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

A method for tuning an automatic fluidic stop valve 300 for inhibiting a primary fluid flow 141 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 300 configured and adapted to respond to a sudden increase in the primary fluid flow 141 through the automatic fluidic stop valve 300 by inhibiting the primary fluid flow 141, the automatic fluidic stop valve 300 comprising:
• a stop mass 250 configured to be acted upon by a Bernoulli force to block a valve seat 160 and inhibit the primary fluid flow 141;
• a concentrator 110 configured and adapted to increase the speed of the primary fluid flow 141 locally near a starting location of the stop mass, thereby reducing a pressure of the primary fluid flow 141 locally near the starting location of the stop mass 250 and amplifying the Bernoulli force;
• a diffuser 130 configured and adapted to reduce turbulence in the primary fluid flow 141 downstream of the concentrator 110, where an entry diameter of the diffuser 130 is less than an outer diameter of the stop mass 250;
• a secondary flow path within a secondary flow body 210 fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow 141 from a first location to a second location, the first location upstream of the concentrator 110, the second location downstream of the concentrator 110 and upstream of the valve seat 160 and;
• a secondary flow damper 220, the secondary flow damper 220 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 250 is supported at the starting location of the stop mass 250 by a stop mass support 230 at a stop mass starting height below a level of the primary fluid flow 141 adjacent the second location;
• providing the primary fluid flow 141 at a desired maximal primary flow rate into a primary flow section 100 through the concentrator 110, valve seat 160, and diffuser 130;
• and
• slowly opening the adjustable damper of the secondary flow damper 220 to a first position where a resulting maximal secondary flow 241 in the secondary flow body 210 is sufficient to move the stop mass 250 from the stop mass support 230, out of the secondary flow body 210, into the primary flow 141, and into the valve seat 160, thus inhibiting the primary flow at the valve seat 160.

An automatic fluidic stop valve 300 configured and adapted to respond to a sudden increase in a primary fluid flow 141 through the valve by inhibiting the primary fluid flow 141, the automatic fluidic stop valve 300 comprising:

• a stop mass 250 configured to be acted upon by a Bernoulli force to block a valve seat 160 and inhibit the primary fluid flow 141;
• a concentrator 110 configured and adapted to increase the speed of the primary fluid flow 141 locally near a starting location of the stop mass 250, thereby reducing a pressure of the primary fluid flow 141 locally near the starting location of the stop mass 250 and amplifying the Bernoulli force;
• a diffuser 130 configured and adapted to reduce turbulence in the primary fluid flow 141 downstream of the concentrator 110, where an entry diameter of the diffuser 130 is less than an outer diameter of the stop mass 250;
• a secondary flow path fluidly connecting the primary fluid flow 141 from a first location to a second location, the first location upstream of the concentrator 110, the second location downstream of the concentrator 110 and upstream of the valve seat 160 and;
• a secondary flow damper 220 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 250 is supported at the starting location of the stop mass 250 by a stop mass support 230 at a stop mass starting height below a level of the primary fluid flow 141 adjacent the second location;
• wherein the stop mass support 230 is configured and adapted to:
• (a) retain the stop mass 250 in place under normal or non-rupture flow conditions by supporting the stop mass 250 against the force of gravity,
• (b) allow sufficient primary fluid flow 141 through the secondary flow body 210 without blocking the secondary flow body 210 or secondary flow path 240, and
• (c) allow sufficient space for the action of hydrodynamic forces under rupture or increased flow conditions to act on the stop mass 250 and move the stop mass 250 out of the secondary flow body 210 and into the primary fluid flow 141 upstream of the valve seat 160.