Hydraulic Cylinder Cooling via Oil Flow Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high temperature of steam in steam turbines can damage sensors and cables in the linear motion mechanism and hydraulic cylinders used for regulating valves, affecting their operation.
Innovation Solution
A valve drive device is designed with a hydraulic cylinder, actuator, connection pipe, and on-off valve to supply hydraulic oil, which includes a cylindrical body, piston, and cylinder base with a hydraulic oil flow path, allowing the hydraulic oil to flow and cool the cylinder base, thereby reducing the impact of steam heat on the hydraulic cylinder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the regulating valve and linear motion mechanism are disposed near the suction port to regulate steam flow rate, then the steam flow rate can be effectively regulated, but the high temperature of steam will damage sensors and cables in the linear motion mechanism and hydraulic cylinder
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinder is divided into two separate chambers (first oil chamber and second oil chamber) with the piston in between. The connection pipe connects only to the first oil chamber, while the second oil chamber communicates with the atmosphere through the open end of the cylindrical body. This segmentation allows the hydraulic oil to cool only the necessary components while leaving the open end exposed for atmospheric communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydraulic oil serves as an intermediary substance that performs dual functions: it transmits hydraulic force to move the piston and simultaneously cools the cylinder base through convection as it flows through the hydraulic oil flow path portion. This intermediary fluid protects the hydraulic cylinder components from high temperature steam without requiring direct thermal contact with cooling systems.
2Ease of operation
If the hydraulic cylinder is directly exposed to high temperature steam, then the regulating valve can be controlled, but the heat will affect the hydraulic cylinder components and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high temperature steam environment into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The hydraulic oil, which must be present anyway for hydraulic operation, is used as a cooling medium. As the hydraulic oil flows through the hydraulic oil flow path portion in the cylinder base, it absorbs heat from the surrounding steam environment and carries it away, transforming the thermal challenge into a functional cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles not only for actuation but also for thermal management. The continuous flow of hydraulic oil through the confined space of the hydraulic oil flow path portion creates convection currents that efficiently transfer heat from the cylinder base to the moving hydraulic oil, which then carries the thermal energy away from the sensitive hydraulic components.
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 suppresses the heat impact on the hydraulic cylinder, preventing damage to sensors and cables and ensuring reliable operation of the regulating valve, even in high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a cylinder base (36) connected to the cylinder body (32) and on which the cylinder body (32) is placed in a state where the central axis direction (Ac) is coincident with a vertical direction. The cylinder base (36) has a hydraulic oil flow path portion (36s) connected to the connection pipe (51) and through which the hydraulic oil flows
Data Source
AI summary
A valve drive device includes a hydraulic cylinder that is configured to drive a regulating valve, an actuator that is configured to supply hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder, and a connection pipe through which the hydraulic cylinder with the actuator communicate with each other and the hydraulic oil flows. The hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder body to which the hydraulic oil is supplied, a piston movable in a central axis direction of the cylinder body by the hydraulic oil supplied to the cylinder body, and a cylinder base on which the cylinder body is placed in a state where the central axis direction is coincident with a vertical direction. The cylinder base has hydraulic oil flow path portion connected to the connection pipe and through which the hydraulic oil flows.