Energy-Recovery Turbine Bypass Valve for Water Pressure Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure-regulating valves (PRVs) in pressurized water lines of existing technologies have a limited life span, resulting in expensive recurring costs and downtime, affecting revenues of the mine or other industries, resulting in recurring expenses and downtime, affecting the PRV's ability to effectively regulate pressure in the water lines, leading to costly maintenance and downtime.
Innovation Solution
An energy-recovery system with an integrated pressure-regulating valve (PRV) that diverts water flow to bypass the turbine during failures, ensuring pressure regulation and energy generation, featuring a spiral water-flow adapter and a PRV connected in parallel with the turbine to handle pressure regulation and energy recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure-regulating valve is used to regulate pressure in water lines, then pressure regulation is achieved, but the valve has limited life span requiring periodic servicing and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure regulation function with an energy recovery turbine, creating a dual-function device. The turbine serves as both an energy generation device and a pressure-regulating mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate PRV and its associated maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy recovery turbine performs multiple functions: generating electricity from water flow and regulating pressure in the water line. This multi-functionality replaces the single-function PRV, extending system life and reducing maintenance needs.
2Reliability
If a pressure-regulating valve is used to regulate pressure, then pressure control is maintained, but expensive recurring maintenance costs and downtime occur
Solution Approach 1:
By merging pressure regulation with energy recovery in a single turbine device, the system eliminates the separate PRV that requires maintenance. The turbine's mechanical nature and continuous operation reduce downtime compared to periodic PRV servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy recovery turbine regulates pressure through its own operation of extracting energy from water flow, without requiring external intervention or separate control mechanisms. This self-regulating capability reduces maintenance needs and downtime.
3Power
If the turbine shuts down or becomes inoperative, then energy generation stops, but pressure regulation must be maintained as a failsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pressure-regulating valve as a pre-configured backup system that automatically activates when the turbine fails. This preliminary arrangement ensures immediate pressure regulation without delay, maintaining system reliability during turbine shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The PRV serves as a protective backup mechanism prepared in advance to handle turbine failures. This cushioning approach ensures that pressure regulation continues even when the primary energy-generating component becomes inoperative.
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 system effectively regulates water pressure and generates electricity, providing backup pressure regulation during turbine failures, reducing maintenance costs and downtime, and ensuring continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
an energy-recovery turbine (20) to receive a flow of water from a water line to which the turbine is connected, thereby generating electric power from the flow of water
Implementation Method 2
a pressure-regulating valve (PRV) that regulates pressure in the water line when the turbine is inoperative
Data Source
AI summary
An energy-recovery system has an energy-recovery turbine to receive a flow of water from a water line to which the turbine is connected and to generate electric power from the flow of water while also regulating water pressure in the water line. The system also includes a pressure-regulating valve (PRV) connected in parallel with the turbine to regulate the water pressure in the water line only when the turbine is inoperative. The system includes a spiral water-flow adapter having a water inlet for connecting to an upstream portion of the water line and a water outlet for connecting to a downstream portion of the water line, the spiral water-flow adapter directing the flow of water from the water inlet into the turbine and then to the water outlet.