Flow-Shaped Valve Closing Element for Viscous Fluid Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire extinguishing systems face efficiency issues due to the use of higher viscosity fluids, particularly foaming agents, which pose dynamic challenges for closing elements in valves, leading to increased resistance and reduced efficiency in pump operation.
Innovation Solution
A closing element with a flow-favorable shape, including conical or curved surfaces, is designed to reduce resistance and improve alignment, made from high-strength plastics with specific mechanical properties, and integrated into a valve system that allows for faster opening and closing speeds, reducing aerodynamic and hydrodynamic resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If closing elements with disk-shaped or spherical shapes are used, then the valve structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flow resistance increases significantly when handling higher viscosity fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element employs curved surfaces including a conical upstream side and a rounded downstream side with a trailing edge, optimizing the flow path for viscous fluids. This curved geometry reduces flow separation and turbulence, significantly lowering flow resistance compared to flat disk-shaped closures while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.
2Reliability
If closing elements with larger surface area are used to ensure proper sealing, then the sealing reliability improves, but the drag coefficient and flow resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve plate is designed with differentiated zones: a larger diameter valve seat surface (e.g., 20-30mm) ensures comprehensive sealing contact with the valve seat, while the closing element sides feature reduced diameter sections with optimized curvature. This local variation in dimensions provides both reliable sealing at the valve seat interface and minimized flow resistance in the fluid passage areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The downstream side of the closing element features a rounded shape with a trailing edge that streamlines fluid flow, reducing wake formation and pressure drag. The conical upstream side guides fluid smoothly around the closing element, minimizing flow separation. These curved geometries reduce the drag coefficient while the valve plate maintains adequate sealing surface area.
3Speed
If closing elements are designed for high-speed operation, then the valve response time improves, but the dynamic requirements and stress on the closing element increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded downstream side and trailing edge design reduces flow separation and vortex formation during high-speed operation, minimizing unsteady hydrodynamic forces and pressure fluctuations. This streamlined geometry reduces dynamic loading on the closing element, enabling faster opening and closing speeds (e.g., 7-15 m/s) without excessive stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element is made from high-strength plastic materials (e.g., POM, PEEK, or PA6-GF) that provide both the necessary mechanical strength to withstand high-speed dynamic operations and the low density to reduce inertial forces. These materials offer high strength-to-density ratios, enabling rapid actuation while maintaining structural integrity under dynamic loads.
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 flow-favorable shape and material selection enhance the efficiency of fluid flow, reduce resistance, and enable faster operation of the valve, particularly with higher viscosity fluids, improving the overall performance of fire extinguishing systems.
Implementation Method 1
A favorable shape in terms of flow within the meaning of the invention is a shape which offers little resistance to the fluid (or medium) in use, particularly in comparison to a closing element having disk-shaped or spherical closing element sides
Data Source
AI summary
A closing element for a valve, comprisingan upstream closing element side;a downstream closing element side; anda valve seat surface, wherein both closing element sides have a favorable shape in terms of flow and the valve seat surface is formed between the upstream closing element side and the downstream closing element side.