Flexible Gate Valve With Rigid Seat for Low-Loss Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves suffer from pressure loss, reliability issues due to debris and water chemistry problems, and are costly and complex, limiting their ability to perform functions beyond simple On/Off control.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a flexible and impermeable gate that utilizes Bernoulli effects for flow control, optionally made of fluoropolymer, which is more flexible than the rigid seat, allowing for reduced pressure drop and increased reliability, and can be autonomously operated with tensioning devices without motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional valves are used, then flow control function is provided, but pressure loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gate is designed to be movable and adjustable, allowing dynamic positioning to control flow rates while minimizing pressure loss. The gate can be moved between fully open (minimal pressure loss) and closed (flow control) positions, providing both low energy loss and flow control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve utilizes Bernoulli effects and fluid dynamic parameters to control flow. By shaping the gate and flow path to exploit pressure-velocity relationships, the valve achieves flow control with minimal pressure loss, changing the operational parameters rather than relying on restrictive geometry.
2Reliability
If conventional valve materials are used, then structural strength is provided, but reliability decreases due to debris and water chemistry damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gate is made from flexible materials such as fluoropolymer that are highly resistant to chemical degradation and debris damage. This flexible membrane approach provides superior reliability compared to rigid components, as the flexible material can withstand harsh water chemistry and debris without failing.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve employs composite construction combining rigid structural components with flexible fluoropolymer materials. This composite approach provides both structural strength and chemical/debris resistance, achieving high reliability by leveraging the advantages of different material types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If valve automation components are added, then control functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed to be manually operable without requiring complex automation components. The simple manual operation mechanism provides adequate control functionality while avoiding the complexity and cost of automated systems, allowing users to control flow rates and pressures directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design provides multiple control functions (flow rate control, pressure control, on/off control) through a single unified mechanism rather than requiring separate automated components for each function. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
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 valve achieves reduced pressure loss, higher reliability, and broader functionality with lower costs, being more tolerant of debris and requiring less power, enabling precise control of flow rates and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The gate is optionally shaped to engender flow (e.g., pressure and/or flow rate) control via Bernoulli or other fluidic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A valve comprises: a housing defining a chamber; a fluid outlet defined by a fluid outlet wall; and a first fluid outlet orifice and a second fluid outlet orifice comprising a rigid seat. The valve comprises a movable gate, that is flexible and/or compressible and impermeable. The moveable gate is more flexible than the rigid seat, has a planar surface, and is configured to slidably move in a first axis. The movable gate is configured to be positioned so that it is located between a fluid inlet orifice and the second fluid outlet orifice when the valve is in a closed position, wherein fluid pressure within the chamber causes the movable gate to seal the second fluid outlet orifice via the rigid seat, and not the fluid inlet orifice. The valve may employ gate shapes that generate and/or exploit Bernoulli effect forces when fluid passes though the valve.