Valve and related methods for reducing fluid pressure and generating power
First Claim
1. A valve for reducing fluid pressure and generating power, the valve comprising:
- a housing;
a flow-control device mounted to the housing and operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a fluid pressure;
a turbine disposed within the housing and operable to receive the turbine inlet flow and rotate to generate power;
a valve outlet operable to discharge fluid having a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow; and
a flow-control circuit operable to sense the discharged flow from the valve outlet and in response regulate the flow of fluid that the valve outlet discharges.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve for reducing fluid pressure in a fluid distribution network uses the energy released from the fluid to generate power. The valve includes a housing, a turbine disposed within the housing, a fluid reservoir, and a flow control device operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a fluid pressure. The turbine receives the turbine inlet flow, which rotates the turbine to generate power. The fluid reservoir collects the flow of fluid discharged from the turbine and generates a valve discharge flow having a desired fluid pressure that is less than the fluid pressure of the inlet fluid. Thus, the energy from the inlet flow is used to generate power. Furthermore, the power generated by the turbine can be independent of the fluid pressure of the valve discharge flow. Consequently, the valve can provide a consistent reduction in fluid pressure and/or flow rate in a distribution network while the turbine generates power.
33 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A valve for reducing fluid pressure and generating power, the valve comprising:
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a housing;
a flow-control device mounted to the housing and operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a fluid pressure;
a turbine disposed within the housing and operable to receive the turbine inlet flow and rotate to generate power;
a valve outlet operable to discharge fluid having a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow; and
a flow-control circuit operable to sense the discharged flow from the valve outlet and in response regulate the flow of fluid that the valve outlet discharges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
the flow control device includes a nozzle operable to generate the turbine inlet flow; and
the turbine includes a disk having a circumference, a plurality of buckets located on the circumference operable to divert the turbine inlet flow, and a shaft coupled to the disk.
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6. The valve of claim 1 wherein:
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the flow control device includes a nozzle operable to generate the turbine inlet flow; and
the turbine includes a disk having a circumference, a plurality of vanes radially protruding from the circumference operable to divert the turbine inlet flow, and a shaft coupled to the disk.
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7. The valve of claim 1 wherein:
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the flow control device includes a nozzle operable to generate the turbine inlet flow; and
the turbine includes first and second disks spaced apart from each other and a plurality of vanes extending between the disks operable to divert the turbine inlet flow, and a shaft coupled to at least one of the disks.
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8. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a fluid reservoir operable to collect the turbine inlet flow after the flow is discharged from the turbine and operable to generate a valve discharge flow having a fluid pressure that is less than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow.
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9. The valve of claim 8 wherein the fluid reservoir is disposed in the housing.
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10. The valve of claim 8 wherein the fluid pressure of the valve discharge flow is generated by the weight of fluid contained in the fluid reservoir.
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11. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a deflector plate operable to regulate the rotational speed of the turbine.
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12. The valve of claim 11 wherein the deflector plate is pivotally attached to the housing and operable to divert the turbine inlet flow before the flow reaches the turbine.
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13. The valve of claim 1 wherein the flow-control circuit senses the fluid pressure of the fluid discharged from the valve, compares the sensed fluid pressure with a desired fluid pressure and directs the flow-control device to maintain the fluid pressure of the discharged fluid at a desired value.
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14. The valve of claim 13 wherein the flow-control circuit uses the inlet flow to direct the flow-control device to maintain the fluid pressure of the discharged fluid at the desired value.
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15. The valve of claim 13 wherein the flow-control circuit uses the inlet flow to direct the flow control device to modify the turbine inlet flow, and includes a housing and a diaphragm disposed in the housing that separates the housing into two chambers, wherein the inlet flow pressurizes each chamber and a portion of the inlet flow flows through the control circuit to reduce the pressure in one of the chambers to open the flow-control device.
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16. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a pressure control circuit operable to increase and decrease gas pressure in the housing.
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17. The valve of claim 1 further comprising a generator coupled to the turbine and operable to generate power.
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18. A fluid distribution network comprising:
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a first conduit operable to distribute fluid having a first pressure;
a second conduit operable to distribute fluid having a second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
a valve that is operable to reduce fluid pressure and generate power, and that includes;
a housing;
a flow-control device mounted to the housing and operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from fluid in the first conduit;
a turbine disposed within the housing and operable to receive the turbine inlet flow and rotate to generate power;
a valve outlet operable to discharge fluid having a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow; and
a flow-control circuit operable to sense the discharged flow from the valve outlet and in response regulate the flow of fluid that the valve outlet discharges. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of reducing pressure in a flow of fluid and generating power, the method comprising:
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generating, with a flow control device, a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a first pressure;
projecting the turbine inlet flow toward a turbine disposed in a housing;
diverting the turbine inlet flow with the turbine to rotate the turbine;
generating a valve discharge flow having a desired second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
sensing the valve discharge flow generated and in response regulating the valve discharge flow being generated. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
sensing the valve discharge flow includes sensing the pressure in the valve discharge flow; and
regulating the valve discharge flow includes directing the flow-control device to maintain the fluid pressure of the discharged fluid at a desired value.
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30. The method of claim 22 further comprising injecting gas into the housing to increase the second pressure.
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31. The method of claim 22 further comprising removing gas from the housing to decrease the second pressure.
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32. A method, comprising:
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converting energy from an input fluid flow having a first pressure into mechanical work;
generating an output fluid flow having a second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
maintaining the second pressure at a desired level by adjusting the input fluid flow in response to the output fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A valve for reducing fluid pressure and generating power, the valve comprising:
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a housing;
a flow-control device mounted to the housing and operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a fluid pressure;
a turbine disposed within the housing and operable to receive the turbine inlet flow and rotate to generate power;
a valve outlet operable to discharge fluid having a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow; and
a pressure control circuit operable to increase and decrease gas pressure in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A fluid distribution network comprising:
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a first conduit operable to distribute fluid having a first pressure;
a second conduit operable to distribute fluid having a second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
a valve that is operable to reduce fluid pressure and generate power, and that includes;
a housing;
a flow-control device mounted to the housing and operable to generate a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from fluid in the first conduit;
a turbine disposed within the housing and operable to receive the turbine inlet flow and rotate to generate power;
a valve outlet operable to discharge fluid having a fluid pressure lower than the fluid pressure of the inlet flow; and
a pressure control circuit operable to increase and decrease gas pressure in the housing.
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44. A method of reducing pressure in a flow of fluid and generating power, the method comprising:
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generating, with a flow control device, a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a first pressure;
projecting the turbine inlet flow toward a turbine disposed in a housing;
diverting the turbine inlet flow with the turbine to rotate the turbine;
generating a valve discharge flow having a desired second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
injecting gas into the housing to increase the second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
sensing the level of fluid in the reservoir; and
injecting gas into the housing to increase the second pressure when the level of fluid is less than a desired level.
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47. A method of reducing pressure in a flow of fluid and generating power, the method comprising:
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generating, with a flow control device, a turbine inlet flow having a flow velocity from an inlet flow having a first pressure;
projecting the turbine inlet flow toward a turbine disposed in a housing;
diverting the turbine inlet flow with the turbine to rotate the turbine;
generating a valve discharge flow having a desired second pressure that is less than the first pressure; and
removing gas from the housing to decrease the second pressure. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
sensing the level of fluid in the reservoir; and
removing gas from the housing to decrease the second pressure when the level of fluid is greater than a desired level.
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Specification