Venturi-Cooled Pressure Relief Valve for Stable Set-Point Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure relief valves in high-temperature environments, such as gas turbine engines, face reliability issues due to fluid infiltration into the valve housing, which affects the long-term stability of the resilient member and drifts the predefined pressure level.
Innovation Solution
The valve design incorporates additional fluid channels creating a Venturi effect, drawing in ambient air to cool the valve and prevent high-velocity pressurized fluid from entering the valve housing, thereby maintaining the resilient member's stability and set-point pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the valve components are designed with tight tolerances to provide reliable pressure control, then the pressure control precision is improved, but fluid infiltration into the valve housing increases causing resilient member instability and pressure drift
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is segmented into distinct chambers: a first chamber for pressure control components (plunger, piston) and a second chamber for the resilient member. This segmentation isolates the resilient member from pressurized fluid while maintaining tight tolerances in the first chamber for accurate pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is extracted from the pressurized environment by placing it in a separate second chamber that is fluidly isolated from the first chamber. This extraction removes the harmful factor (fluid infiltration) from the resilient member while preserving the tight tolerance design in the first chamber.
2Productivity
If the valve allows high-velocity fluid flow through the exhaust channels, then the pressure relief capability is improved, but fluid infiltration into the valve housing increases affecting resilient member performance
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust channels are configured to discharge fluid primarily through the first chamber while the second chamber remains fluidly isolated. This segmentation allows high-velocity flow through the exhaust channels for effective pressure relief while preventing fluid infiltration into the resilient member chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid passage system acts as an intermediary that directs high-velocity fluid flow through controlled paths (exhaust channels from first chamber) while blocking access to the second chamber containing the resilient member, thus protecting reliability while maintaining productivity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve housing allows fluid flow into the resilient member chamber, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but temperature effects cause pressure level drift and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is divided into two fluidly isolated chambers, with the second chamber containing the resilient member protected from temperature effects. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while ensuring pressure level stability by preventing thermal infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The second chamber is designed with specific local quality characteristics (fluid isolation) to protect the resilient member from temperature effects, while the first chamber maintains open fluid access for pressure control functionality. This localized protection maintains overall manufacturing simplicity.
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 Venturi effect enhances cooling within the valve, reduces fluid infiltration, and stabilizes the resilient member, ensuring reliable operation and maintaining the predefined pressure level even in high-temperature applications.
Implementation Method 1
one or more additional fluid channels having an outlet within at least one of the one or more exhaust channels, and configured to create a Venturi effect in use with high velocity fluid being exhausted through the one or more exhaust channels
Data Source
AI summary
A valve has a fluid inlet, a housing comprising a first chamber and a fluid passage extending from the fluid inlet to the first chamber, one or more exhaust channels in fluid communication with the first chamber such that, in use, a pressurised fluid entering the first chamber is exhausted through the one or more exhaust channels, a device movable between a closed position and an open position, and a resilient member configured to bias the device towards its closed position. The valve further comprises one or more additional fluid channels having an outlet within each of the one or more exhaust channels that create a Venturi effect in use with the pressurised air exhausted through the one or more exhaust channels.