US Patent 8944102 Gas burst injection valve

Valve assemblies are described that provide bursts of gas between fluids to furnish separation between the fluids. A valve assembly includes a first valve member having ports configured to connect to an external loop, an output, and a vent, and ports configured to receive a first fluid, a second fluid, and a pressurized gas. The valve assembly further includes a second valve member coupled adjacent the first valve member having channels configured to connect the external loop to the second fluid for charging the external loop with the second fluid, and to connect the external loop to the output for supplying the second fluid from the external loop to the output. The second valve member also has one or more channels for receiving a burst of the pressurized gas via a port of the first valve member and supplying the pressurized gas to the output and/or to the external loop.