Fluid regulation

• US 20050049755A1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dresser, LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Boger, Henry W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2093 with combination of electric and non-electric auxiliary power
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5987 Solenoid or electromagnetically operated valve

Abstract

Fluid regulation may be achieved by a process performed by a controller. The process may include regulating a first fluid with a fluid-driven fluid regulator, receiving a second fluid, receiving electric power generated using the second fluid, and controlling the fluid regulator with the second fluid. The process may also include determining whether wirelessly sent instructions regarding regulation have been received and, if wirelessly sent instructions regarding regulation have been received, adjusting control of the fluid regulator.

Claims

1. A system for fluid regulation, the system comprising:

a fluid-driven fluid regulator operable to regulate a first fluid;

a fluid supply line operable to supply a second fluid;

a controller coupled to the supply line and to the fluid regulator, the controller operable to control the fluid regulator using fluid from the supply line;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller, the transceiver operable to wirelessly receive instructions regarding fluid regulation; and

an electric power generator coupled to the supply line and the controller, the electric power generator operable to generate electric power for the controller and the wireless transceiver using fluid from the supply line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid regulator comprises a pneumatically-actuated valve.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a relay coupled to the supply line and the fluid regulator, the relay controllable to provide fluid from the supply line to the fluid regulator; and

a microprocessor coupled to the electric power generator to receive electric power therefrom, the microprocessor operable to control the relay.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric power generator comprises an air-powered turbine that generates current.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid output conduit coupled to the fluid regulator to transport the regulated first fluid; and

a sensor coupled to the fluid output conduit and the controller, the sensor operable to detect a property of the fluid in the fluid output conduit and to generate a signal representative of the property.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the controller is further operable to generate a wireless message containing a representation of the signal; and

the wireless transceiver is further operable to wirelessly send the wireless message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric power generator comprises:

a current generator; and

a pressure regulator coupled in parallel with the current generator to the fluid supply line, the pressure regulator supplying more fluid to the controller when the fluid regulator is adjusting.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid intake conduit coupled to the fluid regulator, wherein the fluid supply line is coupled to the fluid intake conduit.

11. A system for fluid regulation, the system comprising:

a fluid-driven fluid regulator operable to regulate a first fluid;

a fluid inlet port for a second fluid;

a controller coupled the inlet port and to the fluid regulator, the controller operable to control the fluid regulator with fluid from the inlet port, the controller operable to receive electric power from an electric power generator coupled to a fluid supply line that feeds the fluid inlet port; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller, the transceiver operable to wirelessly receive instructions regarding fluid regulation.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a fluid output conduit coupled to the fluid regulator to transport the regulated first fluid; and

a sensor coupled to the fluid output conduit and the controller, the sensor operable to detect a property of the fluid in the fluid output conduit and to generate a signal representative of the property.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising the electric power generator, the electric power generator coupled to the controller and operable to generate electric power for the controller using fluid in a supply line that feeds the inlet port.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the electric power generator comprises:

a current generator; and

a pressure regulator coupled in parallel with the current generator to a fluid supply line that feeds the inlet port, the pressure regulator supplying more fluid to the controller when the fluid regulator is adjusting.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising the fluid supply line.

16. A method for fluid regulation, the method comprising:

regulating a first fluid with a fluid-driven fluid regulator;

receiving a second fluid;

receiving electric power generated using the second fluid;

controlling the fluid regulator with the second fluid;

determining whether wirelessly sent instructions regarding regulation have been received; and

if wirelessly sent instructions regarding regulation have been received, adjusting control of the fluid regulator.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a signal representative of a property of the regulated first fluid.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a wireless message comprising a representation of the generated signal.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting a property of the regulated first fluid; and

generating the signal representative of the property.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second fluid comprises air.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving more second fluid when the fluid regulator is adjusting.

22. A system for fluid flow regulation, the system comprising:

means for regulating a first fluid;

means for receiving a second fluid;

means for controlling the regulation means with the second fluid;

means for wirelessly receiving instructions regarding fluid regulation; and

means for generating electric power for the controlling means using the second fluid.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the controlling means is further operable to receive a signal representative of a property of the regulated first fluid and to generate a wireless message comprising a representation of the generated signal.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for detecting a property of the regulated first fluid and for generating the signal representative of the property.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the wireless receiving means is further operable to send the wireless message.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for supplying more second fluid when the regulation means is adjusting.

27. A system for fluid regulation, the system comprising:

a fluid intake conduit;

a fluid output conduit;

a pneumatically-actuated valve coupled between the fluid intake conduit and the fluid output conduit;

a pneumatic supply line;

a flow meter coupled to the fluid output conduit and the controller, the flow meter operable to detect flow of the first fluid in the fluid output conduit and to generate signals representative thereof;

a controller coupled to the supply line and to the valve, the controller operable to control the valve and comprising;

a relay coupled between the supply line and the valve, the relay operable to controllably supply fluid from the supply line to the valve,

a current-to-pressure transducer coupled to the relay, the transducer operable to control the relay, and

a microprocessor coupled to the transducer, the microprocessor operable to control the transducer based on the signals from the flow meter;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the controller, the transceiver operable to;

wirelessly receive instructions regarding fluid regulation, and

wirelessly send messages comprising representations of the flow meter signals;

an electric power generator coupled to the supply line, the electric power generator comprising;

a pneumatic turbine operable to generate electric power for the controller and the wireless transceiver using fluid from the supply line, and

a pressure regulator coupled in parallel with turbine to the supply line, the pressure regulator supplying more fluid to the controller when the valve is stroking.