Relief Valve with Moveable Separation Member for Fuel Line Pressure Spike Mitigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial turbine systems face rapid pressure spikes and inertial pressure oscillations due to sudden shut-off valve closures, which existing relief valves struggle to manage effectively, often leading to equipment damage and requiring costly, complex solutions like gas-charged accumulators.
Innovation Solution
A relief valve apparatus with a body, biasing member, and moveable separation member that separates chambers to absorb and vent fuel quickly, reducing pressure spikes without the need for temperature or pressure control systems, and is suitable for both gas and liquid fuels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the flow area of a relief valve is increased to provide sufficient fuel flow capability, then the maximum flow rate is improved, but the opening response time becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is segmented into multiple flow paths or stages, allowing different portions of the valve to open at different rates. This enables the valve to achieve both rapid initial response and high sustained flow capability without the trade-off that plishes single-stage designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve employs dynamic characteristics where the opening speed and flow area change over time in a controlled manner. The valve transitions from a rapid initial opening phase to a sustained high-flow phase, optimizing both response time and flow capability through time-dependent behavior.
2Speed
If a shut-off valve closes very quickly to protect the turbine from overspeed, then the safety response time is improved, but the pressure spike magnitude increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is positioned upstream of the shut-off valve and is pre-configured to activate before the shut-off valve closes. This preliminary action provides pressure relief in advance, preventing the formation of dangerous pressure spikes when the shut-off valve closes rapidly.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve opens in anticipation of the pressure spike that will occur when the shut-off valve closes. By acting beforehand, the relief valve creates a pressure relief path before the harmful pressure condition develops, mitigating the effect of rapid shut-off.
3Speed
If gas-charged bladder accumulators are used to provide fast pressure relief, then the pressure relief speed is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is designed to operate autonomously using the system's own pressure differential without requiring external control systems, temperature control, or complex monitoring. The valve self-regulates based on pressure conditions, eliminating the need for additional control infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential pressure relief function from complex gas-charged accumulator systems and implements it through a simpler mechanical relief valve design that achieves the same safety outcome without the associated complexity, cost, and maintenance requirements.
4Speed
If the relief valve opening time is reduced to milliseconds or microseconds to prevent pressure spikes, then the pressure spike mitigation is improved, but the valve stability deteriorates due to chatter
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs dynamic characteristics where the opening speed and flow area change over time in a controlled manner. This time-dependent behavior allows the valve to open rapidly initially to prevent pressure spikes, then transition to a stable sustained opening that avoids chatter and maintains system stability.
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 apparatus effectively mitigates transient pressure spikes, preventing equipment damage, and is cost-effective, reliable, and scalable, with no additional control systems required, while maintaining high fuel flow rates and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The moveable separation member is adapted to expand the first chamber and compress the biasing member when the shut-off valve is closed. The expanding first chamber accumulates fuel while the relief valve is opening such that the transient pressure spikes are reduced
Implementation Method 2
The moveable separation member is forcibly biased toward the first chamber by the biasing member and separates the first and second chambers when the shut-off valve is open. The moveable separation member is adapted to expand the first chamber and compress the biasing member when the shut-off valve is closed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for reducing pressure spikes in a fuel line having a shut-off valve is provided. The apparatus comprises a body housing a biasing member and a moveable separation member. The body has first, second, and third chambers. The first and second chambers are coupled to upstream and downstream sides of the fuel line, respectively. The third chamber is coupled to a return line. When the shut-off valve is open, the separation member is biased toward the first chamber and separates the first and second chambers. When the shut-off valve is closed, the separation member expands the first chamber and places it and the third chamber in fluid communication once the separation member has gained a significant speed. The expanded first chamber accumulates fuel and the third chamber accumulates and vents the fuel such that transient pressure spikes are reduced and unlikely to damage a turbine system.