Inline Sonic Valve With Diverging Sleeve for Accurate Gas Metering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sonic gas valves with 90-degree designs are inefficient, larger in size and weight, and non-ideal for applications like aircraft due to non-idealized flow paths and increased weight and size, which can impact recovery and accuracy in fuel metering.
Innovation Solution
The development of inline sonic gas valves using a diverging sleeve for actuation instead of a plug, allowing for a more compact and integrated design that improves flow efficiency and reduces weight and size, eliminating the need for downstream pressure measurements and enabling wider material and manufacturing process usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a 90-degree valve design is used, then the linear metering plug movement provides variable metered area, but the valve becomes larger in size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional 90-degree valve design by implementing an inline configuration where the flow enters and exits along the same axis. The metering plug moves linearly within the inline body to vary the metered area, eliminating the need for perpendicular flow paths and reducing overall valve size and weight while maintaining variable metering capability
2Ease of operation
If a 90-degree valve design is used, then the linear metering plug movement provides variable metered area, but the flow path becomes non-idealized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional 90-degree valve design by implementing an inline configuration where the flow enters and exits along the same axis. The metering plug moves linearly within the inline body to vary the metered area, eliminating the need for perpendicular flow paths and reducing overall valve size and weight while maintaining variable metering capability
3Reliability
If conventional sonic valve designs are used, then the critical pressure ratio is approximately 0.52, but the valve size increases at low pressure drop conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the nozzle geometry and flow path configuration to extend the choked flow point (critical pressure ratio) from approximately 0.52 to pressure ratios of 0.926 (P2/P1) and higher. This allows the valve to maintain sonic flow accuracy and compact sizing across a broader range of operating conditions, particularly at low pressure drop scenarios where conventional designs would require larger dimensions
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 inline design enhances the critical pressure ratio, improves metering flow accuracy, reduces weight and size, and allows for broader application in aircraft and industrial settings, including precise fuel control and shut-off capabilities without additional gas pressure boosting.
Implementation Method 1
the velocity in the throat (narrowest section) of the nozzle of the valve is Mach 1.0. When the gas velocity is Mach 1.0 in the throat, downstream pressure signals cannot propagate upstream through the nozzle throat because pressure signals cannot travel faster than the speed of sound.
Implementation Method 2
An actuator is positioned offline from the gas flow axis and is configured to move the diverging sleeve within the housing relative to the contoured metering plug fixed therein to vary a gas metering area
Data Source
AI summary
An inline variable sonic valve is provided that includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet positioned inline along a gas flow axis. A contoured metering plug is fixed within the housing and a diverging sleeve is movably positioned within the housing downstream of the contoured metering plug. An actuator is positioned offline from the gas flow axis and is configured to move the diverging sleeve within the housing relative to the contoured metering plug fixed therein to vary a gas metering area defined between the contoured metering plug and the diverging sleeve. The actuator may be hydraulic, fueldraulic, pneumatic, or electric, and may drive the diverging sleeve discretely to an open or a closed position, or to a variable position between the open and closed position when a position senor is included to meter the flow therethrough.