Stacked disk valve trim
First Claim
1. A flow control device including a valve trim assembly comprising a plurality of valve trim disks defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said flow control device, wherein respective flow paths defined by said valve trim disks comprise:
- an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area;
a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid inlet and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid outlet;
an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism; and
frequency shifting passages configured to direct fluid flow from said acoustic chamber to said fluid outlet and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with said directed fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a cost effective means by which pressure reduction in a fluid flow control device is optimized. The pressure reduction achieved according to the present invention also minimizes valve wear and presents new solutions in reducing, attenuating, eliminating, damping, redirecting, or otherwise defeating valve noise. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a flow control device is provided including a valve trim assembly comprising a plurality of valve trim disks defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the flow control device. Respective flow paths defined by the valve trim disks comprise an expansion/contraction mechanism, a velocity control mechanism, an acoustic chamber, and frequency shifting passages. The expansion/contraction mechanism has a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area. The velocity control mechanism defines a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate the fluid inlet and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate the fluid outlet. The acoustic chamber is configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in the expansion/contraction mechanism and the velocity control mechanism. The frequency shifting passages are configured to direct fluid flow from the acoustic chamber to the fluid outlet and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with the directed fluid.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A flow control device including a valve trim assembly comprising a plurality of valve trim disks defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said flow control device, wherein respective flow paths defined by said valve trim disks comprise:
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an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area;
a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid inlet and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid outlet;
an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism; and
frequency shifting passages configured to direct fluid flow from said acoustic chamber to said fluid outlet and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with said directed fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A flow control device including a valve trim assembly comprising a plurality of valve trim disks defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said flow control device, wherein respective flow paths defined by said valve trim disks comprise:
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an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area;
a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid inlet and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid outlet; and
an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 45)
frequency shifting passages configured to direct fluid flow from said acoustic chamber to said fluid outlet and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with said directed fluid; and
an expansion/contraction mechanism defining a plurality of V-shaped turns defining changes in flow direction of greater than 90 degrees, whereby a fluid passing through one of said turns undergoes rapid expansion going into a turn and rapid contraction coming out of a turn.
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36. A flow control device including a valve trim assembly comprising a plurality of valve trim disks defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said flow control device, wherein:
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respective flow paths defined by said valve trim disks comprise an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area;
said expansion/contraction mechanism defines a plurality of V-shaped turns defining changes in flow direction of greater than 90 degrees, whereby a fluid passing through one of said turns undergoes rapid expansion going into a turn and rapid contraction coming out of a turn; and
said V-shaped turns are defined substantially entirely with a single disk of said plurality of disks, lying in a plane defined by said disk. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A flow control device defining a plurality of flow paths along a fluid passage between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of said flow control device, wherein said flow paths comprise:
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an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area, a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid inlet and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said fluid outlet, an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism, and frequency shifting passages configured to direct fluid flow from said acoustic chamber to said fluid outlet and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with said directed fluid.
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43. A valve trim disk defining an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a plurality of flow paths generally directed from said inside diameter to said outside diameter, said flow paths comprising:
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an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area, wherein said expansion/contraction mechanism defines a plurality of V-shaped turns defining changes in flow direction of greater than 90 degrees, whereby a fluid passing through one of said turns undergoes rapid expansion going into a turn and rapid contraction coming out of a turn;
a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said inside diameter of said disk and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said outside diameter of said disk; and
an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism.
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44. A set of valve trim disks defining respective, coaxial inside diameters, outside diameters, and a plurality of flow paths generally directed from said inside diameters to said outside diameters, wherein respective flow paths defined by said valve trim disks comprise:
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an expansion/contraction mechanism having a cross section including rapid increases and decreases in cross-sectional flow area;
a velocity control mechanism defining a cross-sectional flow profile defining a relatively low cross-sectional flow area proximate said inside diameters and a relatively high cross-sectional flow area proximate said outside diameters;
an acoustic chamber configured to defeat acoustic disturbances generated in said expansion/contraction mechanism and said velocity control mechanism; and
frequency shifting passages configured to direct fluid flow from said acoustic chamber and increase the sonic frequency of acoustic disturbances associated with said directed fluid.
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Specification