INTELLIGENT VALVE NETWORK

• US 20140130878A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Luis Marinez
• Original Assignee: Luis Marinez
• Inventors: Marinez, Luis
• Application Number:
  US14/052,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20140130878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/2
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/005 for measuring fluid parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/20 Arrangements or systems of devices for influencing or altering dynamic characteristics of the systems, e.g. for damping pulsations caused by opening or closing of valves fluid dynamics F15D; damping pulsations in fluids in pipes in general F16L55/04
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve

Abstract

The present invention includes a valve for connecting to a valve network comprising: at least one valve assemble, having at least one valve to control a fluid or gas flow through an opening in the valve assembly; at least one pressure sensor; viscosity sensor; flow rate detector; and temperature sensor; at least one processor connected to each of the valve and sensors, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the position of the valve based on the information obtained from the sensors; at least one communications module connected to the processor capable of transmitting to and receiving information from the valve network and capable of sending information obtained from the valve assembly to the valve network of the status of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly; and at least one power source that provides power to the valve assembly.

Claims

1. A valve for connecting to a valve network comprising:

at least one valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising;

at least one valve to control a fluid or gas flow through an opening in the valve assembly;

at least one pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one viscosity sensor to detect the viscosity of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one flow rate detector to detect at least one of the flow or the volume of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly;

at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least electrical power generator that generates electrical power from fluid flowing through the valve;

at least one processor connected the valve, the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the position of the valve based on the information obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor;

at least one communications module connected to the processor capable of transmitting to and receiving information from at least one of other valves in the valve network or a control unit;

at least one security module mounted on the valve and connected to the communications module and the processor, wherein the security module is capable of sending information obtained from the valve assembly to the valve network of the status of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly; and

at least one power source that provides power to the valve assembly, processor and communication module, and the security module and is charged and/or recharged by the electrical power generator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication modules use at least one of cellular network, satellite network, UMTS network, 2G network, 3G network, GSM network, CDMA network, WCDMA network, GPRS network, iBurst network, WiBro network, WiMAX network, UMTS-TDD network, HSPA network, EVDO network, LTE network, personal area network (PAN), Bluetooth network, ZigBee network, Wireless USB network, or Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network to communicate within the valve network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is selected from at least one of a battery, a fuel cell, a power generator, a nuclear power cell, a solar panel, and an electrically connected line across the valve network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a secondary communication system is connected to the valve is selected from communication line, a fiber optic line, an intranet, a satellite, a telephone system, and an intranet and has a separate, redundant power supply.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communications module of the valve network is capable of communication with at least one of a remote land-based location or an offshore surface location.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that comprises a secure satellite communications module, a valve control processor, a processor with preconfigured parameters for operating the valve if communications are lost with the valve and one or more webservers that can control additional valves of the valve network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve is actuated magnetically, electromagnetically, mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the security modules comprises one or more cameras, motion sensors, or IR sensors, that send information about the physical status of the valve to the valve network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power generator is selected from a solar power cell, an electrical generator, a dynamo, a nuclear power cell, or an alternator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power generator is selected from an electrical generator, a dynamo, or an alternator that transforms kinetic energy into electricity wherein the generator, dynamo or alternator is driven by an impeller, propeller, screw-drive, paddle, or turbine positioned parallel to a fluid flow axis of the valve.

11. A method for use in a pipeline, comprising:

providing two or more valves in a valve network, each valve of the valve network comprising;

at least one valve to control a fluid or gas flow through an opening in the valve assembly, the valve having an open, a partially open and a closed position;

at least one pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one viscosity sensor to detect the viscosity of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one flow rate detector to detect at least one of the flow or the volume of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly;

at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least electrical power generator that generates electrical power from fluid flowing through the valve;

at least one processor connected to each of the valves, the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the position of the valve based on the information obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor;

at least one communications module connected to the processor capable of transmitting to and receiving information from at least one of other valves in the valve network or a control unit;

at least one security module mounted on the valve and connected to the communications module and the processor, wherein the security module is capable of sending information obtained from the valve assembly to the valve network of the status of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly; and

at least one power source that provides power to the valve assembly, processor and communication module, and the security module and is charged and/or recharged by the electrical power generator; and

electronically interconnecting the two or more valves into the valve network in which each of the valves operates, wherein each valve communicates operational data obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, and the position of the valve to the valve network via the communications module;

