High-Pressure Pump Valve Piston Cavitation Volume Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-pressure pumps in fuel injection systems suffer from cavitation erosion at the pressure valve seat, leading to a loss of sealing function and premature failure due to rapid pressure changes causing vapor bubble collapse and local pressure waves.

Innovation Solution

A cavitation volume is formed upstream of the valve seat on the high-pressure valve piston, redirecting vapor formation away from the valve seat, using a combination of a blind hole volume and connecting channels to create a closed end for vapor formation, thus preventing erosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional pressure valve design is used, then the pump structure is simple, but cavitation erosion occurs at the valve seat leading to loss of sealing function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing functionVSAvoidvalve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve piston is segmented into functional zones: a cavitation volume (annular groove) upstream of the valve seat, and the valve seat area itself. This segmentation isolates the cavitation phenomenon to a specific region, protecting the valve seat from erosion while maintaining the simple valve structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cavitation volume acts as an intermediary chamber between the compression space and the valve seat. It serves as a buffer zone where vapor bubbles can form and collapse without directly impacting the valve seat, thereby mediating the cavitation effect and protecting the sealing surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the cavitation volume is positioned too close to the valve seat, then the flow volume increases, but the valve seat becomes susceptible to cavitation erosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow volumeVSAvoidcavitation erosion
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the valve piston are assigned different functional qualities: the cavitation volume region accommodates vapor formation with larger flow volume, while the valve seat region maintains precise sealing geometry. This local differentiation allows the system to benefit from increased flow volume without compromising the valve seat against cavitation erosion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cavitation volume is positioned in the axial dimension upstream of the valve seat, creating a spatial separation between the vapor formation zone and the sealing zone. This dimensional arrangement allows the cavitation volume to be sufficiently large for flow requirements while maintaining adequate distance from the valve seat to prevent erosion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the cavitation volume is positioned too far from the valve seat, then cavitation erosion is prevented, but the flow volume upstream of the valve seat decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecavitation erosionVSAvoidflow volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cavitation volume is designed with dimensions that provide sufficient distance from the valve seat to prevent erosion, while still maintaining adequate flow volume through the annular groove configuration. The groove's cross-sectional area and length are optimized to deliver partial excess flow capacity without requiring the cavitation volume to be immediately adjacent to the valve seat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive 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

This design effectively reduces cavitation erosion on the valve seat, ensuring the sealing function is maintained over the service life of the high-pressure pump by shifting vapor formation away from the valve seat area, thereby extending the pump's operational lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

When operating the high-pressure pump, cavitation erosion can occur under certain operating conditions, i.e. material removal from the pressure valve in the valve seat area, which can lead to the loss of the sealing function of the pressure valve after a short period of time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCavitation: Cavitation

Implementation Method 2

The cavitation volume represents a closed end for the flow when the hydraulic connection is closed. This leads to the formation of vapor in the cavitation volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVapor formation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

The valve face cooperates with the valve seat, thereby opening and closing hydraulic communication from the compression space to a high-pressure bore

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic communication: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 4

The high-pressure pump compresses a fluid, in particular fuel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3529492B1High-pressure pump for a fuel injection system
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3529492B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3529492B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a high pressure pump (100) for conveying fluid which is under high pressure, wherein the high pressure pump (100) comprises a variable-volume compression chamber (6) and a pressure valve (101). The pressure valve (101) has a valve surface (51) formed on a high pressure valve piston (40) and has a valve seat (15) formed on a valve carrier (10). The valve surface (51) interacts with the valve seat (15) and thereby opens and closes a hydraulic connection from the compression chamber (6) to a high pressure borehole (9). Upstream of the valve seat (15), a cavitation volume (50) is formed in the high pressure valve piston (40).