QUIET PULSE VALVE

• US 20140332039A1
• Filed: 05/13/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd. (Alstom SA)
• Inventors: Appelo, Per-Erik Albert
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/37
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/04 Cleaning filters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/122 the fluid acting on a piston F16K31/143, F16K31/163, F16K31/363, F16K31/383 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/02 for preventing water-hammer or noise

Abstract

A relatively quiet pulse valve and a method of using the pulse valve are provided. The pulse valve includes a dampening mechanism to decrease mechanical stresses, decrease operating noise, decrease compressed air waste and increase operational life expectancy of the valve. Such dampening mechanism is arranged within an internal area of the pulse valve housing.

Claims

1. A valve device useful for pulsed compressed air cleaning of a filter unit comprising:

a housing with a plunge slideably positioned therein arranged in an opening of a pressure vessel containing compressed air;

a plurality of openings in the housing for the flow of compressed air from the pressure vessel through the housing to a nozzle pipe useful for cleaning at least a portion of a filter unit when the plunge is in an open position; and

a fluid supply on the housing for control of a fluid to a cavity within the housing to cause movement of the plunge to a closed position for blocking the plurality of openings and blocking the flow of compressed air from the pressure vessel to the nozzle pipe.

2. The valve device of claim 1 wherein the compressed air in the pressure vessel has a pressure of about 10 psi to about 100 psi.

3. The valve device of claim 1 wherein when the plunge is in the closed position, the fluid pressure within the cavity of the housing is less than that of the compressed air within the pressure vessel.

4. The valve device of claim 1 wherein when the plunge is in the open position, the fluid pressure within the cavity of the housing is greater than that of the compressed air within the pressure vessel.

5. The valve device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a dampening mechanism to reduce impact between the housing and the plunge upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

6. The valve device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a dampening mechanism for reducing impact noise of the plunge upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

7. The valve device of claim 1 wherein the cavity of the housing is relatively small for reducing impact noise upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

8. The valve device of claim 1, further comprising a resilient portion to reduce plunge impact noise upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

9. The valve device of claim 1, further comprising a valve on the valve housing.

10. The valve device of claim 1 further comprising a solenoid valve on the housing for control of fluid flow to the cavity of the housing.

11. A method of using a valve device for cleaning at least a portion of a filter unit comprising:

reducing fluid pressure within a cavity of a valve housing causing pressure movement of a plunge into a closed position blocking flow of compressed air from a pressure vessel through to a nozzle pipe; and

increasing fluid pressure within a cavity of a valve housing causing pressure movement of the plunge into an opened position allowing flow of compressed air from a pressure vessel through to a nozzle pipe in fluid connection with a filter unit thereby pulse cleaning the filter unit.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the compressed air in the pressure vessel has a pressure of about 10 psi to about 100 psi.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein when the plunge is in the closed position, the fluid pressure within the interior area of the housing is less than that of the compressed air within the pressure vessel.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein when the plunge is in the open position, the fluid pressure within the interior area of the housing is greater than that of the compressed air within the pressure vessel.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a dampening mechanism to reduce impact between the housing and the plunge upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a dampening mechanism to reduce impact noise of the plunge upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the cavity within the housing is relatively small reducing impact noise upon movement of the plunge into the closed position.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising a valve on the valve housing for controlling movement of the plunge.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising a solenoid valve on the housing to control fluid flow to the cavity to control movement of the plunge.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a solenoid valve on the housing for control of compressed air flow to the interior area of the housing.