wherein the valve assemblies synchronize opening, partially opening and closing of each valves depending on one or more parameters that relate to a fluid flow through each of the valves in the valve network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of sharing data across valves or across valves of a pipeline using a wireless network device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing information in a memory module connected to the processor and transferring the stored information via the valve network.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of determining if a security breach has occurred along the pipeline by comparing one or more data points obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, and the position of the valve.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the valve is open and closed using the wireless network device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications module operates over a wireless network.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication modules use at least one of GPRS, GSM, RF, WiFi, Ethernet, Zig Bee, or Bluetooth, to communicate within the valve network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the power source is selected from at least one of a battery, a fuel cell, a power generator, a nuclear power cell, a solar panel, and an electrically connected line across the valve network.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a secondary communication system is connected to the valve is selected from communication line, a fiber optic line, an intranet, a satellite, a telephone system, and an intranet.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the communications module of the valve network is capable of communication with a remote land-based location and an offshore surface location.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising a control unit that comprises a secure satellite communications module, a valve control processor, a processor with preconfigured parameters for operating the valve if communications are lost with the valve and one or more webservers that can control additional valves of the valve network.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein the valve is actuated magnetically, electromagnetically, mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the security modules comprises one or more cameras, motion sensors, or IR sensors, that send information about the physical status of the valve to the valve network.

24. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical power generator is selected from a solar power cell, an electrical generator, a dynamo, a nuclear power cell, or an alternator.

25. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical power generator is selected from an electrical generator, a dynamo, or an alternator that transforms kinetic energy into electricity wherein the generator, dynamo or alternator is driven by an impeller, propeller, screw-drive, paddle, or turbine positioned parallel to a fluid flow axis of the valve.

26. A system for interconnecting a valve network on a pipeline, comprising:

a first valve assembly positioned at a first position of the pipeline;

a second valve assembly positioned at a second position of the pipeline;

a central control unit in communication with the first and second valve assemblies, wherein first and second valve assemblies transfer data between the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly using short-range wireless communication operating without the need for a central network.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first and second valve assemblies comprise:

two or more valve assemblies, the valve assembly comprising;

at least one valve sensor to control a fluid or gas flow through an opening in the valve assembly;

at least one pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one viscosity sensor to detect the viscosity of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one flow rate detector to detect at least one of the flow or the volume of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly;

at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least electrical power generator that generates electrical power from fluid flowing through the valve;

at least one processor connected to each of the electromagnetic valve, the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the position of the valve based on the information obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor;

at least one communications module connected to the processor capable of transmitting to and receiving information from at least one of other valves in the valve network or a control unit;

at least one security module mounted on the valve and connected to the communications module and the processor, wherein the security module is capable of sending information obtained from the valve assembly to the valve network of the status of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly; and

at least one power source that provides power to the valve assembly, processor and communication module, and the security module and is charged and/or recharged by the electrical power generator.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the communication modules use at least one of GPRS, GSM, RF, WiFi, Ethernet, Zig Bee, or Bluetooth, to communicate within the valve network.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the power source is selected from at least one of a battery, a fuel cell, a power generator, a solar panel, and an electrically connected line across the valve network.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein a secondary communication system is connected to the valve is selected from communication line, a fiber optic line, an Internet, a satellite, a telephone system, and an intranet.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the communications module of the valve network is capable of communication with a remote land-based location and an offshore surface location.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising a control unit that comprises a secure satellite communications module, a valve control processor, a processor with preconfigured parameters for operating the valve if communications are lost with the valve and one or more webservers that can control additional valves of the valve network.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the valve is actuated magnetically, electromagnetically, mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the security modules comprises one or more cameras, motion sensors, or IR sensors that send information about the physical status of the valve to the valve network.

35. A valve controller for a valve network comprising:

one or more valve control processors that receives input from one or more valve sensors in a valve, wherein the processor comprises one or more preconfigured parameters and adaptive intelligence instructions for operating a valve if communications are lost between the valve and the operator that allows the controller and the valve to act independent of immediate, direct user input,

one or more webservers that can control additional valves of the valve network; and

one or more secure satellite communications modules under the control of the processor capable of communicating with the valves in the valve network and one or more user control centers; and

one or more power sources that provides power to the processor, the webservers and the satellite communications module.

36. A valve for connecting to a valve network comprising:

at least one valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising;

at least one valve to control a fluid or gas flow through an opening in the valve assembly;

at least one pressure sensor to detect the pressure of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one viscosity sensor to detect the viscosity of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least one flow rate detector to detect at least one of the flow or the volume of the fluid or gas flowing through the valve assembly;

at least one temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the fluid or gas in the valve assembly;

at least electrical power generator that generates electrical power from fluid flowing through the valve;

at least one processor connected to each of the electromagnetic valve, the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor, wherein the processor is capable of controlling the position of the valve based on the information obtained from the pressure sensor, the flow rate detector, the viscosity sensor and the temperature sensor;

at least one communications module connected to the processor capable of transmitting to and receiving information from at least one of other valves in the valve network or a control unit, wherein the secure communications module is capable of sending information obtained from the valve assembly to the valve network about the status of the fluid flowing through the valve assembly; and

at least electrical power generator driven by an impeller, propeller, screw-drive, paddle, or turbine positioned parallel to a fluid flow axis of the valve that provides power to the valve assembly, processor and communication module.