Emergency Thermal Valve Fuse Link for Higher Coolant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency thermal valves have low reliability and efficiency due to limited coolant flow, cluttered structural elements, and the need for sequential mechanical movements, which complicates maintenance and increases bulkiness.
Innovation Solution
A single-action emergency thermal valve design featuring a body with a through channel and a fuse link composed of multiple parts with different melting points, located in series from inlet to outlet, reducing obstructions and enhancing maintainability by eliminating moving mechanical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a ball is used as the locking element in a thermal valve, then the valve structure is simple, but the flow of the medium through the valve is limited and not stable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the ball locking element and associated sealing mechanisms from the valve structure. Instead, it uses a fuse link that melts to directly open the through-channel, extracting the complex mechanical locking components and replacing them with a simple thermal-responsive melting mechanism that provides both simplicity and high flow capacity.
2Volume of stationary object
If the fuse link is located in the middle part of the valve body, then the valve structure is compact, but the reliability of operation is low because the fuse link is remote from the monitored zone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention positions the fuse link at the outlet end of the valve body, extending into the monitored zone dimensionally. This spatial repositioning allows the fuse link to directly sense the high-temperature environment it is designed to respond to, improving reliability while maintaining a compact overall valve structure through optimized component arrangement.
3Ease of operation
If multiple mechanical components and sequential movements are used to open the valve, then the valve can be precisely controlled, but the maintenance work and bulkiness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical sequential movement system with a thermal-responsive melting mechanism. The fuse link melts directly in response to high temperature, opening the through-channel without requiring springs, levers, or multiple moving parts. This substitution dramatically simplifies the valve structure, reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining reliable automatic operation.
4Volume of stationary object
If structural elements are densely arranged in the valve, then the valve dimensions are reduced, but the flow of coolant is limited due to cluttering of the flowing part
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the valve into distinct functional zones: a compact body housing the fuse link mechanism, and a separate, unobstructed through-channel for coolant flow. The fuse link and its support structure are positioned at the outlet end, separating the control mechanism from the flow path. This segmentation allows the valve to maintain compact overall dimensions while providing a clear, clutter-free channel for high-volume coolant flow.
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 design increases coolant flow and reliability while maintaining dimensions, simplifying maintenance and reducing bulkiness, ensuring efficient coolant supply in high-thermophysical parameter conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The fuse link melts at approximately 600° C. and flows out of the holes of the perforated sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The open split spring ring of the retainer collides with the end of the sleeve onto the conical trailer, closes and gets inside the shell, releasing the run of the shell with the rod, which in turn triggers the shock expansion of the spring and shifts the shell
Data Source
AI summary
The single-action emergency thermal valve comprises a body with a through channel for coolant supply through its inlet in the direction of its outlet, and a fuse link in the through channel of the body; the fuse link consists of at least two parts, each of the two parts completely overlaps the section of the through channel, the parts are made of materials with different melting points, and are located in the through channel in series with the increase of the melting temperature of each successive part in the direction from the through channel inlet to its outlet, wherein the body can have transverse ribs and/or transverse ridges at the location of the fuse link.