Control Seat Valve Leakage Modulation for Solar Reflector Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar generators face high costs and mechanical wear due to the need for large, expensive hydraulic components to achieve continuous tracking of solar reflectors, which requires sensitive regulation of small volume flows.
Innovation Solution
A control seat valve with a proportional solenoid and deformable sealing surface, operated without lifting movement, allows for precise regulation of small volume flows, reducing mechanical wear and costs by using a solenoid for electrical control and optimizing the sealing surface deformation for continuous tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If step-by-step tracking operation is used with control seat valve opening and closing every 15 seconds, then the hydraulic components can be designed to be simpler and less expensive, but the tracking precision and continuous performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control seat valve transitions from static step-by-step operation to dynamic continuous operation, enabling the valve to modulate fluid flow continuously rather than in discrete steps, thereby achieving both tracking precision and operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The valve component undergoes parameter changes by varying its opening degree continuously between 0% and 100%, allowing precise control of fluid flow rate to match the slow movement speed of solar reflectors, thus resolving the contradiction between simple design and high precision tracking
2Reliability
If continuous tracking with very small volume flow regulation is implemented, then tracking precision is improved, but the cost of hydraulic components increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a specific region within the valve where a small opening degree (e.g., 5% or 10% of full opening) provides precisely controlled small volume flow, while the rest of the valve structure remains simple and cost-effective, avoiding the need for expensive specialized components throughout the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow control mechanisms with an electromagnetically actuated control seat valve that uses magnetic fields to position the valve component, eliminating the need for expensive mechanical linkages and manual adjustment mechanisms while achieving precise small volume flow control
3Productivity
If large and strong hydraulic cylinders are used for stepwise tracking, then the tracking steps can be executed precisely and quickly, but the cost and size of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic cylinder operates dynamically with continuously variable flow control rather than discrete high-flow pulses, allowing the same cylinder to achieve both precise positioning and adequate movement speed by simply adjusting the valve opening degree, eliminating the need for oversized cylinders
4Ease of operation
If conventional solenoid operation with lifting movement is used for control seat valve, then the valve can be opened and closed, but mechanical wear increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve component performs only partial action by moving a small distance to achieve the required opening degree (e.g., 5-10% of full stroke), which is sufficient for small volume flow control but significantly reduces mechanical wear on seals and moving parts, thereby extending service life while maintaining full operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes electromagnetic actuation for mechanical lifting movement, using magnetic fields to hold and position the valve component with minimal mechanical contact, eliminating the repeated mechanical impact and wear associated with conventional solenoid operation while maintaining full actuation capability
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
This solution enables continuous, synchronous tracking of solar reflectors with reduced mechanical wear and lower costs, allowing for smaller, less expensive hydraulic components and improved energy efficiency by minimizing power consumption and extending the service life of the control seat valve.
Implementation Method 1
the proportional solenoid can be adapted in its operation behavior very precisely just to the task of a varying deformation of the sealing surface
Implementation Method 2
the control is programmed at the software side. In the tracking device the control seat valve with the control is inexpensive
Implementation Method 3
which does not at least substantially have to perform a lifting movement at all, but which rather has to deform the sealing surface on the seat surface in a controlled manner
Data Source
AI summary
In a solar generator, comprising a reflector and an electrohydraulic sun-position tracking device with at least one hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic control seat valve, the reflector can be guided via the control seat valve to follow in synchronism with the course of the sun continuously and uninterruptedly. The control seat valve for regulating a pressure medium flow permanently supplied to the hydraulic cylinder comprises a seat surface and a sealing surface permanently pressed against each other with variable contact pressure, with which the pressure medium flow can be generated as controlled leakage. The sealing surface is made of a material that can be deformed by contact pressure. In the control seat valve, the controlled leakage is set in a control position at least substantially without lifting movement exclusively by the relative material deformation of the sealing surface on the seat surface, which deformation is set via the contact pressure.