Rotor Mixing Valve Layout for Flow-Preserving Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing valves hinder fluid flow on the upstream side, leading to degraded heat exchange efficiency and complicate hose connections, increasing the device's size and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A mixing valve design with a cylindrical housing and a rotor that allows fluids to flow through separate inlet ports and a mixing pipe without hindering upstream flow, featuring discharge ports and a compact layout to minimize size and improve installation ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the opening area of each side port decreases with rotation of the valve body to adjust mixing ratio, then the mixing ratio control is improved, but the fluid flow on the upstream side stagnates and heat exchange efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple independent flow paths: a first flow path for cold water and a second flow path for hot water. Each flow path has its own inlet port and internal flow channels, allowing independent flow control without mutual interference. This segmentation enables the valve to adjust mixing ratios while maintaining adequate flow in each path, preventing upstream stagnation.
2Device complexity
If the bottom port extends in the axial direction of the valve body to discharge mixed fluid, then the discharge function is simplified, but the dimension of the mixing valve in the height direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet port is repositioned from the axial direction to the radial direction of the valve body. The mixed fluid discharge path extends in the radial direction rather than the axial direction, allowing the valve to achieve a compact height while maintaining effective discharge functionality. This dimensional change reduces the valve's overall height without compromising its discharge capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hose connecting directions are split to the radial direction and axial direction to connect hoses to inlet ports and outlet port, then the connection flexibility is improved, but the handling of the hose becomes complicated and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
All inlet ports and the outlet port are positioned to open in the radial direction of the valve body, merging their connecting directions into a single plane. This arrangement allows all hose connections to be made from the same direction, significantly simplifying installation workability while maintaining the flexibility to connect multiple hoses. The radial alignment eliminates the complexity of handling hoses that would otherwise need to approach from different axial and radial directions.
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 design ensures uninterrupted fluid flow on the upstream side, maintains heat exchange efficiency, and reduces the device's size and installation complexity, enhancing overall workability and space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing pipe forming a mixing flow path through which the first fluid and/or the second fluid flow as a mixed fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A mixing valve includes: a housing with a valve chamber formed therein; and a rotor rotatably inserted into the valve chamber, a first peripheral wall of the housing is provided with a first inlet port at a first opening to the valve chamber and a second inlet port at a second opening to the valve chamber, a second peripheral wall of the rotor is provided with a first inflow pipe, a second inflow pipe, and a mixing pipe with a mixing flow path formed therein, the mixing pipe opens in a radial direction of the rotor and communicates with the first inflow pipe and the second inflow pipe to allow a mixed fluid MF to flow into the mixing pipe, and the first peripheral wall of the housing is provided with a discharge port a discharge fluid DF that has flowed into the valve chamber without passing through the first inflow pipe and/or the second inflow pipe of the rotor, respectively, and an outlet port communicating with the mixing flow path.