Pressure-Actuated Valve Control Without Dynamic Seal Leakage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional valve systems suffer from dynamic seal wear, leading to unwanted leakage and emission of process fluid to the atmosphere, requiring external power for actuation and lacking precise flow control.

Innovation Solution

A valve system design that eliminates dynamic seals by using process fluid pressure to actuate the valve member, incorporating a piston system and control system to manage fluid flow through ports, ensuring no leakage to the atmosphere and enabling precise flow control without external power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional valve systems use dynamic seals for actuation, then the valve can be actuated with external power, but the dynamic seal wear leads to unwanted leakage and emission of process fluid to the atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidfluid leakage and emission

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes dynamic seals entirely from the valve actuation system. Instead of using dynamic seals that wear and leak, the invention uses a piston system with static seals and utilizes process fluid pressure differentials to actuate the valve, thereby eliminating the source of leakage and emission problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve actuation system uses the process fluid itself to provide the actuation force through pressure differentials between the actuation chamber and process chamber. The system is self-actuating without requiring external power sources, and the process fluid serves both as the medium being controlled and as the actuation medium

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If conventional valve systems use external power for actuation, then the valve can be actuated, but it requires external power sources and associated infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve actuationVSAvoidactuation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic principles by using process fluid pressure to actuate the piston and valve member. The pressure differential across the piston area provides the mechanical force needed for valve actuation, eliminating the need for electrical motors, pneumatic cylinders, or other external actuation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If conventional valve systems are used, then the valve can control fluid flow, but it lacks precise flow control and cannot maintain set points with minimal deviation under changing conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow control accuracyVSAvoidset point control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors process variables and adjusts the actuation chamber pressure accordingly to maintain the desired valve position and flow rate. This feedback mechanism enables precise control and maintains set points with minimal deviation under changing process conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The valve system incorporates a dynamic control mechanism where the actuation chamber pressure can be actively adjusted in response to changing process conditions. The piston system responds dynamically to pressure differentials, allowing the valve to adapt its position continuously to maintain precise flow control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design provides a zero-emission valve system with improved flow control accuracy and reduced maintenance, maintaining set points with minimal deviation under changing conditions.

Implementation Method 1

controlling one or more flow controllers of the actuator to: divert fluid from the valve inlet to a first actuation volume of an actuation chamber on a first side of a piston connected to the valve member, to increase pressure in the first actuation volume, and divert fluid from a second actuation volume of the actuation chamber on a second side of the piston to a valve outlet, to decrease pressure in the second actuation volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250243946A1Systems and Methods for Valve Actuation

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 FISHER CONTROLS INT LLC

AI summary

A valve system can include a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve member moveable between open and closed positions to fluidically couple and decouple the inlet and the outlet, and an actuator. The actuator can include an actuation chamber, an actuator member to move the valve member, ports, and a control system. The ports can be arranged to permit flow from the inlet to first and second volumes of the actuation chamber, and to permit flow from the first and second volumes of the actuation chamber to the outlet. The control system can selectively direct fluid flow through the ports.