System and method for monitoring and controlling pressure relief valve performance
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring operation of one or more pressure relief valves, each relief valve containing an internal flow passage with a valve seat and valve plug disposed therein, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of a fluid in the internal flow passage downstream of the valve seat;
generating a valve temperature signal representative of the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat;
monitoring the valve temperature signal to detect a rate of change in the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat;
sensing, by a pressure sensor, an internal pressure of an inlet pressure line connected to the internal flow passage upstream of the valve seat;
generating, by the pressure sensor, a line pressure signal representative of the internal pressure of the inlet pressure line;
comparing, by a computing device, the line pressure signal against at least one expected line pressure value to determine a line pressure status; and
determining, by the computing device, operational status of the pressure relief valve based on the comparison of the detected rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat and an expected rate of change in temperature for a predetermined pressure relief valve, and based on the line pressure status.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for monitoring operation of a relief valve containing an internal flow passage with a valve seat and valve plug disposed therein. The temperature of a fluid is sensed in the internal flow passage downstream of the seat. A valve temperature signal is generated representative of the temperature. The valve temperature signal is monitored to detect a rate of change in the temperature. The internal pressure of an inlet pressure line is sensed, connected to the internal flow passage upstream of the valve seat. A line pressure signal is generated representative of the internal pressure. The line pressure signal is compared against at least one expected line pressure value to determine a line pressure status. Operational status of the pressure relief valve is determined based at least in part on the detected rate of change of the fluid temperature and at least in part on the determined line pressure status.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring operation of one or more pressure relief valves, each relief valve containing an internal flow passage with a valve seat and valve plug disposed therein, the method comprising:
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sensing a temperature of a fluid in the internal flow passage downstream of the valve seat; generating a valve temperature signal representative of the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat; monitoring the valve temperature signal to detect a rate of change in the temperature of the fluid downstream of the valve seat; sensing, by a pressure sensor, an internal pressure of an inlet pressure line connected to the internal flow passage upstream of the valve seat; generating, by the pressure sensor, a line pressure signal representative of the internal pressure of the inlet pressure line; comparing, by a computing device, the line pressure signal against at least one expected line pressure value to determine a line pressure status; and determining, by the computing device, operational status of the pressure relief valve based on the comparison of the detected rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat and an expected rate of change in temperature for a predetermined pressure relief valve, and based on the line pressure status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for determining operational status of pressure relief valves, said system comprising:
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a pressurized inlet line connected to an upstream end of an internal flow passage of a pressure relief valve, the pressurized inlet line comprising; a pressure sensor adapted to measure an internal pressure of a fluid in the pressurized inlet line and convert the measured pressure into an inlet line pressure signal; a temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature of a fluid in the internal flow passage downstream of a valve seat of a valve plug disposed in the internal passage and convert the measured temperature of the fluid into a downstream fluid temperature signal; and a computing device coupled with the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, the computing device adapted to determine; line pressure status based on a comparison of the inlet line pressure signal and at least one expected pressure value; a rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat based at least on the downstream fluid temperature signal; and an operational status of the at least one pressure relief valve based at least on the line pressure status and a rate of change in downstream fluid temperature, wherein said computing device is further adapted to; compare the determined rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat with an expected rate of change in temperature associated with a predetermined pressure relief valve status; and determine operational status of the pressure relief valve based on the comparison of the determined rate of change in the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat and the expected rate of change in temperature associated with the predetermined pressure relief valve status. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for determining operational status of pressure relief valves, said system comprising:
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a pressurized inlet line connected to an upstream end of an internal flow passage of the pressure relief valve, the pressurized inlet line comprising; a pressure sensor adapted to measure an internal pressure of a fluid in the pressurized line and convert the measured pressure into an inlet line pressure signal; a temperature sensor adapted to measure a temperature of a portion of the internal flow passage downstream of a valve seat of a valve plug disposed in the internal passage and convert the measured temperature of the portion of the internal flow passage into a valve temperature signal; and a computing device adapted to determine; a line pressure status based on a comparison of the line pressure signal and at least one expected pressure value; a rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat based at least on the valve temperature signal; and an operational status of the at least one pressure relief valve based at least on the line pressure status and rate of change in temperature of the portion of the internal flow passage; wherein the computing device is further adapted to; compare the determined rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat with an expected rate of change in temperature associated with a predetermined pressure relief valve status; and determine operational status of the pressure relief valve based on the comparison of the determined rate of change of the fluid temperature downstream of the valve seat and the expected rate of change in temperature associated with the predetermined pressure relief valve status. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification