Device for regulating high pressure liquefied gas to high pressure vapor generator using liquid oxygen is described. System includes pressure regulation and safety valve features. Construction of the equipment and method of operation are presented

Acres, R. L.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

July 1972	 B72-10446 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Combination Pressure Regulator And Safety Valve: A Concept 
Exhaust 
To Breathing 
System 
Supply To 4 Cyro Pump 
K\ I
L-----...
	
Spring  
4 
High Pressure 
Being Regulated 
The problem: 
A lightweight device is needed to regulate high pressure 
liquified gas to a high pressure vapor generator using 
liquid oxygen frpm the liquid oxygen supply systems 
in spacecraft. Another associated application is to supply 
"feed" water to flash boilers. 
The solution: 
The regulator valve controls a boiler feed pump which 
forces liquid into an evaporator or flash boiler at the 
proper rate to maintain the pressure in a system at some 
preset level. 
How it's done: 
The system concept is to regulate the pressure of the 
vapor by diverting a small amount of the vapor at a 
modulated rate to operate a feed pump, modulating valve, 
or other device which in turn adds liquid to a flash boiler.
The regulator behaves as a feedback control which 
regulates the rate of liquid injected into the flash boiler 
to maintain the system pressure at the desired level. The 
arrangement shown in the illustration makes use of the 
basic concept. Vapor leaving port E is used to control the 
rate of pumping liquid into a flash boiler by increasing or-
decreasing the speed of the pump. Adjustment is ac-
complished by loosening locknut G and turning screw H. 
The position of plunger C and valve D is determined by 
the pressure in chamber B and the load on the Belleville 
springs. Their position, in turn, determines whether or 
not port A is connected to port E. If the pressure in 
chamber B is very low, port A will be wide open. As the 
pressure in chamber B approaches the desired preset 
level, port A modulates toward a closed position. When 
the desired regulated pressure slightly exceeds the preset 
pressure level, port A closes completely and no gas passes 
port E, and the feed pump stops.
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000445 2020-03-17T03:39:38+00:00Z
If the consumption of high pressure gas is halted 
suddently, a minute amount of liquid may remain in the 
system. As this evaporates, the pressure in chamber B 
may tend to rise above the preset level. Such a rise in 
pressure will move plunger C and valve D to the right. 
Port A remains closed; but Port L opens to connect 
chamber B to exhaust port J via the holes in plunger C. 
As gas is bled from chamber B and the pressure in this 
area drops, the Belleville springs move the valve D and 
plunger C to the left, again closing port L. Valve D can 
never cover either ports E or J. 
There are conditions which can cause excess pressure 
in chamber B with port A closed. For example, when 
using low boiling temperature liquids a rise in temperature 
of trapped liquid between port E and the feed pump will 
cause the pressure to rise and check valve K to open. This 
excess pressure is bled off as described above. 
Port F remains open at all times and prevents pressure 
fluctuations in the Belleville spring housing which would 
influence the regulated pressure in the supply to the 
pump. 
The device can be modified for use in automotive or 
similar power plants where variable pressure is required. 
This can be accomplished by replacing screw H and
locknut G by a plunger from a multiposition device 
similar to an automobile accelerator, or a programmed 
cam for automatic cycle pressure requirements, or any 
other positioning device which will produce the proper 
time-pressure relationahip required. 
Note: 
No additional documentation is available. Specific 
questions, however, may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Code JM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: B72-10446 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: R. L. Acres of

Service Technology Corporation

under contract to

Manned Spacecraft Center

(MSC-14088) 
B72-10446	 Category 06


Combination pressure regulator and safety valve: A Concept

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