Stabilisation Membrane Valve for Back Pressure Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solenoid valves face challenges in maintaining safety during back pressure tests and malfunctions due to high fluid pressures, which can cause the shutter to move from its closed position, reducing safety efficacy.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a first stabilisation membrane with an active wall and an elastic element, configured to prevent the pressurized fluid from opening the shutter during back pressure conditions, ensuring the shutter remains closed by applying unbalanced forces and using secondary and intermediate volumes to manage fluid pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closing force of the shutter is increased to overcome higher back pressure test pressures, then the safety level of the valve is improved, but the energy required for activation of the operators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stabilisation membrane that creates a counterbalancing force against the back pressure acting on the shutter. The membrane is positioned and dimensioned so that it experiences pressure from the fluid that generates a force opposing the back pressure force on the shutter, effectively counterweighting the harmful back pressure without requiring additional activation energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilisation membrane acts as an intermediary element between the fluid pressure and the shutter. Instead of the fluid pressure acting directly on the shutter, the membrane mediates this interaction by converting the distributed pressure into a controlled counterbalancing force that stabilizes the shutter in its closed position during back pressure tests.
2Reliability
If the closing force of the shutter is increased to maintain safety during back pressure tests, then the safety level is improved, but the shutter becomes more susceptible to movement from pressing forces during malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilisation membrane creates a counterbalancing force that offsets the back pressure acting on the shutter. By positioning the membrane so its active area experiences fluid pressure that generates an opposing force, the system achieves force equilibrium that stabilizes the shutter position without increasing the shutter's susceptibility to movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a force balance where the back pressure force on the shutter is equated by the counterbalancing force from the stabilisation membrane. This equipotential state of forces ensures that the shutter remains stable in its closed position during back pressure tests, as the net force acting on the shutter is minimized.
3Reliability
If the pressure required for back pressure test is increased to verify safety, then the safety verification is improved, but the fluid pressure forces acting on the shutter increase causing potential movement
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilisation membrane is specifically designed to counterbalance the increased forces resulting from higher back pressure test pressures. The membrane's active area and positioning are calculated so that the force it generates from the fluid pressure equals and opposes the force acting on the shutter, allowing high-pressure testing without compromising shutter stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves as an intermediary that transforms the high fluid pressure into a useful counterbalancing force. Rather than allowing the high pressure to act directly and harmfully on the shutter, the membrane mediates this interaction by converting the pressure into a stabilizing force that protects the shutter during high-pressure safety verification.
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 effectively maintains the shutter in the closed position during back pressure tests and malfunctions, enhancing safety by balancing fluid pressures and maintaining the shutter's closed state, even under increased pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure of the fluid acting on said active wall generates a force that is lower than the force generated by the pressure of the fluid acting on the rear surface of the shutter
Implementation Method 2
the outer surface is conformed so that the pressure of the fluid acting on said active wall generates a force that is lower than the force generated by the pressure of the fluid acting on the rear surface of the shutter, so as to prevent the pressurised fluid from being able to open the shutter
Implementation Method 3
a first stabilisation membrane interposed between the shutter and a fixed portion of the valve
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve (1) for fluids, preferably for gases, comprising an inlet passage (2); an outlet passage (3); a shutter (4) interposed between the inlet passage (2) and the outlet passage (3) and movable between an open position and a closed position; actuating means (5) operatively active on the shutter (4); and a first stabilisation membrane (6) interposed between the shutter (4) and a fixed portion (7) of the valve (1). The first stabilisation membrane (6) exposes an active wall (8) to the fluid, which has an outer surface (9) shaped in such a way that the pressure of the fluid acting on the active wall (8) is lower than the pressure of the fluid acting on the rear surface (10) of the shutter (4), preventing the fluid from opening the shutter (4), when the shutter (4) is in the closed position and when the valve (1) is in a back pressure condition.