Pressure relief valves for liquid hydrogen tanks
Pressure relief valves for liquid hydrogen tanks are disclosed. An example pressure relief valve includes a valve body defining a chamber. A seat body defines a valve seat positioned within the chamber. A valve disc includes a flange and defines a sealing surface. The valve disc is configured to engage the valve seat in a closed position. A guide includes a first guide end and a second guide end. The first guide end defines a recessed surface that securely receives the flange of the valve disc. A retainer is coupled to the guide and defines an inner ledge. The flange of the valve disc is secured between the inner ledge and the first guide end. A cap is coupled to the valve body within the chamber. A spring extends between and engages the cap and the second guide end to bias the valve disc to the closed position.
1 . A pressure relief valve for a liquid hydrogen tank, the pressure relief valve comprising:
a valve body defining a chamber extending between a first end and a second end;
a seat body coupled to the first end of the valve body and defining a valve seat that extends into and is positioned within the chamber of the valve body;
a valve disc comprising a flange and defining a sealing surface and a through hole, wherein the valve disc is positioned within the chamber of the valve body, wherein the valve disc is configured to engage the valve seat in a closed position and is configured to disengage the valve seat in an open position;
a guide disposed within the chamber and including a first guide end and a second guide end, wherein the first guide end defines a recessed surface that securely receives the flange of the valve disc, wherein the through hole of the valve disc enables a back pressure to keep the flange coupled to the recessed surface when the valve disc is moved to the open position;
a retainer coupled to the guide within the chamber and defining an inner ledge, wherein the flange of the valve disc is secured between the inner ledge and the first guide end;
a cap coupled to the valve body within the chamber adjacent the second end of the valve body; and
a spring extending between and engaging the cap and the second guide end to bias the valve disc to engage the valve seat in the closed position.
2 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of the guide and the retainer and an inner surface of the valve body define flow paths through which fluid flows within the chamber.
3 . The pressure relief valve of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of the valve body has a cylindrical shape and the outer surfaces of the guide and the retainer form a substantially polygonal shape to define the flow paths.
4 . The pressure relief valve of claim 2 , wherein the outer surfaces of the guide and the retainer have rounded portions that engage the inner surface of the valve body.
5 . The pressure relief valve of claim 4 , wherein, the rounded portions of the guide are spaced apart axially from the rounded portions of the retainer to create multiple contact points axially along a longitudinal axis of the valve body to deter the valve disc from tilting relative to the longitudinal axis within the chamber.
6 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a rib that extends from the recessed surface, wherein the rib grips the flange of the valve disc to facilitate retainment of the valve disc within the recessed surface.
7 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes an outer lip that extends circumferentially around the recessed surface, wherein the outer lip engages an outer circumferential surface of the flange to facilitate alignment of the valve disc with the valve seat.
8 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a core and a plurality of arms that extend radially outward from the core, wherein the plurality of arms are circumferentially spaced apart from each other to define openings for fluid flow.
9 . The pressure relief valve of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of arms of the cap include external threads and the valve body includes internal threads adjacent the second end that threadably couple the cap to the valve body.
10 . The pressure relief valve of claim 8 , wherein a position of the cap relative to the valve body is adjustable via threads to enable a biasing force of the spring to be adjusted.
11 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes an inlet-side portion that defines the recessed surface and external threads, the retainer defines a recessed chamber with internal threads, and the internal threads threadably receive the external threads to couple the retainer to the guide.
12 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the seat body includes external threads and the valve body includes internal threads adjacent the first end that threadably couple the seat body to the first end of the valve body.
13 . The pressure relief valve of claim 1 , wherein the recessed surface includes an inner lip that defines an inner chamber, and wherein the valve disc is configured to be adjacent to but not extend into the inner chamber when the valve disc is securely received by the recessed surface such that a gap is formed between the valve disc and an inner-most surface of the recessed surface.
14 . The pressure relief valve of claim 13 , wherein the through hole extends to the inner chamber to enable the back pressure to be created within the gap.
15 . A pressure relief valve for a liquid hydrogen tank, the pressure relief valve comprising:
a valve body defining a chamber;
a valve seat positioned within the chamber of the valve body;
a valve disc comprising a flange and defining a sealing surface and a through hole, wherein the valve disc is positioned within the chamber of the valve body, wherein the valve disc is configured to engage the valve seat in a closed position and is configured to disengage the valve seat in an open position;
a guide disposed within the chamber and defining a recessed surface that securely receives the flange of the valve disc, wherein the through hole of the valve disc enables a back pressure to keep the flange coupled to the recessed surface when the valve disc is moved to the open position; and
a retainer coupled to the guide within the chamber and defining an inner ledge, wherein the flange of the valve disc is secured between the inner ledge and the guide.
16 . The pressure relief valve of claim 15 , wherein the recessed surface includes an inner lip that defines an inner chamber, and wherein the valve disc is configured to be adjacent to but not extend into the inner chamber when the valve disc is securely received by the recessed surface such that a gap is formed between the valve disc and an inner-most surface of the recessed surface.
17 . The pressure relief valve of claim 16 , wherein the through hole extends to the inner chamber to enable the back pressure to be created within the gap.
18 . The pressure relief valve of claim 15 , wherein the guide includes a rib that extends from the recessed surface, wherein the rib grips the flange of the valve disc to facilitate retainment of the valve disc within the recessed surface.
19 . The pressure relief valve of claim 18 , wherein the rib includes a pointed apex that is configured to dig into the flange of the valve disc.
20 . The pressure relief valve of claim 15 , wherein the guide includes an outer lip that extends circumferentially around the recessed surface, wherein the outer lip engages an outer circumferential surface of the flange to facilitate alignment of the valve disc with the valve seat.