Temperature-Controlled Pressure Regulator With Integrated Heat Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature-controlled pressure regulators are limited by the maximum pressure of the heat transfer medium, typically steam, which restricts the outlet temperature of the process fluid, leading to insufficient heat transfer and potential condensation or vaporization issues, especially in applications requiring higher temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The temperature-controlled pressure regulator integrates a heat transfer medium inlet directly with the regulator body, allowing higher pressure steam (up to 1000 psi) to be used, and employs a heat chamber with a U-shaped or coil configuration for the passageways to increase the heat transfer contact area, enabling higher outlet temperatures (up to 1000° F) without the need for welding, thus enhancing heat transfer efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional steam heating is used with limited pressure, then the regulator structure is simple, but the outlet temperature is insufficient leading to condensation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the process fluid passageway inside the heat transfer medium passageway, creating a concentric tube structure. The inner passageway carries the process fluid while the outer passageway carries the heat transfer medium, allowing the process fluid to be heated by the surrounding heat transfer medium without direct contact between the two fluids. This nested configuration enables higher outlet temperatures while maintaining a compact regulator structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional heat transfer surface to a three-dimensional concentric arrangement. By positioning the process fluid passageway within the heat transfer medium passageway, the heat transfer occurs radially in multiple directions simultaneously, significantly increasing the heat transfer contact area and efficiency, thereby achieving higher outlet temperatures without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If heat transfer contact area is increased to improve heat transfer efficiency, then temperature control improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The concentric nested passageway structure provides extensive heat transfer contact area in a compact configuration. The process fluid passageway is surrounded by the heat transfer medium passageway, creating a large radial heat transfer surface without requiring complex external heat exchange components. This achieves reliable temperature control while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Temperature
If higher pressure steam is used to achieve higher temperatures, then outlet temperature increases, but manufacturing complexity increases due to welding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The regulator is divided into separable components including the body, cap, and removable tubular passageway assembly. The tubular passageway can be manufactured separately and installed without welding, using mechanical fitting or threading instead. This segmentation allows the use of higher pressure steam for heating while avoiding the manufacturing complexity and safety issues associated with welding high-pressure components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removable tubular passageway as an intermediary component that mediates between the high-pressure steam system and the process fluid. This separate component can be easily manufactured, installed, and removed without welding, simplifying the manufacturing process while still enabling the transmission of high-pressure heat transfer medium to achieve the required outlet temperatures.
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 configuration allows for significantly higher outlet temperatures (up to 1000° F) compared to traditional regulators, improving heat transfer efficiency and preventing condensation or inducing vaporization, while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The chamber is to receive a heat transfer medium via the heat transfer medium inlet to provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the chamber via the first passageway
Implementation Method 2
provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the chamber
Implementation Method 3
The process fluid is heated within the regulator because the process fluid experiences a substantial decrease or drop in pressure through the regulator (e.g., across a valve seat). The decrease in pressure causes a significant loss of heat (e.g., a temperature drop) in the process fluid (e.g., a gas) in accordance with the Joule-Thomson effect.
Implementation Method 4
Controlling the temperature of the process fluid prevents condensation and/or induces vaporization of the process fluid across the regulator as the pressure of the process fluid is reduced between an inlet and an outlet of the regulator
Implementation Method 5
prevents condensation and/or induces vaporization of the process fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Temperature-controlled pressure regulators are described. An example temperature-controlled pressure regulator described herein includes a regulator body having a process fluid inlet fluidly coupled to a process fluid outlet via a first passageway and a heat transfer medium inlet to be fluidly coupled to a heat transfer medium outlet via a second passageway, where the heat transfer medium inlet is integrally formed with the regulator body. A heat chamber body is removably coupled to the regulator body to form a chamber between the heat transfer medium inlet and the heat transfer medium outlet. At least a portion of the first passageway is disposed within the chamber, and the chamber is to receive a heat transfer medium via the heat transfer medium inlet to provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the chamber via the first passageway, which separates the process fluid from the heat transfer medium.