Venturi Valve Arrangement for Low-Turbulence Airflow Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements in ventilation systems suffer from high turbulence and noise generation, leading to inaccurate pressure measurements, especially when installed downstream of bends or T-junctions.
Innovation Solution
A valve arrangement with a pressure sensor assembly that measures dynamic air pressure by determining the difference between total and static air pressures, using a constriction in the valve chamber to enhance measurement accuracy and reduce turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flap valve is used to control airflow in a ventilation tube, then the valve can be operated easily to adjust airflow, but high turbulence and noise are generated especially when the valve is not fully open
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful turbulence-generating function from the valve operation by using a needle valve mechanism instead of a flap valve. The needle valve design allows airflow control without creating the large-scale rotational air movements that cause noise and turbulence in traditional flap valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the valve mechanism from a flap type to a needle valve type with a conical opening. This parameter change fundamentally alters the airflow pattern, reducing turbulence and noise while maintaining ease of operation through the same actuating mechanism.
2Loss of information
If pressure measurements are performed in air flow regions with macroturbulence to determine airflow, then pressure data can be obtained, but the measurement accuracy profoundly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary static pressure chamber that is fluidically connected to the valve chamber but isolated from the turbulent airflow path. This intermediary chamber captures static pressure information without being contaminated by macroturbulence, enabling accurate airflow determination even when the valve is partially closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the static pressure measurement function from the turbulent airflow region by using a separate static pressure chamber. This chamber takes out only the necessary static pressure information while excluding the harmful macroturbulence effects, allowing accurate measurements to be taken regardless of valve position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a static flow sensor assembly is installed downstream of a bend or T-junction to measure pressure drop, then the valve can be positioned flexibly, but the accuracy of pressure measurement profoundly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a static pressure chamber as an intermediary that is fluidically connected to the valve chamber. This intermediary structure allows the sensor assembly to be positioned downstream of bends or T-junctions while still obtaining accurate static pressure measurements, as the static pressure chamber is directly coupled to the valve chamber where flow is more stable.
4Productivity
If the valve is positioned at an angle between 5° and 90° to control airflow, then airflow can be adjusted, but macroturbulence is generated that compromises measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the valve geometry from a flap type that creates macroturbulence at various angles to a needle valve type with a conical opening. This parameter change allows continuous airflow control through angle adjustment without generating macroturbulence, as the needle valve creates a more streamlined flow pattern even when partially closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The static pressure chamber acts as an intermediary that decouples the airflow control function from the measurement function. This allows the needle valve to be positioned at various angles for airflow control while the static pressure chamber continues to provide accurate measurements unaffected by the valve angle-induced turbulence.
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 solution significantly improves the accuracy of airflow determination, reducing measurement deviations from ±13% to ±5%, even in complex ventilation tube configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor assembly (7) being configured to determine the dynamic air pressure from a measured static air pressure and a measured total air pressure
Implementation Method 2
The tubular pipe body (2) additionally defines a constriction (24) of this valve chamber between the first opening (21) and the second opening (22) along a longitudinal direction of the tubular pipe body (2)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a valve arrangement (1) for controlling airflow and for determining air pressure, wherein the valve arrangement (1) comprises a pressure sensor assembly (7) being configured to determine the dynamic air pressure from a measured static air pressure and a measured total air pressure; a tubular pipe body (2) comprising a first opening (21) and a second opening (22) and defining a valve chamber (23) between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the tubular pipe body (2) defines a constriction (24) of the valve chamber (23) between the first opening (21) and the second opening (22) along a longitudinal direction (LO) of the tubular pipe body (2), wherein the tubular body (2) comprises a static pressure chamber (25) being in fluidic communication with the pressure sensor assembly, wherein the static pressure chamber (25) is configured such that the static air pressure at the constriction of the air flowing through the tubular pipe body is measured by the pressure sensor assembly; a first support element (31) and a second support element (32), wherein the first support element (31) and the second support element (32) are arranged in the valve chamber (23) between the first opening (21) and the second opening (22), wherein the first support element (31) and the second support element (32) each extend transversally through the valve chamber (24), wherein the first support element (31) and/or the second support element (32) comprises one or more air channels (33) being in fluidic communication with the pressure sensor assembly, wherein the one or more air channels are configured such that the total air pressure is measured by the pressure sensor assembly; a valve body (4) being movably arranged in the valve chamber (23), wherein the valve body (4) is configured such that the valve body (4) is movable towards the constriction (24) upon which air flow through the tubular pipe body (2) is decreased.