Advanced valve actuator with true flow feedback
First Claim
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1. A valve and actuator assembly comprising:
- a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger; and
a valve actuator configured to calculate the fluid volume flowing through the valve and control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member having a first position and a second position, the first position different than the second position, and further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate at the first position and a minimum flow rate for freeze protection of the liquid through the valve at the second position, the second position being between fully open and fully closed, the valve actuator having a valve closure member position sensor used to calculate the flow rate of the liquid through the valve.
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Abstract
A valve and actuator assembly that includes a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger. The valve and actuator assembly further includes a valve actuator configured to control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member. The valve actuator is further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate and a minimum flow rate of the liquid through the valve. In an embodiment, the valve actuator includes a valve closure member position sensor configured to determine the position of the valve closure member based on a flow rate of the liquid through the valve.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A valve and actuator assembly comprising:
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a valve configured to control a flow of liquid into a coil or heat exchanger; and a valve actuator configured to calculate the fluid volume flowing through the valve and control opening and closing of the valve via positioning of a valve closure member having a first position and a second position, the first position different than the second position, and further configured to provide both a maximum flow rate at the first position and a minimum flow rate for freeze protection of the liquid through the valve at the second position, the second position being between fully open and fully closed, the valve actuator having a valve closure member position sensor used to calculate the flow rate of the liquid through the valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of calculating a fluid flow rate through a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a static force or torque value for a valve closure member in a memory of a valve actuator; using the stored static force or torque value to calculate a value for dynamic force or torque on the valve closure member; determining a closure member geometry factor and storing the closure member geometry factor in the memory of the valve actuator; determining a first valve closure member position via a valve closure member position sensor; calculating the fluid flow rate using the dynamic force or torque value, the closure member geometry factor, and the first position; comparing the fluid flow rate at the first position to a calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection; and adjusting valve operation by positioning the valve closure member to a second position, the second position different than the first position and being between fully open and fully closed when the fluid flow rate at the first position is below the calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of calculating a fluid flow rate through a valve, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a pressure differential between an inlet of a valve and an outlet of the valve; calculating a flow coefficient factor based on a first position of a valve closure member; calculating the fluid flow rate using the flow coefficient factor, and the pressure differential; comparing the fluid flow rate at the first position to a calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection; and adjusting valve operation by positioning the valve closure member to a second position, the second position different than the first position and being between fully open and fully closed when the fluid flow rate is below the calculated minimum flow rate for freeze protection. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification