Integrity monitoring of 4-way diverter valve
First Claim
1. A method for determining the seal integrity of a four way valve, the four way valve having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, a first circulation port, and a second circulation port, the four way valve further having a valve plug located within the valve body with valve body seals fluidly sealing between the valve body and the valve plug, the valve plug being rotatable between a forward seated position to direct a fluid from the inlet to the first circulation port, and a reverse seated position to direct the fluid from the inlet to the second circulation port, the method comprising:
- tracking a fluid line pressure in a fluid line that is in fluid communication with the inlet, with a line pressure transmitter;
tracking a body cavity pressure in a body cavity of the four way valve, with a body cavity pressure transmitter, the body cavity being a space within the valve body outside of the valve plug;
insulating the four way valve with a thermal insulation that reduces the effect of an ambient temperature on the body cavity pressure; and
tracking a valve body temperature with a valve body temperature transmitter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the seal integrity of a four way valve includes tracking a fluid line pressure in a fluid line that is in fluid communication with the inlet of the four way valve, with a line pressure transmitter. A body cavity pressure in a body cavity of the four way valve can be tracked with a body cavity pressure transmitter. The body cavity is a space within the valve body outside of the valve plug. The four way valve can be insulated with a thermal insulation that reduces the effect of an ambient temperature on the body cavity pressure. A valve body temperature can be monitored with a valve body temperature transmitter.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for determining the seal integrity of a four way valve, the four way valve having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, a first circulation port, and a second circulation port, the four way valve further having a valve plug located within the valve body with valve body seals fluidly sealing between the valve body and the valve plug, the valve plug being rotatable between a forward seated position to direct a fluid from the inlet to the first circulation port, and a reverse seated position to direct the fluid from the inlet to the second circulation port, the method comprising:
-
tracking a fluid line pressure in a fluid line that is in fluid communication with the inlet, with a line pressure transmitter; tracking a body cavity pressure in a body cavity of the four way valve, with a body cavity pressure transmitter, the body cavity being a space within the valve body outside of the valve plug; insulating the four way valve with a thermal insulation that reduces the effect of an ambient temperature on the body cavity pressure; and tracking a valve body temperature with a valve body temperature transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
-
-
8. A method for determining the seal integrity of a four way valve, the four way valve having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, a first circulation port, and a second circulation port, the four way valve further having a valve plug located within the valve body with valve body seals fluidly sealing between the valve body and the valve plug, the valve plug being rotatable between a forward seated position to direct a fluid from the inlet to the first circulation port, and a reverse seated position to direct the fluid from the inlet to the second circulation port, the method comprising:
-
continuously monitoring a fluid line pressure in a fluid line that is in fluid communication with the inlet, with a line pressure transmitter that transmits the fluid line pressure to a data acquisition and monitoring system; continuously monitoring a body cavity pressure in a body cavity of the four way valve over time, with a body cavity pressure transmitter that transmits the body cavity pressure to the data acquisition and monitoring system, the body cavity being a space within the valve body outside of the valve plug; insulating the four way valve with a thermal insulation that reduces the effect of an ambient temperature on the body cavity pressure; and continuously monitoring a valve body temperature over time with a valve body temperature transmitter that transmits the valve body temperature to a data acquisition and monitoring system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 17)
-
-
13. A system for determining the seal integrity of a four way valve, the four way valve having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, a first circulation port, and a second circulation port, the four way valve further having a valve plug located within the valve body with valve body seals fluidly sealing between the valve body and the valve plug, the valve plug being rotatable between a forward seated position to direct a fluid from the inlet to the first circulation port, and a reverse seated position to direct the fluid from the inlet to the second circulation port, the system comprising:
-
a line pressure transmitter associated with a fluid line that is in fluid communication with the inlet, the line pressure transmitter tracking a fluid line pressure; a body cavity pressure transmitter associated with a body cavity of the four way valve tracking a body cavity pressure, the body cavity being a space within the valve body outside of the valve plug; thermal insulation insulating the four way valve and reducing the effect of an ambient temperature on the body cavity pressure; and a valve body temperature transmitter associated with the valve body and tracking a valve body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
Specification