Petal-Shaped Shutter Valve for Cavitation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves lack the ability to regulate fluid flow effectively, leading to issues such as steep pressure drops, cavitation, and leakage, particularly in pressurized systems, which reduces their lifespan and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A shutter valve design featuring an actuator ring with gear teeth and obturator pin bosses, where obturator elements with petal shapes and hinge pins allow for adjustable aperture control, enabling secure sealing and unobstructed fluid flow when open, and complete closure to prevent pressure drops and cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional valves are used to stop fluid flow completely, then the valve can be turned to the off position, but this results in a steep pressure drop which causes shockwaves and cavitation, reducing valve lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The valve obturator is divided into multiple petal-shaped segments that can move independently. When closed, these segments form a gradual tapering closure pattern rather than a sudden complete blockage, distributing the pressure drop across multiple stages and preventing shockwaves and cavitation while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Productivity
If conventional iris valves are used to remove obstructions to flow, then fluid flow is unobstructed when open, but the valve cannot seal properly in pressurized systems, causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The petal-shaped obturator segments feature localized sealing surfaces with specific geometric profiles designed to conform to the valve body seating surfaces. This local quality enhancement at the sealing interfaces enables reliable sealing in pressurized systems while maintaining unobstructed flow through the centrally positioned open architecture when the valve is open.
3Ease of operation
If butterfly valves are used with obturator elements in the lumen, then the valve can control flow, but the obturator interrupts fluid flow and creates disruptions that cause cavitation
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator elements employ petal-shaped curved geometries that guide fluid flow smoothly around and between the segments. This curvature design eliminates sharp edges and abrupt flow interruptions, maintaining laminar flow patterns even when the valve is partially closed, thereby preventing cavitation while preserving flow control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter valve for regulating pressure and controlling fluid flow comprising an actuator ring having a plurality of gear teeth, the gear teeth driven by a mating gear or other means. A plurality of obturator pin bosses, each pin boss affixed within an inside circumference of the actuator ring, the pin boss further comprising a hinge pin aperture. The shutter valve further comprises three or more obturator elements, each obturator element defining a petal shape structure including a tongue and groove feature along at least a portion of an outside circumference thereof, and wherein each obturator element is hingedly coupled to a hinge pin aperture of an obturator pin boss. A hook element is located at an apex of said petal shape structure of each obturator element. The shutter value further includes a housing defining a cavity or holding the actuator ring and the three or more obturator elements.