STTR Phase I: Investigation of Throttled Flow Performance in Venturi Off-Set Technology VOSTtm Valves

这个小型企业技术转移第一阶段项目将通过数值模拟和原型测试来探索使用轴向驱动阀控制各种粘度和两相流体的可行性。对创新文丘里偏移技术（VOSTtm）阀门的初步研究表明，这些阀门表现出线性流量响应，作为阀门驱动位置的函数。因为这些阀门需要短（1/2转），因此快速的驱动运动，它们在各种工业中作为流量控制装置有很大的潜力。然而，在设计和生产节流阀之前，必须解决阀门内部的密封和磨损问题。解决这些问题需要了解阀门内部的流动情况。第一阶段研究的目的是研究使用计算流体动力学（CFD）工具来模拟VOSTtm阀门作为节流或控制阀时独特流道内流动的可行性。这个问题提出了两个重大挑战。首先，需要确定在各种开启位置通过阀门的流量，这对模拟几何形状的计算网格提出了独特的要求。其次，流动求解器可能难以捕捉到这种复杂内部通道中流场的细节。一旦在第一阶段证明了CFD建模的可行性，CFD设计工具和技术将在第二阶段开发，用于开发VOSTtm阀，用于各种高粘度或多相流体的困难流动控制应用。利用怀俄明大学的建模和测量能力以及Big Horn Valve公司的流量测试设施，研究人员将：(1)开发CFD工具来模拟流道内的流动特性；(2)制作节流阀体，验证计算机计算结果；(3)对高粘度或多相条件下的流动特性进行参数化研究。在这一领域的成功研究将加强对阀门节流和性能特性的理解，同时也将探索新的方法来执行变化几何形状的数值流动建模。将CFD分析工具和技术转移到工业环境中，将使设计人员能够为各种行业开发低损耗线性流量控制阀。研究的最初应用将是固体的浆液输送（Trona工业）和石化工业的使用。仅石化过程阀门就构成了14亿美元的美国产业。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I project will explore, using numerical modeling and prototype testing, the feasibility of using axially actuated valves for flow control of various viscosity and two-phase fluids. Preliminary research with the innovative Venturi Off-Set Technology (VOSTtm) valves indicates that these valves exhibit a linear flow response as a function of valve actuation position. Because these valves require short (1/2 turn) and therefore rapid actuation motion, they have great potentialfor use as flow control devices in a variety of industries. However, before throttling valves can be designed and produced, problems with seals and wear within the valve must be addressed solved. Solution of these problems requires understanding the flow within the valve. The purpose of this Phase I research is to investigate the feasibility of using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools to model flow within the unique VOSTtm valve flow passage when used as a throttling or control valve. Two significant challenges are presented by this problem. First, the need to determine flow through the valve at a variety of opening positions imposes unique demands on the computational grids that model the geometry. Second, it may be difficult for the flow solver to capture details of the flow field in this complicated internal passage. Once CFD modeling feasibility is demonstrated in Phase I, CFD design tools and techniques will be developed in Phase II for use in developing VOSTtm valves for a variety of difficult flow control applications involving high viscosity or multiple-phase fluids. Utilizing University of Wyoming modeling and measurement capabilities and Big Horn Valve Inc. flow testing facilities, investigators will: (1) develop CFD tools to simulate flow characteristics within the flow passage; (2) fabricate a throttling valve body to verifycomputer results; and (3) conduct parametric studies of flow behavior for high viscosity or multiple phase conditions. Successful research in this arena will strengthen the understanding of valve throttling and performance characteristics, while also investigating new ways to perform numerical flow modeling of changing geometry. Transfer of CFD analytical tools and techniques into the industrial environment will permit designers to develop low loss linear flow control valves for a variety of industries. Initial applications to be studied will be for slurry transport of solids (Trona industry) and for use in the petrochemical industry. Petrochemical process valves alone constitute a $1.4B US industry.