Homogenizing Valve Ceramic Heads Reduce Wear

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing homogenizing valves have a short useful lifetime, especially when handling fibrous fluids like cellulose pulp, due to high energy consumption and wear from abrasive materials, leading to low production yields and frequent component replacement.

Innovation Solution

A homogenizing valve design featuring ceramic passage and striking heads, a dual-chamber configuration with tapered volumes, and a blocking element to reduce wear and energy consumption, allowing operation at lower pressures while maintaining yield, with easy maintenance and uniform wear through rotational cogged tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high pressure (1500 bar) is used to treat fibrous fluids with known homogenizing valves, then production yield improves, but energy consumption increases and component wear accelerates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction yieldVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (1500 bar) to reduced pressure (250-700 bar) by modifying the valve geometry. The interspace dimensions and chamber volumes are specifically designed to achieve effective homogenization at lower pressures, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining production yield.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs ceramic materials for the passage head and striking head components. These ceramic components provide high hardness and wear resistance, enabling the valve to operate effectively at reduced pressures while resisting wear from abrasive fibrous fluids, thus extending component lifetime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If high pressure (1500 bar) is used to treat fibrous fluids, then production yield improves, but component lifetime decreases due to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction yieldVSAvoidcomponent lifetime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs ceramic materials for the passage head and striking head components. These ceramic components provide high hardness and wear resistance, enabling the valve to operate effectively at reduced pressures while resisting wear from abrasive fibrous fluids, thus extending component lifetime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

By reducing operating pressure from 1500 bar to 250-700 bar, the patent significantly decreases the mechanical stress and wear on components. The specialized valve geometry compensates for the lower pressure to maintain homogenization effectiveness, allowing components to last longer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If annular chamber configuration is used, then energy efficiency improves, but component wear increases due to reduced interspace dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs ceramic materials for the passage head and striking head components. These ceramic components provide high hardness and wear resistance, enabling the valve to operate effectively at reduced pressures while resisting wear from abrasive fibrous fluids, thus extending component lifetime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the operating pressure parameter and interspace dimensions specifically for fibrous fluid applications. By optimizing these parameters together, the valve achieves effective fiber removal while reducing wear on components, even with the annular configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design extends the lifespan of valve components, reduces energy usage, and maintains production yield by operating at pressures of 250-700 bar, compared to 1500 bar, while minimizing wear and facilitating maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid coming from the inlet presses on a surface of the striking head exerting on it a pressure which tends to widen the passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

In passage through the interspace, the fluid loses pressure and is simultaneously accelerated, thus allowing fragmentation of the particles in suspension

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure drop and acceleration: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

The first piston is rotatable about its axis of symmetry, as a function of the engagement of a cogged tool or apparatus with a cogged profile of the free end of the first piston

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentUS10151398B2Homogenizing valve for removing fibers from fibrous fluids

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 GEA MECHANICAL EQUIP ITAL

AI summary

Homogenizing valve (1) at high pressure, particularly for application to fibrous fluids, comprising: a valve body (2); a passage head (15) integrally joined to the valve body (2); an assembled organ (27) formed of two pistons (5, 6) and a striking head (16), which is axially mobile inside a through hole of the valve body (2), so that the striking head (16) defines with the passage head (15) an interspace (18) of passage of the fluid, the assembled organ (27) being rotatable thanks to the lower cogged profile which engages in a cogged tool (20).