Powder Valve With Elongated Closing Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valves used for injecting dry powder into a wet environment, such as mixing vessels, face issues with powder deposition on the valve closing body, leading to inaccurate mixing and increased wear, particularly when the valve flap is wetted and prone to bridge formation, reducing the free flow area and causing damage to the valve components.

Innovation Solution

A valve design where the closing body extends through the valve seat into the wet environment, with an elongated shape that allows the flowing powder to clean and keep the valve dry, reducing the risk of bridge formation and wear by maintaining a full opening clearance and using a rectilinear movement for operation, which can be driven by various actuators, and featuring a conical or polynomial shape to enhance self-cleaning properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a butterfly valve is used with the valve flap wetted in contact with liquid, then the valve can control powder flow into the liquid environment, but powder deposits on the wet valve flap surface causing accumulation and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve sealing and control functionVSAvoidpowder deposition on valve flap

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the valve closing body remain stationary with powder flowing over it, the invention inverts the approach by having the valve closing body extend into the wet environment and be withdrawn during opening. This reversal of the typical valve operation sequence prevents powder from depositing on the closing body surface, as the body is removed from the powder flow path before deposition can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated valve closing body design allows the flowing powder to automatically clean the valve closing body surface as powder passes through the valve. The powder flow itself serves the dual function of controlling the liquid environment seal and cleaning the valve surface, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If the valve flap is positioned at the centre of the valve opening, then the valve structure is simplified, but powder flow is divided into two streams causing bridge formation and impeded flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve structureVSAvoidpowder flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention positions the elongated valve closing body asymmetrically within the valve opening, extending preferentially in one direction into the wet environment rather than being centered. This asymmetric positioning allows powder to flow in a single uninterrupted stream past the closing body, preventing bridge formation while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of operation

If the valve closing body is withdrawn into the powder environment when opening, then powder can flow freely, but the wet surface of the closing body is prone to powder adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder flow freedomVSAvoidpowder adhesion to wet surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The valve closing body is designed with an elongated shape that extends into the wet environment before opening occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the valve opens, the closing body is already in the optimal position to allow free powder flow while the elongated shape facilitates self-cleaning by the passing powder stream, preventing adhesion before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 valve remains clean and free from powder deposition, ensuring precise mixing and minimizing wear on the valve components, with reduced risk of bridge formation and improved operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Due to its elongated shape, the valve closing body, which in the withdrawn position opens for inflow of powder, has the property that the flowing powder cleans the valve closing body at first and keeps it dry and clean subsequently.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow cleaning:

Data Source

PatentUS9004094B2Powder valve

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA

AI summary

The present invention concerns a valve (1), a valve closing body (14) and use of a valve (1) and a valve closing body (14) of the type used for injecting dry powder which is mixed with liquid, and where the dry powder is supplied under the liquid surface in a mixing vessel (11) in which a vacuum is typically maintained. The novel feature of a powder valve (1) according to the invention is that a closing body (14) of the valve in the closed position extends through the valve seat (13) of the valve and into the wet environment. It is hereby achieved that when the valve (1) is opened, powder or dust from powder is not deposited on the valve closing body (14). This is in spite of the valve closing body (14) being wet, due to contact with the liquid to which the powder is added. Due to its elongated shape, the valve closing body (14), which in the withdrawn position opens for inflow of powder, has the property that the inflowing powder dries the valve closing body (14) at first and keeps it dry subsequently.