Modular Pressure Regulator Valve for Mixed Pressure Requirements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing regulators face complexity in manufacturing and management due to varying pressure requirements, particularly when handling high-pressure gases like CNG, which complicates the need for different specifications in pressure regulation valves.

Innovation Solution

A regulator design featuring a pressure regulation valve with a cylindrical valve body that reciprocates axially, using a valve seat and a valve body movement mechanism, and a body formed by joining two components to facilitate assembly and management across different pressure requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different specifications of pressure regulation valves are prepared for different pressure requirements (20 MPa high pressure and 5 MPa low pressure), then the regulator can meet various pressure needs, but manufacturing and management become complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure requirement adaptabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is designed as a universal component that can function across different pressure requirements. By making the valve body detachable and replaceable, a single base structure can accommodate multiple valve body types (for different pressure ranges) without redesigning the entire regulator, thus achieving versatility while simplifying manufacturing and management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure regulation valve is divided into separable components: a base structure and interchangeable valve bodies. This segmentation allows different valve bodies to be attached to the same base according to different pressure requirements, reducing the need to manufacture entirely different valve assemblies for each pressure specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a single valve body design is used for both high pressure (20 MPa) and low pressure (5 MPa) requirements, then manufacturing and management are simplified, but the sealing performance and operational reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing and management simplicityVSAvoidsealing performance under different pressures
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different valve bodies are designed with specific local characteristics optimized for their pressure requirements. High-pressure valve bodies have sealing surfaces and structural features suited for 20 MPa operation, while low-pressure valve bodies have features optimized for 5 MPa operation. Each valve body maintains its specialized local quality while sharing a common base structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The valve body parameters (such as sealing surface geometry, thickness, material density) are changed according to the pressure requirement. By selecting appropriate valve bodies with parameters matched to the operating pressure, reliable sealing performance is achieved for both high and low pressure applications using the same base regulator design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design allows for simplified manufacturing and management by enabling commonization of components, ensuring effective sealing and operation across varying pressure ranges, from moderate to high pressures, while maintaining robustness and adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

When gas fuel stored in a cylinder at a relatively high pressure (20 MPa) such as CNG is introduced at the high pressure and depressurized, a temperature becomes an extremely low temperature of around -200°C due to a temperature decrease during adiabatic expansion.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdiabatic expansion: Adiabatic Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP4703840A1regulator
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 NIKKI CO LTD
  • EP4703840A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP4703840A1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3
  • EP4703840A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to cope with different pressure requirements and facilitate manufacturing and management in a regulator that reduces and adjusts a fluid pressure. A regulator (100A) includes a body (10) that has a fluid introduction port (12) and a fluid discharge port (13), and a pressure regulation valve (20) that partitions a primary pressure chamber (1) and a secondary pressure chamber (2). The pressure regulation valve (20) includes a cylindrical valve body (21A), a valve seat (22A) on which the valve body (21A) is seated when the valve is closed, and a valve body movement means (30) that causes the valve body (21A) to reciprocate in the axial direction. The valve body (21A) is formed by joining a head portion (21a) that is seated on the valve seat (22A) and a body portion (21b) that reciprocates in the axial direction.