Electric Valve Narrowest Portion Geometry for Rising Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric valves in heat pump systems face challenges in managing rising flow rates, particularly in low flow rate ranges, due to complex dimension measurements and reduced controllability when using R32 refrigerant and frequent partial load operations.
Innovation Solution
The electric valve design includes a valve body with a cylindrical portion and a curved surface portion where the intersection angle continuously increases, with a valve opening having a narrowest portion with a larger inner diameter than the valve body and valve seat, allowing for simplified management and reduction of rising flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the inner diameter of the valve seat is made equal to the inner diameter of the narrowest portion of the valve opening, then the rising flow rate is reduced, but the dimension measurement becomes complex and management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening is segmented into distinct portions: a narrowest portion with a first inner diameter and a valve seat with a second inner diameter. By separating the dimensional specifications into distinct segments rather than requiring equality, the patent simplifies measurement and management while still achieving rising flow rate reduction through the controlled relationship between these segmented dimensions.
2Manufacturing precision
If the valve body and valve opening dimensions are tightly constrained, then rising flow rate is reduced, but controllability in low flow rate range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different dimensional characteristics to different portions of the valve opening. The narrowest portion has a specific first inner diameter that differs from the second inner diameter of the valve seat. This local differentiation allows the narrowest portion to control rising flow rate while the valve seat geometry maintains controllability in the low flow rate range, resolving the contradiction between precision and operability.
3Ease of operation
If the inner diameter of the valve seat is increased relative to the narrowest portion, then low flow rate controllability is improved, but rising flow rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of different valve opening portions to achieve conflicting objectives. By setting the first inner diameter of the narrowest portion differently from the second inner diameter of the valve seat, the patent creates a parameter relationship that simultaneously achieves rising flow rate reduction and maintains low flow rate controllability, rather than using a single uniform dimension.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To provide an electric valve capable of sufficiently reducing a rising flow rate while simplifying managing of the rising flow rate and effectively improving controllability in a low flow rate range. [Solving Means] A valve opening 46 of a valve main body 40 is provided with a narrowest portion 46s having a diameter larger than a diameter of a straight portion 14s of the valve body 14 and an inner diameter of a valve seat 46a is larger than an inner diameter of the narrowest portion 46s.