Local emergency isolation valve controller with diagnostic testing and trouble indicator

• US 20090121868A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Flanders, Patrick S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8175 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

A local logic solver that operates with a local smart valve controller to control, test and monitor performance characteristics of a local field-mounted emergency isolation valve device, outputting a local indication of trouble on the device, which is mounted in the field away from the facility'"'"'s central control panel for the process. The local logic solver includes a recording function and memory for retrieval of detected faults that are time-stamped and recorded locally to generate documentation and to track the elapsed time, starting when the degraded state of the device was detected and first signaled as a problem; other performance data is also recorded. Accordingly, the operation of the overall system is simplified by eliminating the need for an external computer to diagnose any problems. A local control panel preferably includes pushbuttons and lights used during routine operations of the valve and a fault indicator light substantially adjacent to or in close proximity to the device being monitored to alert personnel of detected faults.

Claims

1. A system for field monitoring a hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically operated emergency isolation valve (EIV), the system comprising:

a local smart valve controller for controlling, testing, and monitoring the operation of the EIV;

a local logic solver substantially adjacent to the EIV operatively connected to the local smart valve controller to perform the testing and monitoring of the operational characteristics of the EIV, and to record and store valve performance data for retrieval; and

a local control panel including a trouble indicator light activated upon the automatic detection by the local logic solver of a fault of the EIV, the local smart valve controller, or an operatively associated actuator of the EIV, the local control panel being positioned substantially adjacent to the EIV and operably connected to the local logic solver for responding to the testing and monitoring of the EIV to control the activation of the trouble indicator light viewable by personnel in the vicinity of the local control panel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of a fault of the EIV, the local smart valve controller, or an operatively associated actuator of the EIV, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver comprises the date and time when the local logic solver detects the fault, and the date and time when the local logic solver detects the clearing of the fault.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of an EIV stroke test, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver comprises the date and time when the stroke test was initiated and whether the EIV passed or failed the test.

4. The system of claim 3, which includes standards for EIV acceptable performance characteristics upon which the pass/fail test determination is based.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of a demand signal for the EIV to move to the fail-safe position, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver includes the date and time of the receipt of the transmission of the demand signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of a demand signal for the EIV to move to the fail-safe position, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver comprises the valve travel percentage over time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of a nuisance trip of the EIV, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver comprises the date and time of the beginning of the nuisance trip.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein upon detection of a nuisance trip of the EIV, the valve performance data that is recorded by the local logic solver comprises the valve travel percentage over time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the local control panel provides a safety-related operational interface at a safe and convenient location.

10. A method for the field monitoring of a hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically operated emergency isolation valve (EIV) comprising the steps of:

managing operation of the EIV using a local smart valve controller;

positioning a local logic solver substantially adjacent to the EIV and operatively connected to the smart valve controller;

positioning a local control panel having local operator pushbuttons and indicators including a trouble indicator light substantially adjacent to the EIV and in the field of view of personnel in the vicinity of the local control panel;

operatively connecting the local control panel to the local logic solver;

controlling the activation of the trouble indicator light in response to testing and monitoring conditions of the EIV, comprising activating the trouble indication light upon automatic detection by the local logic solver of a fault in the performance of the EIV, the local smart valve controller, or an operatively associated actuator of the EIV;

operating the local logic solver to perform testing and monitoring of operational characteristics of the EIV and to record and store for retrieval data that relates or relating to valve performance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of recording valve performance data comprises the steps of:

recording the date and time when the local logic solver detects the fault; and

recording the date and time when the local logic solver detects the clearing of the fault.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein upon detection of a partial or full stroke test of the EIV, the step of recording valve performance data comprises the steps of:

recording the date and time when the partial stroke test was initiated; and

recording whether the EIV passed or failed the test.

13. The system of claim 12, which includes standards for EIV acceptable performance characteristics upon which the pass/fail test determination is based.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein upon detection of a demand signal for the EIV to move to the fail-safe position, the step of recording valve performance data comprises the step of recording the date and time of the transmission of the demand signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein upon detection of a demand signal for the EIV to move to the fail-safe position, the step of recording valve performance data comprises the step of recording the valve travel percentage over time.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein upon detection of a nuisance trip of the EIV, the step of recording valve performance data comprises the step of recording the date and time of the beginning of the nuisance trip.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein upon detection of a nuisance trip of the EIV, the step of recording valve performance data comprises the step of recording the valve travel percentage over time.