Flow Control Valve Guide Structure for Lower Coolant Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flow control valves experience significant fluid pressure loss due to the protruding valve-element supporting structure within the valve element.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a first guide portion on the outer circumferential side of the extending portion of the valve element, which has a radial outer shape that increases from one axial side to the other, allowing coolant to flow smoothly and reducing stagnation and pressure loss without increasing the size of the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a valve element supporting structure protrudes inside the valve element, then the valve element can be supported by the drive shaft, but fluid pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the supporting function from the protruding structure into a separate drive shaft component. The drive shaft directly supports the valve element without requiring it to protrude into the fluid passage, thereby eliminating the source of pressure loss while maintaining support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the support arrangement from a radial protrusion into the fluid passage to an axial support via the drive shaft. This dimensional reorganization allows the valve element to be supported along the axial direction rather than radially, keeping the fluid passage clear and reducing pressure loss.
2Ease of manufacture
If the valve element structure is simplified, then manufacturing becomes easier, but pressure loss increases due to lack of flow guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is segmented into functional zones: the extending portion for support attachment, the guide portion for flow guidance, and the valve body for flow control. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the guide portion reduces pressure loss while the overall structure remains manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portion is provided locally on the outer circumferential side of the extending portion where flow guidance is most needed. This localized feature reduces pressure loss without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire valve element, maintaining ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a flow control valve and a cooling system, with which a pressure loss can be reduced. A rotor 12 includes a first guide portion 43 on the outer circumferential side of an extending portion 42 fixed to a drive shaft 13 and protruding into a space inside the rotor 12. The first guide portion 43 has a radial outer shape which increases from an x-axis positive direction side toward an x-axis negative direction side.