Power Detection System For Valve Actuators

• US 20160238668A1
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tri Arc Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Tri Arc Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Van Schoiack, Mike, Cordray, Richard Lynn, Gilbert, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 9,739,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity

Abstract

A system and method to detect the loss or disruption of one or more phases of a three phase alternating current (AC) power source used in the operation of a valve actuator. The loss of one or more phases of a three phase AC power source may cause a peak in AC power output. While a peak in AC power output may not affect an operation of electronic circuitry, all three phases are often required to safely operate other hardware components, such as an AC motor that is associated with the valve actuator. Therefore, in response to detecting the loss or disruption of at least one phase of a three phase AC power source, this disclosure presents a system and method to inhibit damaging operations such as operating an AC motor associated with a valve actuator, and continuing to operate communications and diagnostic circuitry to report the condition.

Claims

1. A method for implementation by a valve actuator, the method comprising:

energizing an actuator motor of the valve actuator using an alternating current (AC) power supply, the AC power supply;

actuating a valve using the actuator motor;

detecting, by a microcontroller, during an idle or operational phase of the valve actuator, a loss of one or more phases of the three phase AC power supply; and

in response to the detecting the loss of one or more phases, determining, by an AC motor controller, a modified operation for the valve actuator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified operation of the valve actuator comprises at least one of stopping operation of the actuator motor, continuing operation of the actuator motor for a predetermined time interval, or reporting the loss of the voltage signal to a predetermined device associated with the valve actuator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified operation of the valve actuator further comprises issuing an alarm in response to detecting the loss of the phase of the three phase AC power supply.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a mean voltage associated with remaining phases of the AC power supply, in response to the detecting a loss or disruption of the one or more phases of the three phase AC power supply;

determining that the mean voltage is less than a predetermined voltage threshold; and

continuing, by the AC motor controller, operation of the actuator motor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a mean voltage associated with the three phase AC power supply;

determining that the mean voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage threshold; and

stopping, by the AC motor controller, operation of the actuator motor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator motor is a variable speed actuator motor, the method further comprising, in response to the detecting the loss of the voltage signal from the one or more phases of the three phase AC power supply, operating the actuator motor at a constant predetermined speed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via a user interface that is associated with the valve actuator, a selection of one or more users to receive a report associated with the loss or disruption of the one or more phases of the three phase AC power supply; and

in response to the receiving, configuring a reporting module to associate the one or more experts with the report.

8. A valve actuator for actuating a valve, the valve actuator comprising:

an actuator motor;

an alternating current (AC) power supply having three phases electrically coupled to the actuator motor;

a direct current (DC) power supply that is rectified and filtered from the alternating current (AC) power supply;

a plurality of voltage sensors, each voltage sensor electrically coupled to a different phase of the three phases of the AC power supply, the plurality of voltage sensors configured to detect a loss of a voltage signal from each phase of the AC power supply;

a microcontroller that interfaces with the DC power supply and the plurality of voltage sensors, the microcontroller configured to measure and report, during an idle or operational phase of the valve actuator, a phase loss signal from at least one voltage sensor of the plurality of voltage sensors; and

an AC motor controller that interfaces with the microcontroller and the actuator motor, the AC motor controller configured to control operations of the actuator motor.

9. The valve actuator of claim 8, wherein the AC motor controller is configured to stop operation of the actuator motor in response to receiving an indication from the microcontroller that a phase loss or disruption of the AC power supply has occurred.

10. The valve actuator of claim 8, wherein the actuator motor is a variable speed actuator motor and the AC motor controller is further configured to continue operation of the actuator motor at a predetermined speed, in response to the microcontroller reporting a phase loss signal from at least one voltage sensor of the plurality of voltage sensors.

11. The valve actuator of claim 10, wherein the predetermined speed is associated with an amount of torque produced by the actuator motor during the operation of the valve actuator.

12. The valve actuator of claim 8, further comprising an alarm and reporting module to issue an alarm in response to the microcontroller reporting the phase loss signal from the at least one voltage sensor of the plurality of voltage sensors.

13. The valve actuator of claim 12, wherein the alarm further comprises at least one of transmitting a notification to a computing device associated with an operator associated with the valve actuator, causing a transmission of an audible alarm, or causing a transmission of a light to notify an operator associated with the valve actuator.

14. The valve actuator of claim 8, further comprising a voltage measurement module to measure a mean output voltage of the AC power supply;

and wherein the AC motor controller is to cease operation of the actuator motor based at least in part on the mean output voltage exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold.

15. The valve actuator of claim 8, wherein the AC motor controller is further configured to continue operation of the actuator motor for a predetermined time interval in response to the microcontroller reporting a phase loss signal from at least one voltage sensor of the three voltage sensors.

16. A system comprising a valve and a valve actuator, the valve actuator comprising:

an alternating current (AC) actuator motor to operate the valve;

an AC power supply electrically coupled to the AC actuator motor;

a plurality of voltage sensors, each voltage sensor electrically coupled with a different phase of the AC power supply, the plurality of voltage sensors configured to detect a loss of a voltage signal from one phase of the AC power supply; and

a microcontroller that interfaces with the plurality of voltage sensors and a DC power supply;

one or more processors;

memory; and

an alarm and reporting module maintained in the memory and executed on the one or more processors to measure and report, during an idle or operational phase of the valve actuator, a phase loss signal for at least one voltage sensor of the plurality of voltage sensors.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an AC motor controller, the AC motor controller configured to modify the operation of the valve actuator in response to the microcontroller measuring and reporting the phase loss signal, wherein modified operations include at least one of stopping operation of the AC actuator motor, continuing operation of the valve actuator for a predetermined time interval, or continuing operation of the AC actuator motor at a predetermined speed.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a user interface maintained in the memory and executed on the one or more processors to prompt an operator of the valve actuator to:

select one or more operators to receive the report of the phase loss signal; and

select a modified operation of the valve actuator in response to the microcontroller receiving the phase loss signal.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the alarm and reporting module is further configured to transmit the report of the phase loss signal to one or more operators associated with the valve actuator in response to the microcontroller measuring and reporting the phase loss signal.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the alarm and reporting module is further configured to issue an alarm in response to the microcontroller receiving the phase loss signal.