Parallel Gas Pressure Reduction Plant for Balanced Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel gas pressure reduction plants face challenges in ensuring equal flow rates across multiple supply lines due to the low sensitivity of calibration springs, leading to uneven distribution and increased complexity, cost, and maintenance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A pressure reduction plant design with identical valve assemblies, each comprising a pressure reducer and a pilot valve, where a single pilot valve with an adjustable spring controls all pressure reducers, eliminating the need for electronic control units and additional regulating valves, allowing for equal flow rate distribution without modifying downstream pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple supply lines operate in parallel with identical calibration springs, then the plant structure is simple and cost-effective, but the flow rate distribution becomes unbalanced due to low sensitivity of calibration springs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of multiple pilot valves into a single pilot valve that controls all pressure reducers. This single pilot valve receives a unique control signal that simultaneously regulates all supply lines, eliminating the need for multiple independent calibration springs and achieving both structural simplicity and precise flow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pilot valve serves multiple functions by controlling all pressure reducers across different supply lines. It universally manages the flow rate distribution for the entire plant through a single control mechanism, replacing the need for line-specific pilot valves and calibration springs.
2Manufacturing precision
If electronic control units are used to balance flow rates between lines, then flow rate distribution becomes balanced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic control units with a simplified mechanical control system. A single pilot valve with mechanical calibration spring provides precise flow rate balancing through purely mechanical means, eliminating electronics while maintaining measurement precision and flow distribution balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pilot valve system is self-regulating through its mechanical calibration spring, which automatically balances flow rates across all lines without requiring external electronic control or frequent manual interventions. The system serves itself through inherent mechanical feedback mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional regulating valves are installed to control flow rates, then flow rate distribution balance is achieved, but the number of components and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential control function from multiple redundant valves and concentrates it into a single pilot valve. By removing unnecessary additional regulating valves and keeping only the essential single pilot valve, the system achieves flow rate balance while minimizing the number of components that require maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards the concept of multiple independent pilot valves and additional regulating valves, recovering only the essential single pilot valve function. This reduction in components directly improves ease of repair and reduces maintenance requirements while maintaining precise flow distribution.
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 plant achieves balanced flow rates across all pressure reducers, reducing complexity and costs, and is easier to install, control, and maintain, while maintaining consistent downstream pressure regardless of operational mode.
Implementation Method 1
pressure reducers (20a, 20b, 20c), which reduce the supply pressure (pa) to a delivery pressure (pm)
Implementation Method 2
calibration members in the pilot valves act on specific calibration springs so that there is a control pressure on the pilot valve outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure reduction plant including two or more valve assemblies arranged in parallel and including: pressure reducers for fuel gas from the supply pressure to the delivery pressure; pilot valves to transmit a control pressure to the pressure reducers when the delivery pressure reaches the calibration value of the pilot valves; derivation conduits to transmit the delivery pressure to the pressure reducers, the pilot valves and the pressure reducer devices; command lines to transmit the control pressure from the pilot valves to the pressure reducers. One of the pilot valves is configured with a calibration value greater than the calibration value of all the remaining pilot valves and each command line is configured to communicate with a control line.