Flow control valve
AssigneeLeanVent ApS
InventorPeter S. Antonsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow control valve (100;200;300) for a ventilation or exhaust duct comprises a housing (102;202;302), which defines a longitudinally extending passage (104;204;304) between a flow inlet and a flow outlet. A closing element (110;210;310) in the passage is movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A motor or actuator (116;216;316) is provided for moving the closing element. The motor or actuator may be located inside the closing element (110;210;310). The flow passage (104;204;304) through the housing may have sections of different diameters to obtain a venturi-like diffusor. A pressure difference sensor may be provided, which in combination with a position of the closing element allows for computation of the flow rate through the valve without the need for a separate flow meter.
Claims26
A flow control valve comprising:
- a housing, which defines a longitudinally extending passage between a flow inlet and a flow outlet of the housing;
- a closing element in the passage, wherein at least a portion of the closing element is movable between a fully open position, in which a fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, and a fully closed position, in which it closes said passage, so that no fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element;
- a motor or actuator for causing at least said portion of the closing element to move between the open and closed positions;
- wherein
- the motor or actuator is located in the closing element or in a separate motor casing in the passage.
A flow control valve comprising:
- a housing, which defines a longitudinally extending passage between a flow inlet and a flow outlet of the housing;
- a closing element in the passage, wherein at least a portion of the closing element is movable between a fully open position, in which a fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, and a fully closed position, in which it closes said passage, so that no fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, wherein a clearance for fluid flow is provided between the closing element and an inner wall of the housing when said portion of the closing element is in the open position;
- wherein
- a flow cross-section of the passage through the housing at any longitudinal position is at least equal to a flow cross-section of the flow inlet of the housing, when said portion of the closing element is in the fully open position.
A flow control valve comprising:
- a housing, which defines a longitudinally extending passage between an flow inlet and a flow outlet of the housing;
- a closing element in the passage, wherein at least a portion of the closing element is movable between a fully open position, in which a fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, and a fully closed position, in which it closes said passage, so that no fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, wherein a clearance for fluid flow is provided between the closing element and an inner wall of the housing when said portion of the closing element is in the open position;
- a pressure difference sensor for detecting a pressure difference across the closing element;
- a position sensor for detecting a position of the closing element or said portion thereof between the fully open and the fully closed position;
- an electronic memory loaded with a table of positions of the closing element of said portion thereof and corresponding valve-specific flow constant values;
- and
- an electronic processor programmed to determine a flow rate based on the pressure difference, the position and a valve-specific constant at any detected position of the closing element or said portion thereof.
A method of controlling a flow of gas, such as air, in a flow system, the method comprising the step of arranging a flow control valve in the flow system, and operating the flow control valve to control the flow of gas in the flow system, the flow control valve comprising:
- a housing, which defines a longitudinally extending passage between a flow inlet and a flow outlet of the housing;
- a closing element in the passage, wherein at least a portion of the closing element is movable between a fully open position, in which a fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element, and a fully closed position, in which it closes said passage, so that no fluid is allowed to flow past the closing element;
- a motor or actuator for causing at least said portion of the closing element to move between the open and closed positions;
- wherein
- the motor or actuator is located in the closing element or in a separate motor casing in the passage.
A flow duct comprising at least two separable sections, each of which has a first end of a first diameter and a second end of a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, and wherein:
- in a first configuration of the flow duct, the first ends of the two sections define an inlet and an outlet of the flow duct, respectively;
- and wherein
- in a second configuration of the flow duct, the second ends of the two sections define an inlet and an outlet of the flow duct, respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.