Pilot Relief Valve Flushing for Clean Tank Pressure Lines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tank systems with pilot-controlled relief valves face issues with contamination, re-sublimation, and condensation in the filling and control lines, which can lead to blockages and difficulty in expelling media from the main valve chamber.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reservoir filled with a flushing medium, such as compressed air or nitrogen, which is directed into the filling and control lines at a flushing pressure lower than the response pressure, thereby preventing accidental opening of the relief valve and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main valve chamber is filled with medium from inside the tank through the filling line, then the pressure in the main valve chamber matches the tank pressure, but contamination and condensation occur in the filling line
Solution Approach 1:
A flushing medium (inert gas such as nitrogen or compressed air) is introduced as an intermediary substance to replace the tank medium in the filling line. This intermediary prevents direct contact between the tank medium and the filling line, thereby preventing contamination and condensation while maintaining pressure matching functionality through the reservoir connection
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flushing pressure is increased to improve line clearing, then contamination is reduced, but the relief valve may open accidentally
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing pressure parameter is precisely controlled to remain below the pilot valve response pressure threshold. This parameter change ensures that the flushing medium can clear contamination from the lines while the pressure differential remains insufficient to trigger the pilot valve, preventing accidental relief valve opening
3Reliability
If the pilot opens to relieve the main valve chamber, then the relief valve opens to prevent tank damage, but the medium becomes difficult to expel due to increased density
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing medium is introduced into the filling line before the relief valve operation to pre-clear condensation and contamination. This preliminary action ensures that when the relief valve opens, the medium can be expelled more efficiently without the hindrance of condensed substances, maintaining higher expulsion speed
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 flushing medium effectively prevents contamination and re-sublimation in the lines, ensures a secure and tightly closed relief valve, and facilitates the expulsion of media from the main valve chamber, thereby enhancing the operational reliability of the tank system.
Implementation Method 1
the valve arrangement is configured to direct the flushing medium at a flushing pressure into the filling line and/or into the control line
Implementation Method 2
The pilot has a pilot chamber that is connected to the control line. The pressure in the control line, which is connected to the inside of the tank, is the same as the pressure inside the tank. The pilot opens when a pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure (atmosphere) and the pressure in the control line exceeds the response pressure, so that the force generated by the force device is overcome.
Data Source
AI summary
A tank system has a tank and a valve arrangement with a pilot-controlled relief valve. The relief valve has a main valve chamber, a filling line, a pilot and a control line. The main valve chamber is connected to the filling line and can be filled with a filling medium via the line. The control line is connected to the tank and the pilot in such a way that the pilot opens when a pressure in the control line exceeds a predetermined response pressure, which causes the relief valve to open. The valve arrangement has a reservoir filled with a flushing medium and is configured to direct the flushing medium at a flushing pressure into the control line and/or into the filling line.