Mechanical Shutdown Valve for Overpressure Fluid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test assemblies face damage and fluid loss due to excessive pressure, which can be hazardous and wasteful, as pressure relief valves vent pressurized fluids, compromising instrument integrity and safety.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical shutdown valve with a diaphragm, mesh, and spring mechanism that stops fluid flow when a differential pressure threshold is exceeded, preventing fluid release to the environment and protecting test instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure relief valve is used to protect test instruments from excessive pressure, then instrument damage is prevented, but pressurized fluid is vented to the environment causing fluid loss and potential safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical shutdown valve is introduced as an intermediary device between the test article and test instruments. This valve includes a diaphragm that separates a first fluid communication path (through the test article) from a second fluid communication path (through the valve body). When excessive pressure is detected, the diaphragm actuates the valve to close the second path, preventing fluid from reaching the instruments while maintaining containment within the system rather than venting to environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid communication path is segmented into multiple separate paths: a first path through the test article and a second path through the valve body. The diaphragm physically divides these paths, allowing independent control of fluid flow. This segmentation enables the valve to block the instrument-protecting path without necessarily venting fluid externally, thus preventing both instrument damage and environmental fluid release.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a mechanical shutdown valve is positioned between the membrane and test instruments, then fluid containment is maintained and environmental safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible diaphragm is used as the core actuating element of the mechanical shutdown valve. The diaphragm responds to pressure differential across the membrane by deflecting and actuating the valve mechanism. This thin-film approach provides a simple, reliable means of detecting excessive pressure and triggering the shutdown function without requiring complex sensors or control systems, thereby limiting environmental exposure while avoiding excessive complexity.
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 mechanical shutdown valve effectively prevents instrument damage, reduces fluid loss, and enhances safety by maintaining fluid containment within the test assembly, thereby improving operational efficiency and environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
a spring biasing the diaphragm towards the open position
Implementation Method 2
The mesh limits fluid flow between the diaphragm and the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical shutdown valve for preventing an over pressure condition is described. A valve body has an inlet, an outlet, and a channel extending from the inlet to the outlet. A valve seat and a diaphragm are positioned in the valve body. The diaphragm controls a fluid flow through the valve body. A mesh is coupled to the diaphragm such that the mesh and the diaphragm separate an upstream portion of the channel from a downstream portion of the channel. The mesh extends from the diaphragm to an inner surface of the valve body and limits fluid flow between the diaphragm and the valve body. A spring biases the diaphragm towards the open position. A characteristic of the spring determines a differential pressure threshold between the upstream portion of the channel and a downstream portion of the channel at which the diaphragm engages the valve seat.