Rotary Piston Compressor Valve With Pressure-Lifted Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing piston compressor valves experience significant wear and require a long time to open and close, leading to reduced sealing efficiency over time due to friction and mechanical stress.

Innovation Solution

A piston compressor valve design featuring a rotatable closing element that is automatically lifted off the valve seat by pressure differences, allowing for minimal friction and rapid movement, facilitated by an actuator and sensor system that controls the closing element's position and rotation based on state variables, ensuring precise and quick operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the closing element is firmly connected to the axis of rotation, then the valve structure is simpler and more reliable, but the valve requires more force to open and close and experiences greater wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve sealing reliabilityVSAvoidactuation force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

A spring element is introduced as an intermediary between the closing element and the axis of rotation. This spring provides a yielding connection that reduces the force required to actuate the valve while maintaining reliable sealing through controlled compliance rather than rigid fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection stiffness parameter is changed from rigid (infinite stiffness) to flexible (finite spring stiffness). This parameter change allows the closing element to move slightly independently, reducing actuation force while still maintaining sealing contact with the valve seat

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the closing element is displaceable in the direction of the axis of rotation, then the wear and friction are reduced, but the valve structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear and frictionVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element serves as a simple intermediary mechanism that enables axial displacement of the closing element. This single component achieves wear reduction through controlled movement while adding minimal structural complexity compared to rigid connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic compliant connection. The closing element can now move axially in response to pressure differences and actuation forces, reducing friction and wear while the spring maintains the necessary connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the closing element is automatically lifted off the valve seat by pressure differences, then the opening speed is increased and wear is reduced, but the control precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve opening speedVSAvoidvalve position control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The valve utilizes the working fluid's own pressure to automatically lift the closing element from the valve seat during opening. This self-service mechanism achieves rapid opening without external actuation while the control system maintains precision by detecting state variables and triggering actuation at appropriate moments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors detect state variables (pressure, position) and provide feedback to the control device, which determines when to activate the actuator. This feedback loop ensures precise control of valve operation timing while allowing automatic pressure-driven motion during the actual opening/closing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution significantly reduces wear and friction, enabling the valve to open and close quickly and efficiently, maintaining sealing integrity and minimizing operational resistance.

Implementation Method 1

the closing element being automatically displaceable in the direction of the axis of rotation depending on the pressure of a working gas acting on the valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3601799B1Piston compressor valve and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG
  • EP3601799B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3601799B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3601799B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a piston compressor valve (1) comprising a valve seat (2) having a plurality of through openings (2a), comprising a closing element (3) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (D) for opening and closing the through openings (2a), and comprising an actuating drive (5) for rotating the closing element (3), wherein the valve seat (2) has an end face (2b) into which the through openings (2a) lead, wherein the closing element (3) is movably connected to the actuating drive (5) in the running direction of the axis of rotation (D), such that the closing element (3) is both rotatable about the axis of rotation (D) and also movable in the running direction of the axis of rotation (D) relative to the end face (2b), and comprises a sensor (8) for detecting a condition variable (E) of the piston compressor valve (1), and comprises a control device (20) which activates the actuating drive (5) as a function of the condition variable (E).