cast or forged body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If valve size is increased to compensate for pressure losses, then flow rate capability is improved, but earthquake resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate capabilityVSAvoidearthquake resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fluid circulation channel, specifically the ratio between circular and longer-than-wide sections, the slope angle, and the transition curves. These parameter optimizations enable the valve to achieve higher flow rate capability with a smaller nominal diameter, thereby improving earthquake resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If entire faucet is replaced to reduce pressure losses, then pressure losses are reduced, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure lossesVSAvoidreplacement scope
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and isolates the fluid circulation channel as the specific component requiring modification. By focusing the design changes solely on the channel geometry within the existing valve body, the solution avoids the need to replace the entire faucet assembly, reducing complexity and cost while effectively addressing pressure loss issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3987202B1Globe valve
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
  • EP3987202B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3987202B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3987202B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a globe valve, which has a body (2) through which a fluid circulation duct (3) passes, the latter delimiting a fluid path with an inlet and an outlet, and a shutoff member (5) housed inside a branch generally perpendicular to said body, this shutoff member (5) being movable between a first end position, in which it shuts off said duct (3), and a second end position, in which it does not shut off the duct (3), characterized in that said duct has, on either side of the region of action of said shutoff member (5), a generally circular liquid circulation section, which is connected continuously, at least in the region of action of said shutoff member, to a section that is longer than it is wide, that is to say flattened, said body (2) not having an element that protrudes towards the inside of said duct (3).