Advanced Valve Actuator With True Flow Feedback
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve and actuator assembly comprising:
- a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger; and
a valve actuator configured to calculate the fluid volume flowing through the valve and control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member, and further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate for freeze protection of the liquid through the valve, the valve actuator having a valve closure member position sensor used to calculate the flow rate of the liquid through the valve.
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Abstract
A valve and actuator assembly that includes a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger. The valve and actuator assembly further includes a valve actuator configured to control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member. The valve actuator is further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate of the liquid through the valve. In an embodiment, the valve actuator includes a valve closure member position sensor configured to determine the position of the valve closure member based on a flow rate of the liquid through the valve.
55 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A valve and actuator assembly comprising:
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a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger; and a valve actuator configured to calculate the fluid volume flowing through the valve and control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member, and further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate for freeze protection of the liquid through the valve, the valve actuator having a valve closure member position sensor used to calculate the flow rate of the liquid through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of calculating a fluid flow rate through a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a static force or torque value for a valve closure member in a memory of a valve actuator; using the stored static force or torque value to calculate a value for dynamic force or torque on the valve closure member; determining a closure member geometry factor and storing the geometry closure member factor in the memory of the valve actuator; determining the valve closure member position via a valve closure member position sensor; calculating the fluid flow rate using the dynamic force or torque value, the closure member geometry factor, and the valve closure member position; comparing the fluid flow rate to a calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection; and adjusting valve operation when the fluid flow rate is below the calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of calculating a fluid flow rate through a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a pressure differential between an inlet of a valve and an outlet of the valve; calculating a flow coefficient factor based on a position of the valve closure member; calculating the fluid flow rate using the low coefficient factor, and the pressure differential; comparing the fluid flow rate to a calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection; and adjusting valve operation when the fluid flow rate is below the calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification