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利用数值建模和原型测试，探索使用轴向驱动阀来控制各种粘度和两相流体的流量的可行性。对创新的文丘里偏置技术(VOSTtm)阀门的初步研究表明，这些阀门表现出与阀门执行位置有关的线性流量响应。由于这些阀门需要较短的时间(1/2圈)，因此动作迅速，因此在各种工业中用作流量控制装置具有很大的潜力。然而，在设计和生产节流阀之前，必须解决密封性和阀门内的磨损问题。这些问题的解决需要了解阀门内的流动情况。这项第一阶段研究的目的是研究使用计算流体动力学(CFD)工具对用作节流或控制阀的独特VOSTtm阀门流道内的流动进行建模的可行性。这一问题带来了两个重大挑战。首先，需要确定在各种开启位置流过阀门的流量，这对为几何形状建模的计算网格提出了独特的要求。其次，流动求解器可能很难捕捉到这一复杂内部通道中的流场细节。一旦在第一阶段证明了CFD建模的可行性，将在第二阶段开发CFD设计工具和技术，用于开发VOSTtm阀，用于各种涉及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和Big Horn Valve Inc.的流量测试设施，研究人员将：(1)开发CFD工具来模拟流动通道内的流动特性；(2)制造节流阀体以验证计算机结果的准确性；以及(3)对高粘度或多相条件下的流动行为进行参数研究。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，同时还将探索执行变化几何形状的数值流动模拟的新方法。将CFD分析工具和技术转移到工业环境中，将使设计者能够为各种行业开发低损失线性流量控制阀。将研究的初步应用将是固体的泥浆运输(Trona工业)和用于石化工业。仅石化过程阀门就构成了一个价值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.