Intelligent pressure regulator
First Claim
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1. A pressure regulator for controlling the pressure of a process fluid comprising:
- a body defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet;
a throttling element moveable within the flow passage;
an actuator coupled to the throttling element for selectively moving the throttling element to control fluid flow through the flow passage;
a reference load coupled to the actuator to bias the throttling element in a predetermined reference position;
a feedback for applying the process fluid to the actuator to position the throttling element, wherein the actuator and the feedback are configured to position the throttling element so as to block fluid flow through the flow passage in response to a predetermined pressure of the process fluid upstream of the regulator; and
an electronic controller that applies a force to the actuator to further position the throttling element in response to a process variable.
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Abstract
An intelligent pressure regulator for maintaining a fluid in a process at a predetermined pressure includes an electronic controller which enhances regulator performance and provides self-diagnostics and communications capabilities. The electronic controller includes a pressure sensor which provides a signal indicating the pressure of the fluid being controlled, an adjusting pressure for adjusting the position of a throttling element; and a PID controller which receives the signal indicating the pressure of the fluid being controlled and applies the adjusting pressure to the actuator in response to the signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure regulator for controlling the pressure of a process fluid comprising:
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a body defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow passage between the inlet and the outlet;
a throttling element moveable within the flow passage;
an actuator coupled to the throttling element for selectively moving the throttling element to control fluid flow through the flow passage;
a reference load coupled to the actuator to bias the throttling element in a predetermined reference position;
a feedback for applying the process fluid to the actuator to position the throttling element, wherein the actuator and the feedback are configured to position the throttling element so as to block fluid flow through the flow passage in response to a predetermined pressure of the process fluid upstream of the regulator; and
an electronic controller that applies a force to the actuator to further position the throttling element in response to a process variable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
at least one sensor providing a signal representing the value of at least one process variable;
a processor receiving the process variable signal and outputting a signal representing an adjustment to the throttling element in response to the difference between the sensed value and a set point; and
an adjusting mechanism applying a force to the actuator in response to the signal output by the processor.
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19. The pressure regulator of claim 18, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises an air supply and a current to pressure converter that provides an output pneumatic pressure to the actuator.
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20. The pressure regulator of claim 18, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a motor.
Specification