Modular Valve System Shared Membrane Fluid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular valve systems face challenges with high mounting and maintenance costs due to the need for sealing control and process fluid lines at interfaces, as well as difficulty in servicing and replacing valve modules, as they are not designed for easy maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular valve system with a shared membrane that separates control and process fluids, using control fluid chambers and activation lines to drive membrane valves, and a central supply channel for control fluid distribution, allowing for easy coupling and decoupling of valve modules without external fluid ports, and incorporating a sound absorber for noise reduction and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control fluid lines and process fluid lines are sealed at interfaces between individual valve modules, then fluid tightness is ensured, but mounting expenditures and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control fluid lines and process fluid lines into a single integrated sealing structure at the module interfaces. The sealing arrangement simultaneously seals both fluid types at the same interface location, reducing the number of separate sealing operations and components needed, thereby lowering mounting complexity while maintaining fluid tightness for both fluid paths.
2Ease of repair
If ports are pulled off from control valve units during maintenance, then valve modules can be serviced, but maintenance time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve system into modular valve modules that can be independently removed and replaced. Each module is designed as a self-contained unit with integrated fluid connections, allowing maintenance personnel to replace a faulty module by simply disconnecting the module itself rather than pulling off individual ports from control valve units. This segmentation dramatically reduces maintenance time and complexity.
3Reliability
If a shared membrane is used to separate control and process fluids, then media separation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the shared membrane to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it separates control fluid from process fluid, forms valve elements that respond to control pressure, and provides structural support for the module interface. By making the membrane multi-functional, the design achieves reliable media separation without adding separate components, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring proper fluid separation.
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 system achieves a simple and maintenance-friendly design with reduced mounting costs, easy module replacement, and effective fluid control, while maintaining a compact and noise-reduced operation.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (80) which is shared by at least some of the valve modules (12) and is designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section while forming membrane valves and for sealing off the control fluid section
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a sound absorber for noise reduction and protection
Data Source
AI summary
A modular valve system (10) to be mounted to a support, in particular a support in an electric control cabinet, comprises at least two individual valve modules (12) which can be fluidly connected to each other and to which at least one control valve unit (16) can be coupled in each case. The modular valve system (10) includes a process fluid section (90) comprising process fluid lines (78) through which a process fluid can flow, a control fluid section (32) comprising control fluid lines in at least some of the valve modules (12) through which a control fluid can flow, and a membrane (80) which is shared by at least some of the valve modules (12) and designed for controlling the process fluid in the process fluid section (90) while forming membrane valves (50) and for sealing off the control fluid section.