Flush-Mounted Powder Inlet Valve to Prevent Mixing Dead Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet valves for mixing devices suffer from dead space formation and blockages due to the design of disc and ball valves, leading to increased wear of seat seals and operational inefficiencies when introducing powdery substances into liquids under negative pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A novel inlet valve design featuring a valve seat that is flush with the container wall, eliminating dead spaces and using a cylindrical rod valve closing member to minimize flow obstruction, along with a control device that adjusts the valve position based on mixing parameters like pressure and substance composition to ensure reliable and low-wear operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a disc or ball valve is used in the inlet nozzle, then the valve can control the feed of powdered substance, but dead space is created in the inlet nozzle where powder can become trapped and block flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional valve design by positioning the valve seat flush with the inner wall of the container instead of protruding into the flow path. This reversal eliminates the dead space where powder would otherwise accumulate, while the valve closing element still effectively controls powder feed through the seat opening.
2Device complexity
If the valve seat seal is located on the housing side exposed to the full flow, then the valve can be compact, but the seat seal is exposed to abrasive powders and suffers increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a valve closing element as an intermediary component that moves between the valve seat and the abrasive powder flow. This closing element protects the seat seal from direct exposure to abrasive particles while maintaining the compact housing-side seal location, thereby extending seal life without compromising structural compactness.
3Reliability
If the valve closing element is disc-shaped and located in the flow path, then the valve can achieve good sealing, but it presents an additional obstacle to powder flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve closing element that can move axially to adjust the seat opening size. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the valve to maintain effective sealing when closed while minimizing flow obstruction when open, optimizing both sealing performance and powder flow rate through controlled motion.
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 solution prevents dead space formation and blockages, reduces wear on seat seals, and ensures a trouble-free introduction of powdery substances into liquids, maintaining operational reliability and adaptability to different substances.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid, particularly in the bottom region of the container, has a negative pressure relative to atmospheric pressure under all operating conditions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an inlet valve, a mixing device and a control method for introducing a powdery substance into a liquid present in a container of the mixing device. The present invention has the object of developing the inlet valve, the mixing device, the control method and the method so as to avoid the formation of dead space in the region of the internal wall of the container at the entry point for the powder, and clumping and blocking of the powder at the entry point and in the inlet valve, and so as to ensure reliable and smooth introduction of the powder into the liquid and simple adaptation to different powdery substances. Furthermore, the configuration of the inlet valve aims for a low-wear and replacement-friendly arrangement of the seat seal. This is achieved, in terms of the device, with an inlet valve in which, inter alia, ∙ the valve seat (2a) forms a seat opening (2b) through which the powdery substance (P) is introduced into the liquid (F), ∙ the seat opening (2b) with the valve plate (8a) can be changed between fully closed (shut position) or fully opened (open position), ∙ the seat opening (2b) is arranged in and flush with a region of extent of a wall of the container jacket (100.1) or of the container bottom (100.2), ∙ the valve closing member (8) can be transferred by means of the control device (30) into the shut position and into the open position, ∙ the control device (30) has at least one signal receiver (16), ∙ the at least one signal receiver (16) is a measurement device for the mixing parameters composition and nature of the powdery substance (P), throughflow of the powder (P) in the inlet valve (20), pressure in the mixing device (1000) in the region of the seat opening (2b) and/or temperature of the liquid (F), and ∙ the shut position or the open position of the inlet valve (20) can be set during the introduction procedure depending on the mixing parameters.