Hydroelectric control valve for remote locations

• US 9,581,267 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David John Kusko
• Original Assignee: David John Kusko
• Inventors: Kusko, David John, Vecseri, Gabor, Lerner, Daniel Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): CAHILL, JESSICA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/110,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1245 with more than one valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1635 for rotating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/42 by means of electrically-actuated members in the supply or discharge conduits of the fluid motor F16K31/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve

Abstract

Herein described is a hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline including an inlet and outlet (or input and output) section attached to the same pipeline wherein fluid flows into and out of the HCV comprising a bell reservoir section and a seat reservoir section which are both capped, where the bell reservoir section and the seat reservoir section are aligned with each other and are also perpendicular to fluid flowing through the pipeline. A channel which can be electrically activated and thus controlled is attached to a bell section, such that a bell reservoir section includes a bell relief channel in fluid communication with an outlet section and also a separate hydraulic poppet channel in communication with a locating needle head. In addition, turbine and deactivation channels are employed such that the deactivation channel connects the input section and the seat reservoir.

Claims

1. An hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline comprising;

four pipe sections forming a cross-like pattern with an inlet and outlet section attached to a pipeline wherein fluid flows into and out of said HCV;

a bell reservoir section and a seat reservoir section that are both capped, wherein said bell reservoir section and said seat reservoir section are in line with each other and are also perpendicular to fluid flow through said pipeline;

wherein within an input section, an electrical activation channel is attached to said bell reservoir section, such that said bell reservoir section includes both a bell relief channel in fluid communication with said outlet section and also a separate hydraulic poppet channel;

the input section further including a deactivation channel for a turbine together with a locating needle head and said deactivation channel connects said input section and said seat reservoir section;

and wherein said seat reservoir section includes a seat reservoir relief channel also in fluid communication with said output section.

2. The HCV of claim 1, wherein within said electrical activation channel or a main flow channel is a pressure sensor and/or a flow sensor that monitors pressure and/or flow creating a datastream of said fluid within said pipeline.

3. The HCV of claim 1, wherein hydroelectric poppet flow within said hydraulic poppet channel is assisted by the addition of an inline pump and wherein maximum movement of a locating needle head said bell urges a bell to laterally move across said pipeline thereby controlling flow of fluids through said pipeline.

4. The HCV of claim 1, wherein a turbine is propelled by fluid flowing in said deactivation channel by rotating an internal turbine system coupled to an electrical generator thereby providing electrical power to internal sensors, transducers and battery(s) and wherein said turbine is located in said deactivation channel between said inlet section and said seat reservoir section.

5. The HCV of claim 1, wherein a flow throttling device (FTD) is located within said seat reservoir section of said seat reservoir relief channel and wherein a bell element may partially or fully seal said pipeline such that said FTD either slows or stops fluid from flowing into a seat reservoir relief channel and wherein said FTD backs up into said seat reservoir section such that said seat reservoir section and the bell element each reach a pressure stasis thereby maintaining the position of the bell element within said pipeline without further mechanical or hydraulic pressure action.

6. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV is used in a pipeline for transporting fluids or controlling fluid flow, includes;

transporting fluid, gas, water, brine, slurry, sewage or alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.

7. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV includes a bell to control fluid flow in a pipeline wherein said bell moves laterally such that said bell is urged and continues lateral movement of said bell across said pipeline and wherein said lateral movement of said bell is forced by hydraulic pressure of fluid coming from a pump located within said hydraulic poppet channel.

8. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV is inserted inline into a pipeline, said pipeline including a perpendicular pipe shaped section that contains a lever that is connected to a hydroelectric tube containing a hydroelectric pump and a piston assembly and wherein said piston assembly connects with a dual-faced piston that has a first chamber and a second chamber wherein said dual-faced piston has an input side and an output side, wherein said input side or said output side depends on the direction of fluid flow and said dual-faced piston has a first face and a second face residing between an end wall of the first chamber and an end wall of the second chamber.

9. The HCV of claim 1 wherein said HCV includes a ball valve within a pipeline wherein said ball valve is provided to control fluid flow via a hydroelectric piston attached to a linkage that provides attachment to a ball valve actuating lever.

10. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline or wellbore of claim 1, wherein said control valve is actuated using wireless devices for actuation.

11. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein said control valve is actuated using energy from batteries or other energy storage devices, that are recharged through solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, fluid flow or vibration within said pipeline or within a wellbore.

12. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein a worm gear device is located in either said bell reservoir section or said seat reservoir section that pushes said needle using manual, automatic, or remote controls.

13. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein either side of an upper main pipeline is utilized.

14. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein signatures including pressure, or flowrate data are transmitted to a computer for analysis, compared to other signatures to determine the type of fluid that should be in said pipeline and wherein if an anomalous signature is sensed, said computer causes an activation solenoid valve to fully open in the electrical activation channel so that said fluid moves forcefully into said bell reservoir section filling fluid into a needle base chamber equipped with a needle base, a needle seat and the locating needed head so that said fluid pushes said needle across said pipeline and into a needle seat.

15. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 14, wherein said fluid in said hydraulic poppet channel is assisted by the addition of an inline pump and wherein maximum movement of said locating needle head within a bell element urges said bell element to laterally move across the flow path of said pipeline thereby controlling the flow of fluid within said pipeline.

16. The HCV of claim 1, wherein hydroelectric force is supplied to a first chamber side of a first face of a piston forcing said piston to move away from an end wall of said first chamber side toward said end wall of a second chamber, urging a linkage connected to a lever to move in a direction to actuate a gate or valve within a pipeline section restricting flow through said pipeline.

17. The HCV of claim 16, wherein as said pressure in said first chamber decreases said piston moves toward an end wall of said first chamber, thereby urging a linkage connected to a lever to move in a direction so as to cause a gate or valve within said pipeline to open allowing ease of fluid flow within said pipeline.

18. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV includes a ball valve actuated by a hydroelectric actuated piston acting on a lever.

19. The HCV of claim 18, wherein said HCV ball valve includes said piston that acts bi-directionally on said lever.

20. The HCV of claim 1, wherein an isolator pressure assembly is connected to said pipeline by an isolator input channel and a reservoir input channel wherein said isolator input channel includes an in-line isolator input channel valve that is attached to a first isolator chamber within said isolator pressure assembly.

21. The isolator assembly of claim 20, wherein a first isolator chamber comprises an isolator disk with two sections within said first isolator chamber such that on the opposing side of the isolator disk is a second chamber that is filled with fluid so that when said first isolator chamber begins to fill, said isolator disk moves into the area of a second isolator chamber thereby forcing fluid out of said second isolator chamber and into a piston activator channel and eventually forcing said fluid into a piston assembly within a second chamber.

22. The piston assembly of claim 21, wherein as fluid within said piston assembly within said second chamber is compressed, fluid pressure increases, and a dual-faced piston moves in a direction within said piston assembly such that a linkage attached to said dualfaced piston which is attached on an end opposite to said lever on said ball valve causes motion of said piston which translates into movement of said linkage and which subsequently actuates said lever of said ball valve, thereby urging closure of said ball valve.

23. The HCV of claim 1, wherein within a reservoir input channel, a reservoir input channel valve is controlled that prevents the flow of fluid into a reservoir pressure chamber wherein said reservoir pressure chamber includes a reservoir disk creating a secondary reservoir chamber filled with fluid and wherein said secondary reservoir chamber is attached to a primary piston primary chamber via a reservoir piston channel so that as fluid pressure in said second piston chamber increases, forcing said dual-faced piston to move in a direction of decreasing volume within said primary piston chamber resulting in fluid being urged from said primary piston chamber into a piston reservoir channel and subsequently into said secondary reservoir chamber whereby said secondary reservoir chamber volume expands against a reservoir disk, resulting in decreased volume within said primary reservoir chamber thereby causing fluid flow through a reservoir output channel and past said open reservoir output channel valve and into said pipeline downstream of said ball valve such that opening said ball valve is accomplished by;

allowing fluid flow from said pipeline through said reservoir input channel with a reservoir input channel valve into said primary reservoir chamber, and wherein said isolator input channel valve closes allowing fluid flow to increase in said primary reservoir chamber forcing said reservoir disk to move toward said secondary reservoir chamber, urging fluid in said secondary reservoir chamber to move into said primary piston chamber via said piston reservoir channel such that an increase in fluid volume in said primary piston chamber causes said dual-faced piston to move toward said second piston chamber thereby moving fluid from said second piston chamber into a piston activator channel allowing fluid to flow into said second isolator chamber causing said isolator disk to move into said first isolator chamber, decreasing the volume of said first isolator chamber and urging fluid flow out of said isolator relief channel through an open isolator relief channel valve such that said fluid re-enters fluid flow within said pipeline.

24. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said HCV is a piston assembly with two chambers that includes said first chamber and a second chamber with said first chamber having an inflow channel and a relief channel, each channel also containing a valve, and said second chamber with an outflow channel and a relief channel, each channel also containing a valve.

25. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said first isolator chamber and a primary reservoir chamber contains only fluid flowing within said pipeline.

26. The HCV of claim 23, wherein an isolator relief channel and/or said reservoir output channel includes a turbine that is activated by fluid flow and that is attached to an inductive fluid for generation of electrical power for powering solenoids, instrumentation or batteries to ensure storage of generated electrical power.

27. The HCV of claim 23, wherein an isolator input channel and/or a reservoir input channel includes a pump for moving fluid into either a first isolator chamber or a primary reservoir chamber or both said first isolator chamber or said primary reservoir chamber.

28. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said a second isolator chamber and a secondary reservoir chamber contain only fluid or hydroelectric fluid.

29. The HCV of claim 28, wherein an isolator disk and a reservoir disk form separate and isolated systems and wherein said fluid or said hydroelectric fluid used in connection with a dual-faced piston and piston assembly is separate from said fluid flowing within said pipeline.

30. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said HCV includes a linkage attachment to a ball valve lever wherein said lever includes a rack and pinion system for translating linear motion of said piston into rotational motion, thus actuating said ball valve.

31. The ball valve of claim 30, wherein said valve is activated and/or deactivated by a computer or an operator.

32. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV is a flow throttling device (FTD) placed within a pipeline that is hydroelectrically connected to a valving assembly near said FTD but outside of said pipeline.

33. The FTD of claim 32, wherein, when a disruption in fluid flow within a pipeline causes instrumentation to sense a high or low flow volume of pressure condition, a computer or an operator activates a series of valves in said HCV to block or encourage fluid flow through a valving assembly and/or the pipeline.

34. The FTD of claim 32, wherein an input tube is connected on an upside section of fluid flowing within said pipeline and is also connected to said valving assembly through an upper input solenoid valve and a lower input solenoid valve such that said fluid flowing in said pipeline provides a displacement volume for said valving assembly and such that when said upper input solenoid valve and/or lower input solenoid valve is activated and caused to open, fluid flows into said valving assembly creating a pressure in said valving assembly that is higher than a nominal fluid flow pressure, causing fluid flow through an FTD link channel that is connected to the FTD actuator valve.

35. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said FTD actuator valve is then urged into a FTD actuator seat, restricting or eliminating fluid flow in said pipeline in that said upper output solenoid valve and/or said lower output solenoid valve remain closed forcing fluid to remain in said valving assembly.

36. The FTD of claim 32, wherein closure of said upper input solenoid valve, lower input solenoid valve, upper output solenoid valve and lower output solenoid valve keeps pressure in a system constant wherein said FTD remains in said FTD actuator seat, blocking fluid flow within said pipeline.

37. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said upper output solenoid valve and/or said lower output solenoid valve is activated by opening either valve so that fluid flows through said valving assembly and then flows to an output tube thereby releasing hydraulic pressure within said valving assembly, FTD link channel, and FTD actuator valve, thus allowing said FTD actuator valve to open and permit flow of fluid within said pipeline.

38. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said FTD is placed linearly within said pipeline as an HCV for controlling the flow of fluids within said pipeline such that fluid flow causes said FTD to generate a signal that provides a signature data stream up hole to a computer, wherein said signature data stream varies so that said computer activates opening and closing a series of solenoid valves thereby signaling said FTD to stop or resume allowing flow of fluid in said pipeline.

39. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said FTD design regarding the fluid/gas/water fluid properties within a lateral passage measures a magnitude of pulses caused by said FTD at distances remote from any downhole bore location.

40. The FTD of claim 39, wherein sensors may be placed at different locations in various lateral passages and used to indicate any magnitude, travel distance, and velocity of a pulse generated by said FTD, during or in the absence of, fluid flow, as required during operation.