STOP VALVE FOR INSTALLATION IN A PIPELINE, IN PARTICULAR IN A PIPELINE OF A NUCLEAR FACILITY

• Main Author: ORNOT, Leo
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.01.2023
• Subjects: ACTUATING-FLOATS; BLASTING; COCKS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; TAPS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; VALVES; WEAPONS

The present invention relates to a stop valve for installation in a pipeline, in particular in a pipeline of a nuclear facility, such as a nuclear power plant, or in a conventional chemical reactor and in a conventional power plant, to stop a fluid flow through the pipeline in the event of an operational failure. The valve comprises a valve housing including a flow channel passing through the valve housing, and a closure member arranged at least partially in the flow channel and reversibly transferable between an open position and a closed position such as to open or close the flow channel through the valve housing. The valve further comprises a non-electrically driven actuator mechanism operatively coupled to the closure member for transferring the closure member at least from the open position in the closed position. The actuator mechanism is configured to be activated by a fluid flow through the flow channel reaching or exceeding a switching temperature and/or switching flow rate during operation. In addition, the valve comprises at least one position indicator to indicate whether the closure member is in the open position or in the closed position. The position indicator comprises at least one indicator member movably arranged in or at the valve housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the indicator member is magnetically coupled to the closure member such that the indicator member is magnetically transferred into the first position when the closure member is transferred into the open position, and into the second position when the closure member is transferred into the closed position.