Parallel Biasing Springs for Reducing Spring Surge in Differential Pressure Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating compressor valves, particularly poppet valves in hyper compressors, experience spring surge due to resonance frequencies aligning with dynamic forces, leading to premature failure from impact fatigue and stress waves, which affects the reliability and efficiency of high-pressure gas compression processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of a biasing member comprising at least two springs arranged in parallel, where one spring has a resonance frequency different from the other, mitigates or suppresses spring surge by opposing the propagation of resonance compression waves, thereby reducing stress and extending the lifespan of the valve components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single spring is used to bias the shutter, then the valve structure is simple, but spring surge occurs due to resonance frequencies aligning with dynamic forces, leading to premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The single spring is segmented into multiple springs (at least two) arranged in parallel. Each spring has different resonance frequencies, so when dynamic forces excite one spring, the others do not resonate, preventing spring surge and extending valve component lifespan.
2Reliability
If multiple springs with different resonance frequencies are used, then spring surge is suppressed and reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple springs are merged into a parallel arrangement within the same biasing member structure. This combining approach allows each spring to independently dampen resonance at different frequencies, achieving superior reliability while maintaining a compact integrated design.
3Productivity
If the spring resonance frequency matches the dynamic force frequency, then the valve responds efficiently to pressure changes, but resonance compression waves cause impact fatigue and stress
Solution Approach 1:
Each spring is designed with different local properties (different resonance frequencies) while maintaining the same function of biasing the shutter. This local differentiation ensures that when dynamic forces match one spring's resonance frequency, the other springs remain non-resonant, preventing stress concentration and impact fatigue.
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
This configuration effectively reduces surge phenomena and enhances the durability of the poppet valves by preventing resonance-induced failures, ensuring consistent operation under high-pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
one of the springs having at least one resonance frequency different from at least one resonance frequency of the other of the two springs
Implementation Method 2
spring surge due to resonance frequencies aligning with dynamic forces, leading to premature failure from impact fatigue and stress waves
Data Source
AI summary
A differential pressure valve is disclosed, comprising: a valve body, the valve body having at least one flow inlet and one flow outlet; at least one shutter, the shutter being movable between an open position and a closed position under a differential pressure across the valve; a flow passage from the flow inlet to the flow outlet; at least one biasing member configured to bias the shutter towards a closed position so as to block the flow passage through the flow inlet. The biasing member comprises at least two springs arranged in parallel, one of the springs having at least one resonance frequency different from at least one resonance frequency of the other of the two springs.