Automatic fluid-mechanical actuated emergency stop valve for abnormal flow and spillage protection

An automatic fluidic stop valve configured and adapted to respond to a sudden increase in a primary fluid flow through the valve by inhibiting the primary fluid flow, the automatic fluidic stop valve comprising:

• a stop mass configured to be acted upon by a Bernoulli force to block a valve seat and inhibit the primary fluid flow;
• a concentrator configured and adapted to increase a speed of the primary fluid flow locally near a starting location of the stop mass, thereby reducing a pressure of the primary fluid flow locally near the starting location of the stop mass and amplifying the Bernoulli force;
• a secondary flow path fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow from a first location to a second location, the first location upstream of the concentrator, the second location downstream of the concentrator and upstream of the valve seat, wherein the secondary flow path fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow from the first location to the second location comprises:
• a first upward flow direction departing the primary fluid flow at the first location, followed by,
• a second downward flow direction below the concentrator, followed by,
• a third upward flow direction arriving back to the primary fluid flow at the second location, and
• a particulate trap configured and adapted to inhibit the passage of particulates through the secondary flow path.

A method for tuning an automatic fluidic stop valve for inhibiting a primary fluid flow following a catastrophic rupture or other failure in a fluid delivery system carrying a fluid from an upstream source to a downstream destination, the method comprising:

• providing an automatic fluidic stop valve configured and adapted to respond to a sudden increase in the primary fluid flow through the automatic fluidic stop valve by inhibiting the primary fluid flow, the automatic fluidic stop valve comprising:
• a stop mass configured to be acted upon by a Bernoulli force to block a valve seat and inhibit the primary fluid flow;
• a concentrator configured and adapted to increase a speed of the primary fluid flow locally near a starting location of the stop mass, thereby reducing a pressure of the primary fluid flow locally near the starting location of the stop mass and amplifying the Bernoulli force;
• a diffuser configured and adapted to reduce turbulence in the primary fluid flow downstream of the concentrator, where an entry diameter of the diffuser is less than an outer diameter of the stop mass;
• a secondary flow path within a secondary flow body fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow from a first location to a second location, the first location upstream of the concentrator, the second location downstream of the concentrator and upstream of the valve seat and;
• a secondary flow damper, the secondary flow damper comprising an adjustable damper configured and adapted to selectively inhibit a secondary flow through the secondary flow path, thereby selectively tuning the Bernoulli force;
• wherein the stop mass is supported at the starting location of the stop mass by a stop mass support at a stop mass starting height below a level of the primary fluid flow adjacent the second location;
• providing the primary fluid flow at a desired maximal primary flow rate into a primary flow section through the concentrator, valve seat, and diffuser;
• and
• slowly opening the adjustable damper of the secondary flow damper to a first position where a resulting maximal secondary flow in the secondary flow body is sufficient to move the stop mass from the stop mass support, out of the secondary flow body, into the primary fluid flow, and into the valve seat, thus inhibiting the primary fluid flow at the valve seat.

An automatic fluidic stop valve configured and adapted to respond to a sudden increase in a primary fluid flow through the valve by inhibiting the primary fluid flow, the automatic fluidic stop valve comprising:

• a stop mass configured to be acted upon by a Bernoulli force to block a valve seat and inhibit the primary fluid flow;
• a concentrator configured and adapted to increase a speed of the primary fluid flow locally near a starting location of the stop mass, thereby reducing a pressure of the primary fluid flow locally near the starting location of the stop mass and amplifying the Bernoulli force;
• a diffuser configured and adapted to reduce turbulence in the primary fluid flow downstream of the concentrator, where an entry diameter of the diffuser is less than an outer diameter of the stop mass;
• a secondary flow path fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow from a first location to a second location, the first location upstream of the concentrator, the second location downstream of the concentrator and upstream of the valve seat and;
• a secondary flow damper comprising an adjustable damper configured and adapted to selectively inhibit a secondary flow through the secondary flow path, thereby selectively tuning the Bernoulli force;
• wherein the stop mass is supported at the starting location of the stop mass by a stop mass support at a stop mass starting height below a level of the primary fluid flow adjacent the second location;
• wherein the stop mass support is configured and adapted to:
• (a) retain the stop mass in place under normal or non-rupture flow conditions by supporting the stop mass against the force of gravity,
• (b) allow sufficient primary fluid flow through a secondary flow body without blocking the secondary flow body or secondary flow path, and
• (c) allow sufficient space for the action of hydrodynamic forces under rupture or increased flow conditions to act on the stop mass and move the stop mass out of the secondary flow body and into the primary fluid flow upstream of the valve seat.