Fluid pressure measuring system for control valves

• US 5,728,942 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Industries Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Boger, Henry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMROZOWICZ, PAUL DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/563,982
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 73/756, 73/202, 73/203, 138/40, 138/44, 137/599
• US Class Current: 73/756
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/08 for decreasing pressure or noise level and having a throttling member separate from the closure member , e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/40 Details of construction of the flow constriction devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8733 Fluid pressure regulator in at least one branch

Abstract

A system for improving fluid pressure measurement in a control valve includes placing a flow conditioner adjacent to and upstream from averaging channels located at the inlet and outlet of the control valve, from which averaging channels the fluid is conducted to fluid pressure measuring devices.

Claims

1. A system for improving the fluid pressure measurement at both the inlet and the outlet of a control valve, said control valve being constructed and arranged to utilize said fluid pressure measurement to control flow through said control valve, said system for improving fluid pressure measurement at both the inlet and the outlet of a control valve comprising:

fluid flow conditioners constructed and arranged to fit within the inlet and the outlet of the control valve;

a substantially circular averaging channel located outboard from and downstream from said fluid flow conditioners;

said substantially circular averaging channels constructed and arranged to surround the inlet and the outlet of the control valve; and

conduits for conducting flowing fluid from said substantially circular averaging channels to a fluid pressure measurement device.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid flow conditioners include a plurality of substantially circular openings formed in a plate mounted axially within the control valve.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein said fluid flow to said substantially circular averaging channels is through a plurality of fluid flow paths positioned substantially radially to the flow of fluid through the control valve.

4. A system for measuring fluid pressure at both the inlet and the outlet of a control valve with a pressure measuring device, said control valve having an inlet mounting flange, an outlet mounting flange, and a valve body therebetween, said system comprising:

an inlet fluid flow conditioner positioned within the inlet mounting flange;

a substantially circular inlet averaging channel located outboard from and downstream from said fluid flow conditioner, said substantially circular inlet averaging channel having a diameter greater than the inlet of the control valve, but less than the outer diameter of the inlet mounting flange;

an outlet fluid flow conditioner positioned within the outlet mounting flange;

a substantially circular outlet averaging channel located substantially outboard from and downstream from said outlet fluid flow conditioner, said substantially circular outlet averaging channel having a diameter greater than the outlet of the control valve, but less than the outer diameter of the outlet mounting flange;

a passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular inlet averaging channel to the pressure measuring device; and

a passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular outlet averaging channel to the pressure measuring device.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular inlet averaging channel to the pressure measuring device passes through the valve body.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular outlet averaging channel to the pressure measuring device passes through the valve body.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein said substantially circular inlet averaging channel is fed by a plurality of substantially radial flow paths.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 wherein said substantially circular outlet averaging channel is fed by a plurality of substantially radial flow paths.

9. An adjustable flow control valve, said adjustable flow control valve being responsive to inlet and outlet pressures, said adjustable flow control valve comprising:

an inlet mounting;

an outlet mounting;

a valve body located between said inlet mounting and said outlet mounting;

an inlet fluid flow conditioner positioned within the inlet mounting;

a substantially circular inlet averaging channel located outboard from and downstream from said inlet fluid flow conditioner, said substantially circular inlet averaging channel surrounding the inlet mounting of the control valve;

an outlet fluid flow conditioner positioned within the inlet mounting;

a substantially circular outlet averaging channel located outboard from and downstream from said outlet fluid conditioner, said substantially circular outlet averaging channel surrounding the outlet mounting of the control valve;

a passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular inlet averaging channel; and

a passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular outlet averaging channel.

10. The control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular inlet averaging channel passes through the valve body.

11. The control valve as defined in claim 10 wherein said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular outlet averaging channel passes through the valve body.

12. The control valves defined in claim 11 wherein said substantially circular inlet averaging channel is fed by a plurality of substantially radial flow paths.

13. The control valve as defined in claim 12 wherein said substantially circular outlet averaging channel is fed by a plurality of substantially radial flow paths.

14. The control valve as defined in claim 13 further including a manifold block in fluid communication with said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular inlet averaging channel and said passage for conducting fluid from said substantially circular outlet averaging channel.

15. The control valve as defined in claim 14 further including a valve manifold in fluid communication with said manifold block, said valve manifold being in fluid communication with a differential pressure transmitter.