Rotary Measuring Valve Assembly for Leak-Safe Probe Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring systems for physical properties in industrial processes face challenges such as disruption of flow, risk of leakage, and wear on sample probes due to permanent attachment methods like welding, which complicates maintenance and increases the risk of exposure to harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A valve housing with a rotationally mounted centre segment that allows for smooth and controlled opening and closing, minimizing leakage and disruption, featuring a probe cavity that protects the probe from harsh conditions and includes a cleaning and cooling system using fluid channels for easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welding is used to attach the sensor to the pipe line, then the sensor is permanently fastened and secure, but the aperture becomes hard to replace and maintenance is laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into separable components: the body remaining in the pipe line and the selector member with sensor that can be removed. This segmentation allows the sensor assembly to be detached and replaced without affecting the pipe line or welding operations, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and ease of maintenance.
2Measurement precision
If a sample probe is introduced through the access valve to measure physical properties, then measurements can be performed, but the probe disrupts the flow in the pipe and is subject to cavitation damage
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid sample is introduced as an intermediary medium to transfer the physical properties information from the process fluid to the sensor. The sensor measures the sample outside the pipe line where it is not subjected to cavitation damage or flow disruption, yet still obtains accurate measurements of the original process fluid's physical properties.
3Ease of repair
If the valve is opened to remove or maintain the measuring instrument, then access is gained for maintenance, but process substance might escape from the pipe line
Solution Approach 1:
The valve separates the maintenance operation from the pipe line by allowing the selector member containing the sensor to be removed as a complete assembly. The body remains sealed in the pipe line while the selector member with instrument can be serviced externally, eliminating the risk of process substance escape during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring instrument is extracted from the pipe line environment by removing the entire selector member assembly. This allows complete maintenance of the instrument outside the sealed pipe line system, ensuring no process substance escape while providing full access for repair and calibration.
4Ease of manufacture
If the selector member is platelike to simplify structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the valve is hard to seal and leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The selector member is designed with a spherical closing portion instead of a platelike structure. The spherical geometry provides superior sealing characteristics through its ability to conform to the valve seat, ensuring reliable sealing while still allowing for manufacturable construction. The sphere-shaped design eliminates the leakage problems associated with flat plate configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A valve assembly for a measuring device which valve assembly comprises a valve body (16) and a valve housing(1, 2), wherein the valve body(16) has a bottom surface(161) defining a boundary surface of a process, said bottom surface (161) comprising an opening (162) towards said process, said assembly further having a centre segment(15) with a probe cavity (151) therethrough for receiving a measuring device(5), and closing means (4) for opening and closing said valve, wherein said centre segment(15) is rotationally mounted onto said valve body(16) and the movement for opening/closing said valve is a rotary movement of said centre segment(15) around a centre axis.