DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONDITIONING FLOW THROUGH A VALVE ASSEMBLY

• US 20190316707A1
• Filed: 04/12/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Helfer, Wade J., Apland, Anthony R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,644,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/22 with axis of rotation crossing the valve member, e.g. butterfly valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/02 for preventing water-hammer or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/08 for decreasing pressure or noise level and having a throttling member separate from the closure member , e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths

Abstract

A flow conditioner of a valve assembly includes a body including a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, and a flow path connecting the first end and the second end. A non-planar surface is formed in the first end of the body. A plurality of channels define the flow path and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one channel of the plurality of channels has a length different from a length of an adjacent channel of the plurality of channels. A cylindrical housing surrounds the plurality of channels and includes a first end and a second end. The first end is proximally located to the first end of the body. The non-planar surface of the first end is defined in part by an end of the at least one channel of the plurality of channels.

Claims

1. A valve assembly comprising:

a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet;

a valve stem disposed in the valve body;

a control element operatively connected to the valve stem and disposed in the fluid flow path, the control element rotatable by the valve stem about a pivot axis between an open position, in which the control element permits fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a closed position, in which the control element seals the inlet from the outlet;

a flow conditioner coupled to the valve body and including a first end, a second end, and a second flow path connecting the first end and the second end, the second flow path in flow communication with the fluid flow path of the valve body when the control element is in the open position;

wherein the first end of the flow conditioner has a non-planar surface arranged to permit rotation of the control element about the pivot axis between the closed position and the open position.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the control element includes a leading edge and the non-planar surface of the flow conditioner is contoured to match an arc of rotation of the leading edge of the control element.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of channels defining the second flow path,

wherein at least one channel includes an end at least partially defining the non-planar surface of the flow conditioner.

4. The valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the flow conditioner includes a longitudinal axis, and the at least one channel has a longitudinal length parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second channel of the plurality of channels includes a different longitudinal length.

5. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one channel has a cross-sectional area and the second channel has a different cross-sectional area.

6. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the flow conditioner is an inlet end positioned adjacent to the outlet of the valve body.

7. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pipe coupled to the valve body, the pipe having a bore sized to receive the flow conditioner.

8. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the flow conditioner is secured between the valve body and the pipe.

9. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the flow conditioner is integrally formed with the pipe.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first end of the flow conditioner is disposed in the valve body.

11. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the control element includes a contoured surface facing the first end of the flow conditioner when the control element is in the closed position, and wherein a portion of the non-planar surface of the first end matches a portion of the contoured surface of the control element.

12. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the non-planar surface of the first end of the flow conditioner has a curvature defined by a radius R, wherein the radius R has a length of at least a distance between the pivot axis of the control element and the leading edge of the control element.

13. A flow conditioner of a valve assembly, the flow conditioner comprising:

a body including a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, and a flow path connecting the first end and the second end;

a non-planar surface formed in the first end of the body;

a plurality of channels defining the flow path and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, at least one channel of the plurality of channels having a length different from a length of an adjacent channel of the plurality of channels; and

a cylindrical housing surrounding the plurality of channels and including a first end and a second end, the first end proximally located to the first end of the body;

wherein the non-planar surface of the first end is defined in part by an end of the at least one channel of the plurality of channels.

14. The flow conditioner of claim 13, wherein a portion of the body extends beyond the first end of the cylindrical housing.

15. The flow conditioner of claim 13, wherein the plurality of channels are integrally formed with the cylindrical housing.

16. The flow conditioner of claim 13, wherein the body includes a diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a cross-sectional area of a channel of the plurality of channels varies along the diameter of the body.

17. The flow conditioner of claim 13, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the at least one channel of the plurality of channels is non-circular.

18. A method of conditioning flow through a valve assembly, the method comprising:

providing a valve assembly including;

providing a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet

providing a valve stem disposed in the valve body;

providing a control element operatively connected to the valve stem and disposed in the fluid flow path,

providing a flow conditioner including a first end, a second end, and defining a second flow path, the first end of the flow conditioner having a non-planar surface;

coupling the first end of the flow conditioner to the valve body, the first end positioned to permit rotation of the control element about the pivot axis between a closed position, in which the control element seals the inlet from the outlet and an open position, in which the control element permits fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet; and

connecting the fluid flow path of the valve body with the second flow path of the flow conditioner.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a flow conditioner includes providing a non-planar surface that is contoured to match an arc of rotation of a leading edge of the control element.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein providing a flow conditioner includes custom manufacturing a flow conditioner by additive manufacturing, wherein custom manufacturing includes identifying a geometry of the control element and forming the non-planar surface of the flow conditioner to match the geometry of the control element.