Methane Valve Bypass for Rapid Emergency Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current valves for methane gas in automotive systems, particularly those for large tanks like commercial vehicles, face challenges in quickly emptying the tank during emergencies like fires while preventing interference from excess flow blocking devices within the dimensional constraints of the valve connections.
Innovation Solution
A valve design that includes a thermal safety device for quick methane discharge and an excess flow blocking device, featuring a tank duct with multiple apertures, a non-return device, auxiliary tank duct, electrovalve, and an excess flow blocking mechanism that prevents methane return and excess flow, allowing for efficient methane supply and discharge without obstructing quick discharge operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an excess flow blocking device is installed to prevent methane flow in case of piping failure, then safety is improved, but it may interfere with quick discharge operations during emergencies like fires
Solution Approach 1:
The excess flow blocking device is segmented into multiple independent blocking elements (first blocking element and second blocking element) that can operate independently. This segmentation allows the device to block excess flow through the feed duct while simultaneously allowing quick discharge through the tank duct during emergencies, resolving the contradiction between safety and quick discharge capability
Solution Approach 2:
A by-pass duct with a by-pass valve is introduced as an intermediary pathway between the tank and delivery duct. This intermediary allows methane to bypass the excess flow blocking device during quick discharge operations, ensuring that the blocking device does not interfere with emergency discharge while still providing safety protection during normal operations
2Quantity of substance
If the valve is designed for large tanks to increase storage capacity, then quantity of methane is improved, but the valve dimensions increase making it difficult to fit within connection constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The valve design utilizes multiple spatial dimensions and orientations for different functional components. The tank duct, feed duct, delivery duct, and by-pass duct are arranged in different spatial orientations, allowing the valve to accommodate large tank connections while maintaining compact overall dimensions that fit within connection constraints
Data Source
AI summary
A valve (1) controlling flow of methane gas in automotive systems includes a feed duct (30) of the gas to the delivery duct (20); having a by-pass duct (32) delimited by a by-pass duct (34) internal to the tank duct (6), to limit the overall dimensions in the attachment area to the tank.