Balanced Floating Piston Valve for Ultra-High Pressure, High-Volume Liquid and Gaseous Flow Control

Contractor has completed all scheduled work and accomplished the Technical Objectives (milestones): (1) Finite Element Analyses (FEA), (2) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)nbsp;analyses, as well as (3) Seal Design and Material Selection.nbsp; A 4th Technical Objective was added:(4)nbsp;Geometry Design and Material Selection, as critical to the successful design of a manufacturable valve.Technical ObjectiveWork PlanKey ResultsFEA optimized designHighly iterative design process modeled with ANSYSPiston design metnbsp; balance requirements with displacement le;0.002rdquo;A-286 stainless steel was selected as the material for the pistonCFD flow-path optimizationHighly iterative flow-path process modeled with ANSYSDecision to use the Drilled Holes Concept rather than the 3-Hole Strut results in 86.5% of the Cv (700) of the ideal ball valveSeal design and materialCollaboration with Saint-GobainDecision to use a bi-directional, spring-assisted, pressure-energized, polymer fiber-filled Teflon sealSeat geometry and materialCollaborative process that included FEA and CFD analysesDecision of 60ordm; and Silicon Aluminum Bronze C64200 materialThenbsp;12 Tasks of the Work Plan in the SBIR Phase I were completed.nbsp; NASACustomer requirements were investigated and confirmed; industries and markets were researched and new commercial opportunities identified.The manufacturability of the ultimate valve design was validated with the receipts of two quotes from two pre-qualified machine shops, both of which indicated their willingness and ability to manufacture a FPV prototype.nbsp; The modifications to the FPV during the SBIR Phase I Feasibility Study have resulted in a safer, cost-effective, far more reliable alternative to conventional ball valves currently used for rocket engine ground testing at Stennis Space Centerrsquo;s (SSC) E Complex.