Shutter Valve Vane Interlocking for Rapid High-Pressure Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sea wave energy generation devices face challenges in rapidly switching valves controlling sea water inlet and outlet, as ball valves or butterfly valves of large diameters are unable to switch on and off in less than 1 second, leading to inefficiencies and pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of shutter valves with a tube section having a rectangular cross section and rotatably mounted vanes, which interlock to form a closed surface when rotated, allowing for fast switching and high-pressure resistance, controlled by a hydraulic Moog valve system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ball valves or butterfly valves of large diameters are used to control high pressure liquid flows, then the valves can withstand high pressures, but the switching time exceeds 1 second
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple thin vanes (at least three vanes) that can rotate independently within the valve body. Each vane contributes to the closing action, allowing the valve to seal quickly under high pressure without requiring a single large moving component that would be slow to actuate.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydraulic actuator is used to drive the rotation of the vanes. The hydraulic system provides rapid and powerful actuation force, enabling the valve to switch from open to closed position in less than 1 second even when controlling high pressure liquid flows.
2Productivity
If valves with large diameters are used to maximize inflow and outflow, then the flow capacity increases, but the switching speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening is closed by multiple thin vanes rather than a single large disc. This segmentation allows the closing action to be distributed across multiple smaller surfaces that can rotate faster, achieving quick switching while maintaining large flow capacity when open.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve uses a dynamic rotation mechanism where the entire array of vanes rotates together as a unified structure. This dynamic approach allows the valve to transition rapidly between fully open and fully closed states, optimizing both flow capacity and switching speed.
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 rapid and efficient switching of valves, minimizing dead-time and maximizing inflow and outflow, thus improving the energy generation efficiency by ensuring valves can switch in less than 1 second, even under high pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The array of vanes can be rotated by means of a rack mating with pinions attached to the shaft ends on at least one outer side of the tube section. The rack is preferably arranged to be moved by a hydraulic cylinder
Implementation Method 2
when the vanes are rotated to the closed position the lower half of the front surfaces and upper half of the back surfaces of all vanes form a single closed front surface and a single closed back surface, each in substantially a single flat plane perpendicular to the flow axis of the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A shutter valve for alternatingly allowing and stopping a high pressure water flow, such as in a device for generating energy from sea waves, comprising a tube section (201) having a rectangular cross section, wherein a multitude of vanes (202) are rotatably mounted in the tube section (201), wherein the vanes have a relatively large rectangular longitudinal cross section in a first direction, a relatively flat rectangular longitudinal cross section in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and a generally flat cross section in a third direction perpendicular to said first and second directions, said third direction being the axis of the vane (202), wherein the circumferential wall around the axis of each vane forms a closed water impermeable surface, wherein the axes of said multitude of vanes all extend in a parallel manner, characterized in that the distances between the axes of adjacent vanes are approximately half the distance between the outer tips of the vanes, seen in the cross section in said third direction, such that when the vanes are rotated to the closed position the lower half of the front surfaces and upper half of the back surfaces of all vanes form a single closed front surface and a single closed back surface, each in substantially a single flat plane perpendicular to the flow axis of the valve, said surfaces closing the opening of said tube section, and the other half of said front surfaces and the other half of said back surfaces of said vanes rest against each other.