Liquid Discharge Valve with Pilot Control for Pressure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge valves face challenges in efficiently managing high-pressure liquid flow and preventing pressure buildup, while also requiring effective air purging mechanisms to prevent liquid line freezing and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge valve design featuring a pressure responsive closing mechanism, a gas operated valve, and a pilot valve that can be manually or remotely controlled, with a restricted fluid passage and a bypass line, allowing for controlled liquid flow and air purging to manage pressure differentials and prevent freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a liquid discharge valve is designed for high flow and high pressure discharge, then the discharge capacity and pressure handling are improved, but the complexity of the valve structure and control mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple functional components: a main valve body for high-flow discharge, a pilot valve for control, a gas operated valve for air purging, and a pressure responsive closing mechanism. Each segment handles a specific function, allowing the system to achieve high productivity without requiring the entire valve structure to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The pilot valve acts as an intermediary control element that manages the operation of the main liquid discharge valve. By using a smaller pilot valve to control the larger main valve, the system achieves high discharge capacity while keeping the control mechanism manageable and less complex.
2Stress or pressure
If a pressure responsive closing mechanism is used to prevent pressure buildup, then pressure control is improved, but the response time and complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure responsive closing mechanism automatically responds to pressure changes without requiring external control signals. The mechanism uses the pressure differential itself to actuate the closing action, eliminating delays associated with external sensing and control systems. This self-acting feature improves response time while maintaining effective pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure responsive closing mechanism utilizes pneumatic or hydraulic principles where pressure differentials across the valve directly drive the closing motion. This direct coupling of pressure to mechanical action provides rapid response time compared to electronic or mechanical linkage systems.
3Reliability
If a gas operated valve is added for air purging, then the ability to prevent freezing and contamination is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas operated valve is integrated into the existing valve structure to perform multiple functions: air purging to prevent freezing, contamination removal, and pressure equalization. By combining these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate devices, the overall device complexity is minimized while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas operated valve is merged with the main valve body and control mechanisms, sharing common structural elements and control systems. This consolidation reduces the total number of discrete components while achieving the desired air purging and freezing prevention capabilities.
4Ease of operation
If a pilot valve is used for manual or remote control, then the controllability and operational flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and control mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pilot valve serves as an intermediary control device that receives manual or remote control signals and translates them into actuation of the main liquid discharge valve. This intermediary approach provides operational flexibility and ease of control while keeping the main valve structure relatively simple, as the pilot valve handles the complex control logic.
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 enables efficient high-flow liquid discharge, prevents pressure buildup, and effectively airs the liquid line to prevent freezing and contamination, ensuring stable operation and reducing the risk of damage to equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure differential between an inlet chamber and a control chamber responsive to a pressure differential between the chambers
Implementation Method 2
a float member displaceable between a normally closed position prohibiting fluid flow through the fluid outlet port, under liquid buoyant pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid discharge valve including a housing configured with an inlet port coupleable to a liquid line, a liquid outlet port, an inlet chamber accommodating a pressure responsive closing mechanism disposed between said inlet port and said liquid outlet port and configured for selectively opening a liquid flow path therebetween, a control chamber being in flow communication with the inlet chamber via a restricted fluid passage, a gas operated valve being in flow communication with the control chamber, and a discharge pilot valve being in flow communication with the control chamber.