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A valve for switching over liquid paths, particularly for pressure exchanger installations with tubular pressure exchanger chambers (3) through which an alternating flow occurs, in which a rotatable control element (10, 10.1) having a plurality of flow paths is mounted in a housing (11), which in tu

A valve for switching over liquid paths, particularly for pressure exchanger installations with tubular pressure exchanger chambers (3) through which an alternating flow occurs, in which a rotatable control element (10, 10.1) having a plurality of flow paths is mounted in a housing (11), which in turn comprises a plurality of connection opening (12, 16, 17, 46) connected to a first pipe system and to an end of at least one pressure exchanger. Another end of the pressure exchanger is connected to a second pipe system through a valve. A motorized drive shaft (50) rotates the control element so as to alternately connect the control element flow paths to openings inside housing (11). Oncoming flow to the control element may come from an axial direction or from a radial direction, and outgoing flow from the control element occurs in the axial direction.

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What is claimed is: 1. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element arranged within a housing and a plurality of flow paths ins

What is claimed is: 1. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element arranged within a housing and a plurality of flow paths inside walls of said housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the high pressure chamber and low pressure chamber of said control element being alternately connected to the flow paths inside the housing walls and the connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, and wherein the control element has a hollow cylindrical configuration and is divided into said high-pressure and low-pressure chambers by a separating wall. 2. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is connected to the separating wall so that it transmits torque. 3. A valve unit according to claim 2, wherein the separating wall is arranged in the central region of the hollow cylindrical control element. 4. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a component which transmits torque is arranged at one end of the hollow cylindrical control element. 5. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the separating wall is solidly connected to the control element. 6. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the separating wall is solidly connected to the housing. 7. A valve unit according to claim 6, wherein the separating wall is fastened to the housing by struts in the vicinity of a high-pressure supply opening. 8. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein sealing elements are arranged in a sealing zone between the separating wall and an inner wall surface of the hollow cylindrical control element. 9. A valve unit according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the separating wall and the struts is a constituent part of an exchangeable insert. 10. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the control element has a cylindrical configuration with a peripheral surface in which different pressure regions are formed by a plurality of groove-shaped flow paths. 11. A valve unit according to claim 10, wherein the flow paths of equal pressure regions are arranged diametrically opposite one another on the peripheral surface. 12. A valve unit according to claim 10, wherein a section of the groove-shaped flow paths connected with a flow opening forms the control opening of the control element. 13. A valve unit according to claim 10, wherein an annular groove is arranged in the housing or in the peripheral surface of the control element in the vicinity of a radial high-pressure supply opening. 14. A valve unit according to claim 10, wherein a closed annular sealing zone is arranged on the control element between ends of the groove-shaped flow paths of the different pressure regions. 15. A valve unit according to claim 14, wherein sealing elements are arranged on the control element or on the housing in the area of the sealing zone. 16. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of access openings are arranged in the outer wall of the housing. 17. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outer stiffening elements are arranged in the outer wall of the housing. 18. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the control openings are positioned and sized to permit a flow switch-over free from pressure surge. 19. A valve unit according to claim 18, wherein the control openings of the hollow cylindrical control element are configured as elongated holes or as polygons. 20. A valve unit according to claim 18, wherein a closing of control openings of a pressure exchanger chamber is simultaneously associated with an opening of previously closed control openings of another pressure exchanger chamber and vice versa. 21. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the control element is supported on a plurality of housing surfaces which are formed by end surfaces of the separating walls. 22. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a housing inner wall, which is configured as a separate component, is supported on a housing surface which extends in a meander shape and is formed by end surfaces of the separating walls. 23. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the control element is arranged with at least one shaft member in a bearing arrangement. 24. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the control element is arranged in such a way that it is free from radial and axial forces. 25. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein a hollow cylindrical control element with a fixed separating wall rests against a thrust bearing. 26. A valve unit according to claim 1, wherein control openings of the hollow cylindrical control element are configured as elongated holes or as polygons. 27. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein the control element has a hollow cylindrical configuration and is divided into said high-pressure and low-pressure chambers by a separating wall, and said valve unit further comprising stiffening elements arranged in the different pressure chambers. 28. A valve unit according to claim 27, wherein the stiffening elements comprise radially extending ribs or annular elements. 29. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein control pockets having forked or stepped configurations are arranged on the outer circumference of the control element and connected to control openings. 30. A valve unit according to claim 29, wherein the control element comprises a stiffening element in the form of a radially extending rib arranged in one of the pressure chambers, and wherein projecting elements of the fork-shaped control pockets are arranged in the plane of the radial rib. 31. A valve unit according to claim 29, wherein control pockets having forked or stepped configurations are arranged on the inner periphery of the housing inner wall and are connected to flow openings. 32. A valve unit according to claim 29, wherein a plurality of flow-transfer ducts, which connect the flow openings, are arranged on or in the outer wall of the housing. 33. A valve unit according to claim 29, wherein the flow openings are a constituent part of an adjustable, hollow cylindrical housing inner wall. 34. A valve unit according to claim 32, wherein chambers of the pressure exchanger are briefly connected to one another by the flow-transfer ducts when the control element is moved. 35. A valve unit according to claim 32, wherein the flow-transfer ducts are configured as external tubular elements. 36. A valve unit according to claim 35, wherein connections for the tubular elements are arranged so that they are distributed over the outer periphery of the housing. 37. A valve unit according to claim 32, wherein the flow-transfer ducts are configured as flow ducts which are integrated into the housing wall. 38. A valve unit according to claim 32, wherein a fluid exchange between the control element and the flow-transfer ducts takes place via respective mutually diametrically opposed flow openings and control openings corresponding to said opposed flow openings. 39. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein a plurality of pressure-relief ducts are arranged on the outer wall surface of the control element or on an opposite housing surface, or in a housing inner wall. 40. A valve unit according to claim 39, wherein at least one pressure-relief duct is arranged in the control element. 41. A valve unit according to claim 40, wherein a continuous flow occurs through said at least one pressure-relief duct. 42. A valve unit according to claim 40, wherein an alternating flow occurs through said at least one pressure relief duct. 43. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein the control element has a hollow cylindrical configuration and is divided into said high-pressure and low-pressure chambers by a separating wall, and wherein the control element is supported on a housing surface which extends in a meander shape and is formed by the end surfaces of the separating wall. 44. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening angle which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein the high-pressure side of the control element is formed between two fixed separating walls. 45. A valve unit according to claim 44, wherein the high-pressure side of the control element is connected to an annular space arranged in the housing. 46. A valve unit for switching fluid paths in a pressure exchanger installation having at least two pressure exchangers through which flow occurs alternately, wherein said valve unit comprises a rotatable control element with a plurality of flow paths arranged within a housing, said housing having a plurality of connections for connection lines and being connected via respective ones of said connections to a first pipe system and to a respective end of at least one pressure exchanger; another end of each pressure exchanger being connected through an intermediate valve to a second pipe system; said control element being divided into a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and provided with a motor-driven drive shaft for rotating the control element, and the flow paths of said control element being alternately connected to connections arranged on the housing such that by switching the position of the control element the high pressure chamber is alternately connected to one or the other of the at least two pressure exchangers while the low pressure chamber is alternately connected to the other or the one of the at least two pressure exchangers so that incoming high-pressure fluid flows from the high pressure chamber to one of the pressure exchangers while low-pressure fluid flowing out of the other of the pressure exchangers is conducted through the low pressure chamber to the connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid or vice versa; wherein said control unit connections include a connection for incoming high-pressure fluid leading to the high-pressure chamber of the control element, a connection for outgoing low-pressure fluid leading from the low-pressure chamber and connections for the at least two pressure exchangers which by rotation of the control element are each alternately connected to the high-pressure chamber and low-pressure chamber; wherein a supply flow takes place from the connection for incoming high-pressure fluid in an axial or radial direction to the high pressure chamber of the control element within the housing and a discharge flow of the low-pressure fluid takes place in the axial direction from the low pressure chamber of the control element to the connection for the outgoing low-pressure fluid; and wherein control openings arranged in the control element in communication with the high-pressure chamber have an opening ang1e which differs from the corresponding flow openings of the housing in order to charge the pressure exchanger in effective communication with the valve unit with a high pressure from the supply opening during the switching of the control element, wherein the housing is provided with a connection for connection to each pressure exchanger, a connection for a high-pressure supply opening and with a connection for an axially or radially arranged low-pressure outlet opening. 47. A valve unit according to claim 46, wherein the supply opening is arranged downstream of a flow deflector provided with support elements, and the flow deflector surrounds a bearing arrangement for the control element. 48. A valve unit according to claim 47, wherein the supply opening with the flow deflector and the bearing arrangement are arranged in a cap part connected to the housing.