Non-Return Valve Floating Damper for Self-Draining Condensate Traps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art non-return valves for chimneys require pre-filling of condensate traps and do not facilitate easy servicing, such as cleaning and replacing of dampers or floats, without dismounting the valve from the piping system.
Innovation Solution
A non-return valve with an integral condensate trap that does not require pre-filling, featuring a floating damper made of material with lower density than water, which seals and unseals drainage holes based on condensate volume, allowing natural buoyancy to trigger drainage and enabling servicing without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-filled condensate trap is used to prevent hazardous flue gas from entering the appliance or property, then safety is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The condensate trap automatically fills itself during normal operation as condensate accumulates from the flue gas. The floating damper mechanism self-activates when the condensate reaches a certain level, eliminating the need for manual pre-filling and reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with an integrated condensate accumulation chamber that begins collecting condensate immediately during operation. This preliminary accumulation action ensures the trap is ready before any potential backflow event, eliminating the need for separate pre-filling steps.
2Productivity
If a traditional condensate trap design is used, then condensate drainage is achieved, but servicing of dampers or floats requires dismounting the non-return valve from the piping system
Solution Approach 1:
The non-return valve is divided into modular components including the housing, floating damper, and accumulation chamber. The floating damper assembly can be independently accessed and serviced through the housing opening, allowing maintenance without complete disassembly of the valve from the piping system.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves as an intermediary structure that provides access to the floating damper and accumulation chamber. This intermediate component allows servicing operations to be performed on internal parts without removing the entire valve assembly from the piping system.
3Ease of operation
If a floating damper made of material with lower density than water is used, then natural buoyancy triggers condensate drainage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating damper utilizes natural buoyancy forces from the accumulated condensate to automatically trigger the drainage mechanism. When condensate volume reaches a threshold, the buoyant force automatically lifts the damper to open the drainage path, eliminating the need for external actuators, sensors, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs hydraulic principles by using the weight and volume of the accumulated condensate itself as the actuating force. The buoyancy effect created by the condensate on the floating damper converts the liquid accumulation directly into mechanical motion to open the drainage path.
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 solution allows for efficient condensate drainage without pre-filling and facilitates easy servicing by using natural buoyancy to manage condensate drainage, reducing pressure drop and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a floating damper formed of a material having a lower density than water for resting against the accumulation damper and sealing the drainage holes when a volume of condensate accumulated in the accumulation damper is below a threshold, and, wherein when the volume of condensate accumulated is above the threshold, the floating damper is buoyed by the condensate breaking the seal with the drainage holes to permit drainage of the condensate through the drainage holes
Data Source
AI summary
A non-return valve having an accumulation damper movable relative to a housing and shaped like a bowl to accumulate condensate running down from the chimney. The non-return valve has a smaller floating damper made of a material having a density less than water for resting against the accumulation damper when the appliance is in standstill and sealing the drainage holes in the accumulation damper when the condensate accumulation is below a threshold. Once condensate accumulates in the accumulation damper beyond the threshold, the floating damper is buoyed by the condensate thereby breaking the seal with the drainage holes and permitting the condensate to drain through drainage holes in the accumulation damper. When the appliance is operational, exhaust from the appliance lifts the floating damper and, in some cases, the accumulation damper also, to permit exhaust of combustion gases up the chimney.