Valve with Diaphragm for Dynamic Barrier Fluid Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mechanical seal systems, when the product pressure varies but the back pressure of the barrier fluid is fixed, it can lead to excessive pressure within the seal, causing unnecessary wear and tear, as the seal has to work harder than necessary.
Innovation Solution
A valve with a housing that includes a fluid inlet and outlet, featuring a diaphragm that can move between flow restricting positions, and a mechanism to apply an additional counter-flow pressure based on external product fluid pressure, ensuring the barrier fluid pressure does not exceed the product pressure, thus reducing seal wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed back pressure is applied to the barrier fluid, then the barrier fluid pressure is maintained at a set level to prevent leakage, but excessive pressure builds up within the mechanical seal causing increased wear and faster deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates a diaphragm that dynamically adjusts the flow restriction based on the process fluid pressure. As the process fluid pressure varies, the diaphragm moves to modify the opening size, thereby dynamically adjusting the back pressure on the barrier fluid to match the varying process conditions, preventing both leakage and excessive pressure buildup
Solution Approach 2:
The valve uses the process fluid pressure itself as feedback to control the barrier fluid back pressure. The diaphragm responds to changes in process fluid pressure and automatically adjusts the flow restriction accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal pressure differential without external intervention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the barrier fluid pressure is set above product pressure to prevent hazardous leakage, then safety is improved, but the seal must work harder than necessary causing excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining a fixed pressure differential, the valve dynamically adjusts the barrier fluid back pressure to match the varying process fluid pressure while maintaining a minimal safe differential. This reduces the energy consumption of the seal by eliminating excessive pressure differential while still preventing hazardous leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The valve changes the pressure parameter of the barrier fluid based on the process fluid pressure conditions. By adjusting the back pressure to follow process pressure variations, the system maintains safety margins while minimizing the energy burden on the seal
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 valve provides an automatically variable back pressure control, preventing excessive barrier fluid pressure that could cause seal deterioration, thereby extending the seal's lifespan by aligning the barrier fluid pressure with the product pressure variations.
Implementation Method 1
a diaphragm (37) mounted within the housing and resiliently deformable between said flow restricting positions
Implementation Method 2
a spring (33) mounted to urge said plate towards said diaphragm
Implementation Method 3
said means for applying said external pressure comprises means for connecting the housing to said source of additional pressure and means for transmitting the external pressure within the housing to said flow path blocking means
Data Source
AI summary
A valve includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defines a fluid flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A device is included for restricting the flow between the inlet and the outlet which has a fixed flow restriction device for applying a pre-determined counter-flow pressure and a device for applying an additional counter-flow pressure according to the pressure in an environment external to the valve.