Pressure-Balanced Electrovalve Sealing for Particle-Laden Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving electrovalves struggle with fast response times when operating with fluids containing impurities and suspended solid particles, leading to reduced service life and increased maintenance needs, especially in submarine environments where seawater is used, causing wear and obstruction issues.
Innovation Solution
The electrovalve design features mutually equal thrust areas on the plunger and sealing elements, maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium in both opening and closing positions, allowing for a larger passage section and reduced force requirements, along with deformable sealing elements and a compact electromagnetic actuator to manage impurities and solid particles effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the spring applies a return force to overcome fuel pressure when the electrovalve is open, then the electrovalve can close, but the response time slows down and the spring dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pressure balancing forces to counteract the spring return force. When the valve is open, pressure acts on the first thrust area of the plunger and the second thrust area of the sealing element, creating a counterbalancing force that offsets the spring force. This reduces the net force the spring must overcome, enabling faster response times without requiring excessively large spring dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure distribution parameters by creating different thrust areas exposed to fluid pressure. By designing the plunger with a first thrust area and the sealing element with a second thrust area, both exposed to inlet chamber pressure, the system dynamically adjusts the force balance based on valve position, optimizing both response time and force requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If the electrovalve operates with working fluids containing impurities and suspended solid particles, then fluid flow rate can be maintained, but the particles wear the movable plunger parts and obstruct orifices and gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a deformable sealing element that replicates the contour of the outlet chamber, including its curvature. This deformable membrane copies the chamber geometry while maintaining a fluid-tight seal, allowing for larger passage gaps that prevent particle obstruction while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a deformable sealing element (membrane) that flexes to maintain sealing contact. This flexible film approach allows for larger clearance gaps between the plunger and valve body, preventing solid particles from becoming trapped and causing wear, while still maintaining reliable sealing against fluids containing impurities.
3Length of moving object
If the plunger has a short stroke to reduce spring demands, then the electrovalve is compact, but it cannot effectively handle fluids with impurities without obstructing orifices
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sealing element allows the plunger to maintain a short stroke while still providing adequate clearance for particle passage. The membrane's flexibility enables effective sealing with minimal plunger displacement, preventing particle accumulation in narrow gaps while maintaining compact dimensions.
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
This design enhances the electrovalve's reliability, reduces maintenance needs, and extends service life by minimizing the force needed for operation while allowing solid particles to pass through without obstruction, ensuring efficient fluid flow and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a moving assembly (12) adapted to move said plunger element (11) between said at least one opening position and said at least one closing position
Implementation Method 2
a spring return (23) elastically biases to close said element plunger (11)
Implementation Method 3
said plunger element (11) is in hydrostatic equilibrium both when it is in said at least one opening position and when it is in said at least one closing position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An electrovalve (1) comprising a valve body (2), said valve body (2) delimiting at least one inlet opening (4), and at least one outlet opening (6); and wherein said electrovalve (1) further comprises a plunger element (11) movable between at least one closing position and at least one opening position; and wherein said electrovalve (1) comprises a moving assembly (12) adapted to move said plunger element (11) between said at least one opening position and said at least one closing position; and wherein said plunger element (11) comprises at least one sealing surface (13) which forms an abutment reference adapted to cooperate with a counter-sealing surface (33) provided in the walls of said plunger housing (48) and which delimits at least one portion of the plunger housing (48) forming a seal for a process fluid associable with the electrovalve (1), when said plunger element (11) is in said at least one closing position; and wherein said electrovalve (1) comprises an inlet chamber sealing element (15) associated with said plunger element (11) and associated with said inlet chamber walls, wherein said inlet chamber sealing element (15) by permitting the movement of said plunger element (11), forms at least one wall of said inlet chamber (8), and an outlet chamber sealing element (16) associated with said plunger element (11) and associated with said outlet chamber walls, wherein said outlet chamber sealing element (16) by permitting the movement of said plunger element (11), forms at least one wall of said outlet chamber (10); and wherein said outlet chamber sealing element (16), defines a thrust area (S3), or third thrust area (S3), on which the process fluid acts; and wherein said thrust areas (SI, S2, S3) are substantially mutually equal, so that said plunger element (11) is in hydrostatic balance both when it is in said at least one opening position and when it is in said at least one closing position.