Temperature-controlled pressure regulators

• US 9,535,427 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tescom Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Tescom Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Patterson, Daryll Duane, Burgett, Eric Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): McManmon, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US12/357,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 137/340, 137/505.42, 137334-341, 165/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0655 using one spring-loaded membrane
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0663 using a spring-loaded membrane with a spring-loaded slideable obturator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6579 Circulating fluid in heat exchange relationship

Abstract

Temperature-controlled pressure regulators are described. An example temperature-controlled pressure regulator described herein includes a regulator body having a process fluid inlet fluidly coupled to a process fluid outlet via a first passageway and a heat transfer medium inlet to be fluidly coupled to a heat transfer medium outlet via a second passageway, where the heat transfer medium inlet is integrally formed with the regulator body. A heat chamber body is removably coupled to the regulator body to form a chamber between the heat transfer medium inlet and the heat transfer medium outlet. At least a portion of the first passageway is disposed within the chamber, and the chamber is to receive a heat transfer medium via the heat transfer medium inlet to provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the chamber via the first passageway, which separates the process fluid from the heat transfer medium.

Claims

1. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator, comprising:

a regulator body having a process fluid inlet fluidly coupled to a process fluid outlet via a first passageway and a heat transfer medium inlet to be fluidly coupled to a heat transfer medium outlet via a second passageway, the heat transfer medium inlet being integrally formed with the regulator body; and

a heat chamber body removably coupled to the regulator body to form a chamber between the heat transfer medium inlet and the heat transfer medium outlet, at least a portion of the first passageway disposed within the chamber, the chamber to receive a heat transfer medium via the heat transfer medium inlet to provide heat to the process fluid as the process fluid flows through the chamber via the first passageway, the first passageway to separate the process fluid from the heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium outlet being integrally formed in the heat chamber body.

2. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein at least the portion of the first passageway is disposed in the chamber in a coil configuration to increase a heat transfer contact area between the heat transfer medium and process fluid flowing within the first passageway.

3. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the first passageway comprises tubing.

4. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the heat chamber body comprises metal.

5. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the second passageway is integrally formed in the regulator body.

6. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises steam.

7. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein the heat transfer medium inlet is to receive steam having a pressure between about 250 psi and 1000 psi.

8. A temperature-controlled pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein the heat chamber body is configured to receive steam having a temperature of between about 500°

F. and 1000°

F.

9. A pressure regulator, comprising;

a body having an upper portion removably coupled to a lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes a process fluid flow path between an inlet port and an outlet port, the body having a steam inlet port integrally formed with the body that is to be fluidly coupled to a steam outlet port;

a heat chamber body coupled to the lower portion of the body, the heat chamber body having an opening to define a heat chamber when coupled to the body the steam outlet port being integrally formed with the heat chamber body, the steam outlet port having an axis substantially parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, the heat chamber to receive steam via the steam inlet port; and

a first passageway to at least partially define the process fluid flow path between the inlet and the outlet, the first passageway at least partially disposed within the heat chamber, the first passageway to separate the process fluid from the steam.

10. A pressure regulator of claim 9, wherein at least the portion of the first passageway passes through the heat chamber in a U-shaped configuration to increase a heat transfer contact area between the steam in the chamber and the process fluid flowing within the first passageway to increase the heat transfer rate between the steam in the heat chamber and the first passageway.

11. A pressure regulator of claim 9, wherein the steam inlet port is configured to receive pressurized steam between about 250 psi and 1000 psi.

12. A pressure regulator of claim 9, wherein the heat chamber is configured to receive steam having a temperature between about 350°

F. and 1,000°

F.

13. A pressure regulator of claim 9, wherein the passageway comprises metal tubing.

14. A pressure regulator of claim 9, further comprising a second passageway integrally formed in the body to fluidly couple the steam inlet port and the heat chamber.

15. A pressure regulator of claim 9, wherein the heat chamber body comprises a wall thickness of about 0.25 inches.

16. A pressure regulator comprising:

a heat chamber body, the heat chamber body having a heat transfer medium outlet port integrally formed with the heat chamber body; and

a regulator body removably coupled to the heat chamber body, the regulator body defining a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, the fluid inlet port being fluidly coupled to the fluid outlet port via a first passageway at least partially disposed in a heat chamber defined by the heat chamber body when the heat chamber body is coupled to the regulator body, the regulator body having a heat transfer medium inlet port integrally formed with the regulator body and fluidly coupled to the heat chamber via a second passageway integrally formed in the regulator body, the heat transfer medium inlet port, the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port being spaced apart relative to a longitudinal axis of the regulator body.

17. The regulator of claim 16, wherein each of the heat transfer medium inlet port, the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port comprises an axis that intersects the longitudinal axis of the regulator body.

18. The regulator of claim 16, wherein each axes of the heat transfer medium inlet port, the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port are parallel relative to each other.

19. The regulator of claim 16, wherein the regulator body defines at least a portion of the first passageway between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.

20. The regulator of claim 19, wherein the at least the portion of the first passageway is non-perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the regulator body.