Segmented Pipe Valve for Low-Torque Full-Bore Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing butterfly valves face challenges in achieving non-frictional seating, pressure balance, and full bore flow, with issues such as high friction, wear, and restricted flow due to disc interference in the pipe center, especially under high pressure and flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A valve design that incorporates a pressure-balanced mechanism with non-frictional seating using a central axis, pivot mounts, and a tapered valve seat, allowing obturating portions to move in three dimensions, ensuring minimal friction and full bore flow by rotating clear of the pipe center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a zero-offset butterfly valve configuration is used, then the valve is pressure balanced with no net force from fluid pressure, but significant friction and torque result from deformation forces between sealing faces requiring soft sealing materials and significant operating torque
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is segmented into multiple obturating portions (at least two) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the sealing faces to separate during operation, eliminating friction between them while maintaining pressure balance through the central axis configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturating portions are enabled to move in three-dimensional space (not just rotation about a single axis). They can translate axially and radially while maintaining pressure balance, allowing the sealing faces to disengage completely during operation, thus eliminating friction while preserving the pressure-balanced characteristic.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a double-offset butterfly valve configuration is used, then frictional interaction between disc and seat is minimized allowing fire safe metal seals, but significant torques result from the moment generated by the offset between shaft and pressure centre
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is divided into multiple obturating portions that can move independently. This segmentation allows the sealing faces to separate during operation, eliminating friction between the disc and seat while the pressure-balanced configuration minimizes the moment arm, thus reducing operating torque requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of offsetting the shaft to minimize friction (which creates high torque), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the shaft centered for pressure balance and enabling the obturating portions themselves to move in three dimensions to eliminate friction during operation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a triple-offset butterfly valve configuration is used, then seat wear is minimized allowing metal-to-metal seals, but the valve is not pressure balanced requiring significant torque to open and small contact angles limit seating forces
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is segmented into multiple obturating portions that can move independently in three-dimensional space. This allows complete separation of sealing faces during operation, eliminating wear while maintaining metal-to-metal seals. The pressure-balanced configuration reduces operating torque, and the enlarged contact area provides adequate seating forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturating portions move in three dimensions rather than rotating about a single offset axis. This multi-dimensional movement enables complete disengagement of sealing faces for zero wear during operation while maintaining pressure balance, and allows enlarged contact angles for adequate seating forces without requiring significant offset.
4Device complexity
If a butterfly valve disc remains in the centre of the pipe flow when open, then the valve structure is simple, but flow efficiency is reduced and the disc is susceptible to erosion from particulate matter
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is segmented into multiple obturating portions that can move independently. When the valve opens, these portions can be positioned to clear the central flow path, allowing full-bore flow efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple valve body structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturating portions are designed to be dynamic, moving from a centralized closed position to dispersed open positions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the valve to achieve full-bore flow capability when open while maintaining structural simplicity, and protects against erosion by removing the disc from the particulate-laden flow path.
5Reliability
If soft sealing materials are used in zero-offset valves, then a tight seal can be achieved, but the valve is unsuitable for fire safe applications and the sealing materials are subjected to significant wear
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is segmented into multiple obturating portions with sealing faces that can separate during operation. This eliminates friction and wear on the sealing faces. Hard metal-to-metal seals can be used to achieve fire-safe ratings, as the seals only contact during the closed position and remain stationary relative to each other, eliminating the wear problems of soft seals.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using soft deformable materials to achieve sealing (which causes wear and fire safety issues), the invention inverts the approach by using hard metal seals with zero relative movement during operation. The sealing is achieved through precise positioning and force application rather than material deformation, eliminating wear while maintaining seal integrity and fire safety.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The present invention provides a valve (1) for obturating a pipe (2), having: a central axis X, a body (10) having an inlet (12) and an outlet (14), defining an aperture (18), a plurality of obturating portions (30) for obturating said aperture (18), a valve mechanism (70), the plurality of obturating portions (30), moveable from a first closed position (8) to a second open position (9), a valve seat (20), a plurality of first fixed pivot mounts (41) on the body (10) and wherein each obturating portion (30) is pivotally mounted within a first fixed pivot mount (41); a plurality of second non-fixed pivot mounts (42) connected to the valve mechanism (70) and wherein each obturating portion (30) is pivotally mounted within a second non-fixed pivot mount (42); and wherein the valve mechanism (70) and hence each second non-fixed pivot mount (42) is movable in three dimensions.