Multi-Outlet Valve Structure for Viscous Fluid Flow Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves are unsuitable for handling highly viscous fluids at high temperatures, such as cellulose solutions in tertiary amine N-oxide, due to issues with dead spaces and instability, and fail to provide effective control over fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A valve design with a movable shut-off element having a guide body and projections that allow selective control of fluid flow through multiple outlet openings, featuring a gap for leakage flow and temperature regulation, and a groove for pressure relief, ensuring no dead space and continuous flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a valve is designed to handle highly viscous fluids at high temperatures, then the valve can process cellulose solutions and thermoplastics, but dead spaces and blockages occur leading to fluid instability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve interior is segmented into functional zones: an inlet zone with heating means, a central cavity with movable shut-off element, and outlet zones. The shut-off element divides the flow path to selectively direct fluid to different outlets, preventing stagnation in any single region. This segmentation ensures continuous movement of highly viscous fluids through heated zones, eliminating dead spaces that would otherwise cause blockages and instability.
Solution Approach 2:
Heating means are positioned in the inlet opening and valve housing to preheat the highly viscous fluid before it enters the main cavity. This preliminary thermal action reduces the fluid's viscosity in advance, preventing blockages during subsequent flow and positioning operations. The shut-off element is also pre-positioned to maintain open flow paths, ensuring continuous movement before any shut-off action occurs.
2Ease of operation
If a shut-off element is added to control fluid flow, then outlet openings can be selectively shut off, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off element is designed as a movable component that can be dynamically positioned between different outlet openings. A single shut-off element with multiple shut-off projections replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate valves or complex multi-component mechanisms. The element can be moved to different positions to selectively block different outlets, providing dynamic flow control with minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shut-off element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a flow divider, a shut-off mechanism for multiple outlets, and a flow guide. The guide body of the shut-off element provides both structural support and flow guidance, while the shut-off projections on the same element control multiple outlet openings. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the valve system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If heating means are added to regulate temperature, then the valve can handle viscous fluids effectively, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heating means are applied locally at specific critical zones rather than uniformly throughout the entire valve. Heating elements are positioned in the inlet opening and in the valve housing near the cavity to target areas where viscosity changes most critically affect flow. This localized heating approach maintains fluid consistency in key regions while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to full-system heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating means operate continuously to maintain the fluid at an optimal temperature throughout its passage through the valve. This continuous thermal action prevents viscosity fluctuations that would cause flow interruptions or blockages. The heating is integrated into the valve structure itself, allowing sustained temperature regulation without intermittent heating cycles that would waste energy through repeated thermal ramping.
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 enables continuous and efficient transport of highly viscous fluids by preventing dead spaces and allowing variable control of fluid flow, suitable for manufacturing processes involving cellulose solutions and other thermoplastics, with temperature regulation and pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
the valve housing has a heating and/or cooling means for regulating the temperature of the valve
Implementation Method 2
a gap is formed in the cavity between the guide body of the shut-off element and the valve housing, through which fluid can flow and, without the use of a seal, the gap forms a leakage flow of the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve (1) having a valve housing (2) and a shut-off element (3), the valve housing (2) having a cavity (4) for receiving the shut-off element (3), at least one inlet opening (5) for a fluid to flow into the cavity (4) and at least three outlet openings (6) for the fluid to flow out of the cavity (4), the shut-off element (3) having a guide body (7) and being arranged in a movable manner at least partially in the cavity (4) of the valve housing (2), the shut-off element (3) having at least one shut-off projection (8) for shutting off at least one of the outlet openings (6).