Inlet-Controlled Pressure Reducing Valve With Accumulator Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure regulating valves in industrial and residential systems face challenges in maintaining consistent fluid pressures across varying demands and pressure fluctuations, often requiring precise control to ensure efficient fluid delivery and system integrity.
Innovation Solution
A pressure regulating valve configuration that includes a restricting element, a pressure chamber, a sensing element, and an energy accumulator, which uses a portion of the fluid energy to store and exert pressure, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the pressure setpoint by controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the pressure chamber, thereby maintaining desired pressure levels in fluid circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure regulating valve uses a sensing element to position the restricting element, then the pressure control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional energy accumulator and fluid energy splitting mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulating valve uses the fluid's own energy to power the sensing element and energy accumulator, eliminating the need for external power sources or additional control systems. The fluid energy is split to self-regulate the pressure, making the system self-sufficient while maintaining high precision control.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy accumulator acts as an intermediary between the fluid energy and the sensing element, storing and releasing energy as needed to maintain precise pressure control. This intermediary component smooths out energy fluctuations and enables more accurate pressure regulation without requiring complex external control systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure regulating valve delivers fluid energy to both the sensing element and energy accumulator, then the pressure regulation stability is improved, but the energy loss increases due to splitting the fluid energy into two portions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the split ratio of fluid energy between the sensing element and energy accumulator based on operating conditions. By changing the parameters of energy distribution, the system optimizes both pressure stability and energy efficiency, minimizing losses while maintaining stable regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure regulating valve employs dynamic energy distribution where the portions of fluid energy delivered to the sensing element and energy accumulator can vary based on system needs. This dynamic allocation allows the system to adapt to changing conditions, maintaining stability while optimizing energy utilization and reducing waste.
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
This configuration effectively regulates fluid pressure by adjusting the restricting element's position based on pressure differences, ensuring consistent downstream pressures within a predetermined range, even with fluctuations in demand or main circuit pressure, thus optimizing fluid delivery and system stability.
Implementation Method 1
The energy accumulator is configured to generate stored energy using the second part of the fluid energy, and may be configured to exert a pressure on the pressure chamber when, for example, a pressure in the pressure chamber decreases
Implementation Method 2
The pressure chamber is configured to deliver a first portion of the fluid energy to the sensing element
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a pressure reducing valve includes a valve body defining a defining a flow path and a restricting element within the flow path. A sensing element is configured to modify a position of the restricting element in the flow path. A pressure chamber is configured to transmit a force to the sensing element based on the pressure of a fluid within the pressure chamber. An energy accumulator is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The pressure reducing valve includes control circuitry configured to enable a fluid to flow into or discharge from the pressure chamber to alter the pressure in the pressure chamber.