Oil Stop Valve Assembly with Buoyant Float
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water retention systems fail to effectively separate oil from water, leading to oil discharge into sewage systems, causing environmental and financial issues, and existing solutions are often expensive, complex, and prone to maintenance problems.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a buoyant float that separates oil from water by seating when the oil layer reaches a certain thickness, preventing oil flow while allowing water to pass through, and includes features like anti-siphon valves and coalescing plates to manage fluid flow and prevent turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art water retention systems are used, then water collection is achieved, but oil separation is inadequate leading to oil discharge into sewage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the float's specific gravity to be between 0.90 and 0.95, which is greater than oil (0.85-0.90) but less than water (1.00). This parameter change enables the float to sink in oil and float in water, automatically controlling the valve to prevent oil discharge while allowing water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the natural buoyancy differences between oil and water, combined with the specifically designed float density, to automatically control valve operation without external power or complex control systems. The float self-regulates based on the oil-water interface position.
2Reliability
If existing oil separation systems are implemented, then oil removal capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function needed for oil prevention from complex separation systems. By using a simple float-controlled valve with specifically tuned specific gravity, it achieves adequate oil separation without the complexity of multiple separation chambers, pumps, or advanced filtration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive, simple components that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. The float valve mechanism is fundamentally simple, using basic buoyancy principles rather than expensive mechanical or electronic control systems.
3Quantity of substance
If screen-type filters are used for oil collection, then some oil can be collected, but the filters become clogged with debris blocking the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a screen filter that blocks debris, the patent inverts the approach by using a float valve positioned at the outlet. The valve responds to the oil-water interface and prevents oil discharge without requiring filtration of the incoming water, thus avoiding inlet blockage issues.
4Quantity of substance
If oil-absorbing materials with small pores are used, then oil absorption is improved, but water flow is blocked and long-term effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical absorption process (oil-absorbing materials with small pores) with a physical separation mechanism based on buoyancy and density differences. The float valve system separates oil from water at the outlet without requiring water to pass through absorbing materials, maintaining high water flow rates while preventing oil discharge.
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
Effectively prevents oil discharge into sewage systems, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures easy operation and maintenance, while avoiding siphoning effects and turbulence, ensuring efficient oil-water separation.
Implementation Method 1
the float has a specific gravity of between 0.90 and 0.95 so as to be buoyant in water and to sink in oil
Implementation Method 2
The anti-siphon valve is adapted to allow air to enter an interior of the pipe and to block a flow of fluid into the upper portion of the pipe
Implementation Method 3
The coalescing plate is positioned in the internal interior volume of the container between the fluid inlet and the body. The coalescing plate is adapted to separate oil from water within the container
Data Source
AI summary
An oil stop valve assembly for allowing a flow of water and blocking a flow of oil has a body having an inlet and an outlet, a seat formed adjacent to the outlet of the body, and a float positioned in the body. The float has a specific gravity of between 0.90 and 0.95 so as to be buoyant in water and to sink in oil. The float is away from the seat when a level of water within the body is above the seat. The float is seated in the seat when the level of water in the body is adjacent to the seat. The body is positioned in a container having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet of the container is connected to the outlet of the body.