System and method for flow monitoring and control
First Claim
1. A computer program product for regulating flow through a flow control device based on measurements from a single pressure sensor in a housing of the flow control device, the computer program product comprising a set of computer instructions stored on at least one computer readable medium executable by at least one processor to:
- receive a pressure measurement, wherein the pressure is measured at the single pressure sensor in the housing and the single pressure sensor is the only sensor in the flow control device, wherein the flow control device further comprises a single flow path including;
an inlet for receiving a flow into the flow control device;
an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet for directing the flow out of the flow control device to components of a flow system; and
a valve located in the housing and between the inlet and the outlet and responsive to valve control signals for regulating the flow through the flow control device;
calculate a flow rate based on a flow rate corresponding only to the pressure measurement from the single pressure sensor in the housing;
compare the flow rate to a set point; and
generate a valve control signal based on the difference between the calculated flow rate and set point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention can include a flow control device a flow control device that comprises an inlet, an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet, a pressure sensor, which may or may not be the only pressure sensor of the fluid control device, and a controller coupled to the pressure sensor. The controller can be configured to generate a valve control signal based on a measured pressure at a single pressure sensor.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computer program product for regulating flow through a flow control device based on measurements from a single pressure sensor in a housing of the flow control device, the computer program product comprising a set of computer instructions stored on at least one computer readable medium executable by at least one processor to:
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receive a pressure measurement, wherein the pressure is measured at the single pressure sensor in the housing and the single pressure sensor is the only sensor in the flow control device, wherein the flow control device further comprises a single flow path including; an inlet for receiving a flow into the flow control device; an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet for directing the flow out of the flow control device to components of a flow system; and a valve located in the housing and between the inlet and the outlet and responsive to valve control signals for regulating the flow through the flow control device; calculate a flow rate based on a flow rate corresponding only to the pressure measurement from the single pressure sensor in the housing; compare the flow rate to a set point; and generate a valve control signal based on the difference between the calculated flow rate and set point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for regulating flow through a flow control device based on measurements from a single pressure sensor in a housing of the flow control device and on a single flow path of the flow control device, the method comprising:
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measuring pressure at the single pressure sensor in the housing, wherein the single pressure sensor is located in the housing of the flow control device and between an inlet and an outlet of the single flow path of the flow control device and wherein the single pressure sensor is the only sensor in the housing; calculating a flow rate based on a flow rate corresponding only to the pressure measured at the single pressure sensor in the housing; comparing the flow rate to a desired flow rate; and generating a valve control signal based on the difference between the calculated flow rate and desired flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A flow control device comprising:
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a housing; an inlet for receiving a flow into the flow control device; an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet for directing the flow out of the flow control device to components of a flow system; a pressure loss element between the inlet and the outlet; a valve located in the housing and between the inlet and the outlet of the flow control device and responsive to valve control signals for regulating the flow through the flow control device; a first pressure sensor in the housing to measure a first pressure of a fluid entering the flow control device at the inlet, passing the valve, and exiting the flow control device at the outlet; a second pressure sensor in the housing to measure a second pressure of a fluid entering the flow control device at the inlet, passing the valve, and exiting the flow control device at the outlet wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are the only sensors in the housing; a single flow path including the inlet, the pressure loss element, the valve, and the outlet; and a controller coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, the controller configured to generate the valve control signal based on a flow rate determined based upon pressure measured at either only the first pressure sensor or only the second pressure sensor in a first mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A flow control device comprising:
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a housing; an inlet for receiving a flow into the flow control device; an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet for directing the flow out of the flow control device to components of a flow system; a pressure loss element between the inlet and the outlet; a valve located in the housing and between the inlet and the outlet of the flow control device and responsive to valve control signals for regulating the flow through the flow control device; a single flow path including the inlet, the pressure loss element, the valve, and the outlet; a single pressure sensor in the housing of the flow control device to measure a pressure of a fluid entering the flow control device at the inlet, passing the valve, and exiting the flow control device at the outlet between the inlet and the outlet of the single flow path of the flow control device and wherein the single pressure sensor is the only sensor in the housing; and a controller coupled to the first pressure sensor, the controller configured to; calculate a flow rate based on a flow rate corresponding only to the pressure measured at the single pressure sensor in the housing; compare the flow rate to a desired flow rate; and generate a valve control signal based on the difference between the calculated flow rate and desired flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification