Membrane Irrigation Valve for Low Pressure Loss and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves suffer from high pressure loss, reliability issues, and the expense and complexity of automation components, which affect their performance in agricultural and industrial fluid control applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of a valve design featuring an impermeable, compressible, and flexible membrane that slides between the fluid inlet and outlet, utilizing fluid pressure to seal the outlet passage when closed, reducing friction and pressure loss, and allowing for low-cost automation with low-power pilots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional valves are used, then fluid flow control is achieved, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane as the closure element instead of traditional rigid valve components. This membrane can deform elastically under pressure, creating a seal that adapts to pressure changes while maintaining low flow resistance when open, thereby reducing pressure loss while ensuring reliable closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design changes the physical state and position of the membrane based on pressure parameters. When pressure differential across the membrane exceeds a threshold, the membrane deforms to seal the outlet passage, automatically regulating flow based on pressure conditions without adding significant pressure loss.
2Extent of automation
If conventional valve automation components are used, then valve control is achieved, but device complexity and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane valve operates autonomously based on pressure differential across the membrane. The fluid pressure itself actuates the membrane to open or close the valve, eliminating the need for external automation components like motors, solenoids, or control systems, thereby reducing device complexity and expense while maintaining automated control functionality.
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 valve design achieves reduced pressure drop and increased reliability, with minimal susceptibility to freezing damage and debris blockages, enabling durable operation with mean-times-to-failure exceeding one million cycles and low pressure loss, even in solids-laden fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure within the chamber causes said membrane to seal a first orifice of the fluid outlet passage when the valve is in the closed position
Implementation Method 2
an impermeable, compressible and/or flexible and/or stretchable membrane
Implementation Method 3
an impermeable, compressible and/or flexible and/or stretchable membrane
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation valve comprises a housing including a chamber, a fluid inlet comprising a fluid inlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a first conduit, wherein the fluid inlet is configured to communicate fluid from the first conduit to the chamber, a fluid outlet comprising a fluid outlet passage configured to fluidly communicate with a second conduit, wherein the fluid outlet is configured to communicate fluid from the chamber to the second conduit, a rigid substrate and a stretchable, compressible and/or flexible membrane on a surface of the rigid substrate, wherein the rigid substrate is configured to be positioned so that the membrane is located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when the valve is in a closed position, and wherein a fluid pressure within the chamber causes the membrane to seal a first orifice of the fluid outlet passage when the valve is in the closed position.