Self-regulating Valve for High-Pressure Gas Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inert gas fire suppression systems face challenges with overpressure in protected rooms due to uneven gas discharge, requiring expensive venting and complex control systems to manage high-pressure gas distribution, while also posing health and safety risks to personnel.
Innovation Solution
A controlled pressure release valve with a slidable spool and dual spring mechanism that throttles gas flow to maintain a uniform pressure profile, preventing overpressure and ensuring safe and efficient delivery of inert gas during a fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If inert gas is released at high pressure to reduce storage volume, then storage efficiency is improved, but overpressure damage and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve performs preliminary throttling action on the high-pressure gas before it enters the protected room. The spool is pre-positioned to create a restricted flow passage, and the spring is pre-compressed to provide initial resistance, preventing overpressure from occurring in the first place rather than reacting to it afterward
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary device between the high-pressure gas source and the protected room. It mediates the pressure transition by using the spool and spring mechanism to gradually reduce pressure, converting the harmful high-pressure direct release into a controlled, uniform pressure profile that protects equipment while still delivering the required gas quantity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed-loop servo valve is used to throttle gas flow uniformly, then overpressure is prevented, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed to be self-regulating without requiring external control systems. The spring automatically provides the necessary counterforce to throttle the gas flow, and the spool position is self-determined by the balance between gas pressure and spring force, eliminating the need for sensors, actuators, and control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The complex closed-loop control system is extracted and removed from the design. Instead of using electronic controllers, sensors, and feedback mechanisms, the patent extracts only the essential throttling function and implements it through a simple mechanical spring-spool arrangement, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining overpressure prevention
3Productivity
If gas is released quickly to suppress fire within one minute, then fire suppression effectiveness is improved, but overpressure in the room increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve introduces dynamic control of the gas release process through the movable spool and compressible spring mechanism. Rather than a static fully-open or fully-closed position, the system dynamically adjusts the flow restriction based on the balance between gas pressure forcing the spool open and spring force pushing it closed, creating a controlled progressive release that maintains speed while preventing overpressure
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 valve effectively regulates gas release to prevent overpressure, ensuring the fire is extinguished without risking personnel or equipment, while reducing system complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding spool is biased toward the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and the second spring
Implementation Method 2
The slidable spool is urged to the second position at a rate that is a function of the first and second spring forces and a pneumatic pressure differential in the first and second chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A controlled pressure release valve controls the gas flow in high-pressure systems. The valve includes a valve body, a slidable spool, a primary flow passage, a first and second chamber, a first and second spring, a first and second passages, and a valve actuator. The valve body has a gas inlet and a gas outlet and houses the slidable spool. The slidable spool has a first end and a second end, and is slidable between a first position and a second position. The primary flow passage connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet and increases with lineal movement of the slidable spool. The first chamber is located adjacent the first end of the slidable spool and a second chamber is located adjacent the second end of the slidable spool. The sliding spool is biased toward the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and the second spring.