Hydraulic Gate Valve Structure for Back Pressure Cancellation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gate valves face challenges in achieving high reliability for large-scale isolation operations with a high surface area, requiring significant driving power and increasing weight, while also needing to maintain a high back pressure cancellation rate and a normally closed configuration.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve design featuring a neutral valve body with a rotation shaft that drives movable valves through a system of force-applying units, utilizing incompressible fluid to apply forces for sealing and positioning, and incorporating a third force-applying unit to manage back pressure, eliminating the need for an air cylinder and simplifying the structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large surface area valve body is used for high reliability isolation operations, then isolation reliability is improved, but weight and driving power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be independently supported. The support bodies are distributed at multiple positions along the valve body, creating modular segments that reduce the overall weight while maintaining isolation reliability through the distributed support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bodies extend in the radial direction from the rotation shaft, creating a three-dimensional support structure. This radial extension provides multiple support points without increasing the axial length, effectively distributing the weight and reducing the driving power requirement while maintaining large surface area for reliable isolation.
2Reliability
If a large surface area valve body is used for high reliability isolation operations, then isolation reliability is improved, but driving power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented with distributed support bodies that reduce the moment of inertia and the torque required for rotation. By dividing the large surface area into sections supported at multiple points, the driving power needed to operate the valve is significantly reduced while maintaining isolation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial extension of support bodies creates a distributed support system that reduces the rotational mass and moment of inertia. This dimensional approach allows the large surface area valve to be operated with reduced driving power by distributing the mechanical load across multiple radial support points.
3Reliability
If conventional force-applying structures are used, then sealing function is achieved, but back pressure cancellation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing surface is designed with specific local properties including a groove structure that facilitates seal ring positioning and contact. The groove is positioned at a specific depth from the sealing surface, creating localized quality that enhances sealing while allowing the seal ring to accommodate back pressure effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the sealing surface and the valve body. The seal ring fits into the groove and provides enhanced sealing capability while accommodating back pressure through its elastic or resilient properties, effectively canceling back pressure effects.
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 achieves reliable isolation with reduced weight, 100% back pressure cancellation, and a normally closed configuration, while reducing the necessary driving power and simplifying the valve structure, thus addressing the limitations of conventional gate valves.
Implementation Method 1
first force-applying units which are driven by incompressible fluid and have a function of applying a force to the movable valve in a direction toward a sealing face of a valve box inner surface
Implementation Method 2
third force-applying unit that applies a force to the movable valve to be directed to a center position in the flow passage direction
Data Source
AI summary
A gate valve comprising a plurality of first force-applying units built in a valve box; a second force-applying unit disposed between a first movable valve and a second movable valve; and a third force-applying unit. The first force-applying units are driven by incompressible fluid and have a function of applying a force to the first movable valve to be directed to the first opening portion in the flow passage direction and thereby causing the seal portion to be in close contact with a valve box inner surface located at the periphery of the first opening portion. The gate valve includes an incompressible-fluid driver that drives, the first force-applying units by incompressible fluid.