Pressure relief valve monitoring device
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element in sealing engagement with a nozzle for blocking flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, to a position sensor, and to a pressure sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. sensing the position of the closure element when the closure element moves relative to the nozzle and thus is no longer in sealing engagement with the nozzle and thus allows fluid to escape through the pressure relief valve;
b. generating a position signal representative of said position of the closure element;
c. recording said position signal as a function of time;
d. generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve;
e. recording said pressure signal as a function of time; and
f. correlating said recorded position signal with said recorded pressure signal to determine the quantity of fluid that has escaped through the pressure relief valve while the closure element has been out of sealing engagement with the nozzle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure relief valve monitoring device is provided. The monitoring device includes a sensor input module located proximate to a pressure relief valve, a microcontroller located within the sensor input module, and a real time clock/calendar also located within the sensor input module. The monitoring device also includes a number of sensors, including (1) a position sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve for measuring the position of the valve'"'"'s closure element relative to the inlet nozzle seat and for generating a lift signal representative of such position; (2) a pressure sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve for measuring the pressure of the pressure system and generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure; and (3) a leakage sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve and positioned in close proximity to the inlet nozzle seat and capable of detecting noise generated by leakage of fluid between the inlet nozzle seat and the closure element when the closure element is engaged with the inlet nozzle seat. The microcontroller is configured to receive and store signals from any or all of the three sensors and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from the real time clock/calendar to determine certain characteristics of valve performance. A method for monitoring the operation of the pressure relief valve is also provided.
79 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element in sealing engagement with a nozzle for blocking flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, to a position sensor, and to a pressure sensor, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. sensing the position of the closure element when the closure element moves relative to the nozzle and thus is no longer in sealing engagement with the nozzle and thus allows fluid to escape through the pressure relief valve;
b. generating a position signal representative of said position of the closure element;
c. recording said position signal as a function of time;
d. generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve;
e. recording said pressure signal as a function of time; and
f. correlating said recorded position signal with said recorded pressure signal to determine the quantity of fluid that has escaped through the pressure relief valve while the closure element has been out of sealing engagement with the nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
sensing the inlet pressure of the fluid.
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3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve further comprises the step of:
sensing the outlet pressure of the fluid.
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4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve further comprises the step of:
sensing the differential pressure of the fluid.
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5. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, comprising:
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a. a sensor input module including a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said sensor input module located proximate to the pressure relief valve;
b. a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve and that indicates the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle by generating a lift signal representative of such position;
c. said microcontroller configured to receive said lift signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar to determine the magnitude of movement of the closure element and the time of such movement; and
d. wherein said microcontroller compares the frequency of said movement with a predetermined limit to detect unstable operation. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, comprising:
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a. a sensor input module including a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said sensor input module located proximate to the pressure relief valve;
b. a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve and that indicates the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle by generating a lift signal representative of such position;
c. a pressure sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve that indicates pressure by generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure; and
d. said microcontroller configured to receive said lift signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar to determine the magnitude of movement of the closure element and the time of such movement, and to receive said pressure signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar and with the magnitude of said pressure signal and the time at which said pressure signal changed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block the flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, said sensor input module having a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. sensing the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle using a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;
b. generating a lift signal representative of said position;
c. communicating said lift signal to said sensor input module;
d. sensing pressure using a pressure sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;
e. generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure;
f. communicating said pressure signal to said sensor input module;
g. generating an indication of time using said real time clock/calendar;
h. determining the magnitude of movement of the closure element using said microcontroller and said lift signal;
i. determining the time of said movement of the closure element;
j. determining the magnitude of the pressure using said microcontroller and said pressure signal; and
k. correlating the receipt of said pressure signal with said indication of time and with the magnitude of said pressure signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.
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17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing pressure at the inlet using said pressure sensor.
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18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of:
calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.
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19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an outlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing pressure at the outlet using said pressure sensor.
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20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of:
calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.
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21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and an outlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing the difference in pressure between the inlet and the outlet.
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22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of:
calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.
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23. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block the flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, said sensor input module having a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. sensing the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle using a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;
b. generating a lift signal representative of said position;
c. communicating said lift signal to said sensor input module;
d. generating an indication of time using said real time clock/calendar;
e. determining the magnitude of movement of the closure element as a function of time by correlating the receipt of said lift signal with said indication of time using said microcontroller; and
f. comparing the frequency of said movement with a predetermined limit to detect unstable operation. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification