Valve Seat Ring Preload Structure for High-Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve designs with disc seals suffer from issues such as undesirable fluid flow properties like vortices and inefficient sealing due to gaps and thermal expansion, leading to compromised sealing capabilities and fluid flow control.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of seat rings with aligned sealing and non-sealing surfaces oblique to the longitudinal axis, combined with a disc cover applying pre-load forces across a larger surface area, ensures smooth fluid flow while maintaining high-pressure sealing by compressing the seat ring between the disc holder and cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a disc seal is used to block the opening, then sealing capability is improved, but gaps and thermal expansion cause compromised sealing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane or diaphragm as the sealing element instead of a rigid disc seal. This flexible structure can deform to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, maintain continuous contact with the seat, and eliminate gaps that would compromise sealing. The flexible nature allows the seal to adapt to dimensional changes while maintaining reliable sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state or properties of the sealing element by using a flexible material that can alter its shape and dimensions in response to thermal conditions. This parameter change allows the seal to maintain optimal contact pressure and geometry across varying temperatures, preventing leakage and maintaining consistent sealing.
2Productivity
If a disc seal blocks the middle portion of the opening, then fluid flow control is achieved, but vortices and undesirable flow properties occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional disc-shaped seal with a membrane or diaphragm that has a curved or spherical geometry. This curved structure allows fluid to flow smoothly over its surface, eliminating sharp edges and corners that would generate vortices. The streamlined shape maintains effective flow control while minimizing turbulent flow patterns and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane can dynamically adjust its shape and position in response to fluid pressure and flow conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the seal to optimize fluid flow paths in real-time, reducing the formation of vortices and undesirable flow patterns while maintaining effective flow control capability.
3Ease of operation
If the valve plug moves to control fluid flow, then flow regulation is achieved, but sealing capability deteriorates at higher pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane seal maintains reliable sealing at high pressures by deforming to conform to the seat geometry, ensuring continuous contact. The flexibility allows the seal to compensate for pressure-induced dimensional changes in the valve body and plug, maintaining sealing effectiveness across a wide pressure range while preserving flow regulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic flexibility of the membrane allows it to adapt to varying pressure conditions during operation. As pressure increases, the membrane deforms to maintain optimal contact with the seat, ensuring sealing capability is preserved even under high-pressure conditions while the valve plug continues to regulate flow effectively.
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
This design achieves improved sealing capabilities at higher pressures while minimizing undesirable fluid flow effects, reducing leakage, and maintaining consistent flow characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a disc cover to apply a pre-load force to the seat ring
Data Source
AI summary
Valve sealing structures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a valve body including a seat, and a valve plug including a disc holder including a recess; a seat ring positioned in the recess, the seat ring including a first surface and a second surface contiguous with the first surface, the first surface to contact the seat when the valve plug is in a closed position; and a disc cover coupled to the disc holder, the disc cover including a third surface and a fourth surface contiguous with the third surface, the third surface to be flush with the first surface, the fourth surface to contact the second surface and apply an axial pre-load force to the seat ring.