High-Pressure Priming Valve Sealing for Fluid Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure priming valves, particularly needle-type valves, face challenges in preventing biological growth and fluid contamination due to their design, which is not suitable for high-purity applications like pharmaceuticals, and are complex and costly to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A high-pressure priming valve with angled ports and a sealing insert positioned at the bottom of the washer stack to prevent fluid contact with the washers, facilitating easier drainage and reducing the risk of biological growth, while maintaining the needle's alignment under high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle-type valve is used to prevent leaks and maintain alignment under high pressure, then reliability is improved, but fluid can flow between the washers in the stack, allowing biological growth and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the washers from direct fluid contact by removing them from the fluid pathway. The washers remain in the valve mechanism to maintain needle alignment, but are isolated from the fluid stream, eliminating the source of biological growth while preserving the leak-prevention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the valve into distinct functional zones: a fluid pathway that remains sterile and a washer housing that contains the mechanical components. This segmentation allows the washers to perform their alignment function without contaminating the fluid, resolving the contradiction between reliability and contamination prevention.
2Ease of operation
If a diaphragm valve is used to seal fluid, then ease of operation is improved, but the design becomes complex and difficult to install and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, robust needle valve design with basic mechanical components (needle, washers, body) that can be easily manufactured, installed, and replaced. This simpler design achieves adequate sealing and operation without the complexity of diaphragm mechanisms, making maintenance more economical and straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a flexible diaphragm to achieve sealing and operation, the patent uses a rigid needle mechanism that achieves control through direct mechanical blockage. This inversion of the sealing approach simplifies the design while maintaining operational effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a needle valve includes a washer stack to maintain alignment, then reliability is improved, but fluid can get trapped between the washers, increasing biological growth risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the washers from the fluid pathway, placing them in a separate housing or chamber that does not contact the process fluid. This allows the washers to maintain needle alignment reliability while eliminating their ability to trap fluid and support biological growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (a separate washer housing or chamber) that isolates the washers from direct fluid contact. This intermediary allows the washers to perform their mechanical function while preventing fluid trapping, resolving the contradiction between alignment reliability and contamination prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and innovative high-pressure priming valve is provided for use in high-pressure fluid systems that require a high level of fluid purity. The priming valve includes at least three ports, some of which are angled. The priming valve also includes a needle that variably blocks and unblocks a pathway to one of the ports between normal operation and a priming operation, respectively. The priming valve includes a sealing insert positioned below a stack of washers that maintain the needle's alignment in response to high fluid pressures exerted on the needle. The sealing insert helps prevent fluid from contacting the stack of washers, which helps prevent biological growth within the valve. The angled ports help facilitate priming valve drainage to further help prevent biological growth. By helping prevent biological growth, the sealing insert helps prevent fluid contamination and enables the priming valve to be utilized for high-purity fluid applications.