A novel structure of throttle trap valve for self-adjustment of discharge capacity in high pressure heat exchangers

Abstract A novel self-adjusting throttle trap valve (TTV) for use in high pressure heat exchangers was developed based on multiphase flow theory. The discharge capacity of liquid water is self-adjusted by the effective flow area occupied by the water vapor. The effect of the pressure difference (△p), gas nozzle outlet diameter (Φ3), gas nozzle inlet diameter (Φ2), and the distance between throttle and gas nozzle (L) on the self-adjusting capacity was investigated by means of CFD simulation and validation experiments. The self-adjusting capacity of the TTV increases with an increase in △p, Φ3, and with a decrease in L, but is relatively unaffected by Φ2. To evaluate the contribution of different structural parameters to the self-adjusting ability, the dimensionless self-adjusting capacity index (SACI) was constructed, based on the relation between the self-adjusting capacity and the gas flow rate. Using the SACI, it was determined that to optimize the self-adjusting capacity, a lower value of Φ3 should be chosen, while the optimal value for L was approximately 6 mm for this simulation model. This research provides new technology for the development and design of a high-efficiency TTV.