Parallel Gas Pressure Reduction Lines 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
1Device complexity
If multiple supply lines operate in parallel with identical calibration springs, then the structure is simple, but the flow rate distribution becomes unbalanced due to low sensitivity of calibration springs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by differentiating the calibration spring parameters (pre-compression, stiffness, or pre-load) among the multiple supply lines. This allows each line to have tailored calibration parameters that compensate for manufacturing tolerances and ensure balanced flow rate distribution, directly resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and flow balance.
2Productivity
If electronic control units are used to balance flow rates, then flow rate distribution improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with a purely mechanical calibration spring mechanism. By carefully selecting and adjusting the mechanical parameters of calibration springs in each supply line, the system achieves balanced flow distribution without requiring electronic sensors, controllers, or complex control logic, thus eliminating the contradiction between flow balance and system complexity.
3Productivity
If additional regulating valves are installed to control flow distribution, then flow rate balance improves, but installation cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the calibration springs multi-functional by having them simultaneously perform pressure regulation and flow rate balancing functions. This eliminates the need for separate regulating valves in each supply line, as the calibration springs inherently control both the pressure reduction and the flow distribution balance, thereby reducing installation and maintenance costs while achieving flow balance.
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, with easier installation, control, and maintenance, while maintaining consistent downstream pressure regardless of operational configuration.
Implementation Method 1
calibration members in the pilot valves act on specific calibration springs so that there is a control pressure on the pilot valve outlet
Implementation Method 2
each of which the pressure is reduced by pressure reducers which are controlled by pilot valves
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A pressure reduction plant (1) including two or more valve assemblies (10; 10a, 10b, 10c) arranged in parallel and including: pressure reducers (20; 20a, 20b, 20c) for fuel gas from the supply pressure (pa) to the delivery pressure (pm); pilot valves (30; 30a, 30b, 30c) to transmit a control pressure (pc) to the pressure reducers (20; 20a, 20b, 20c) when the delivery pressure (pm) reaches the calibration value (pt, pt') of the pilot valves (30; 30a, 30b, 30c); derivation conduits (24) to transmit the delivery pressure (pm) to the pressure reducers (20; 20a, 20b, 20c), the pilot valves (30; 30a, 30b, 30c) and the pressure reducer devices (35); command lines (32) to transmit the control pressure (pc) from the pilot valves (30; 30a, 30b, 30c) to the pressure reducers (20; 20a, 20b, 20c). One of the pilot valves (30a) is configured with a calibration value (pt') greater than the calibration value (pt) of all the remaining pilot valves (30b, 30c) and each command line (32) is configured to communicate with a control line (40).