Systems and methods for controlling pressure of fluids

• US 20060060246A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P10 Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Active Power Incorporated
• Inventors: Weaver, Matthew D., Schuetze, Karl T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/488
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7762 Fluid pressure type

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a dual-path fluid routing system that uses a flow restriction device to enhance temperature and pressure control of fluid are provided. Systems and methods for using a setpoint pressure control system to accurately control the setpoint pressure of a regulator are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the setpoint pressure of at least one regulator, said method comprising:

applying fluid to a pressure setpoint port of said at least one regulator;

venting fluid from said pressure setpoint port to atmosphere; and

controlling said applying and venting to set the setpoint pressure to a predetermined pressure.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

automatically connecting said pressure setpoint port to atmosphere in the event of a failsafe condition.

3. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising:

supplying fluid to an inlet port of said at least one regulator; and

providing fluid downstream of said at least one regulator at a pressure based on the setpoint pressure.

4. The method defined in claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring the pressure downstream of said at least one regulator; and

adjusting said setpoint pressure based on said monitoring.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said applying comprises increasing the pressure applied to said pressure setpoint port.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said venting comprises decreasing the pressure applied to said pressure setpoint port.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises using a duty cycle to control said applying and venting.

8. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises applying said fluid while not venting said fluid.

9. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises venting said fluid while not applying said fluid.

10. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises simultaneously applying and venting said fluid.

11. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said controlling comprises simultaneously not applying and venting said fluid.

12. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising

providing a source of fluid;

and

using fluid from said source to set said pressure set point.

13. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a gas.

14. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a liquid.

15. A method for controlling the setpoint pressure of a regulator, said method comprising:

controlling an output pressure level provided by a servo regulator;

amplifying said output pressure level by a predetermined ratio to provide an amplified pressure level; and

applying said amplified pressure level to a setpoint pressure port of said regulator to set the setpoint pressure.

16. The method defined in claim 15, further comprising:

venting said output pressure level and said amplified pressure level to atmosphere in the event of a failsafe condition.

17. The method defined in claim 15, wherein said controlling comprises adjusting said output pressure level to change the setpoint pressure.

18. The method defined in claim 15, further comprising:

providing an electrical or pneumatic signal to control said output pressure level of said servo regulator.

19. The method defined in claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring a regulator pressure output level of said regulator,

wherein said controlling comprises adjusting said output pressure level to change the setpoint pressure based on said monitoring.

20. The method defined in claim 15, further comprising:

providing a source of fluid, said regulator regulating fluid received from said source to a pressure equal to, or about equal to, the setpoint pressure; and

providing said regulated fluid to a turbine-generator, said turbine-generator generating power when receiving said regulated fluid.

21. A method for controlling the setpoint pressure of a regulator, said method comprising:

selectively turning valves of a dual-valve system ON and OFF to provide a dual-valve system pressure;

amplifying said dual-valve system pressure by a predetermined ratio to provide an amplified pressure; and

applying said amplified pressure to a setpoint pressure port of said regulator to set the setpoint pressure.

22. The method defined in claim 21, wherein said selectively turning valves of a dual-valve system ON and OFF comprises:

applying fluid to increase said dual-valve system pressure;

venting fluid to decrease said dual-valve system pressure; and

controlling said applying and venting to set said dual-valve system pressure to a pressure that is amplified to provide said setpoint pressure.

23. The method defined in claim 21, further comprising venting (a) said dual-valve system pressure, (b) said amplified pressure, or (c) both said dual-valve system pressure and said amplified pressure to atmosphere in the event of a fail safe condition.

24. A system for controlling the setpoint pressure of a regulator, said system comprising:

a setpoint pressure node;

a first valve having an inlet connected to receive a fluid and an outlet connected to said setpoint pressure node;

a second valve having an inlet connected to said setpoint pressure node and an outlet connected to atmosphere;

a third valve having an inlet connected to said setpoint pressure node and an outlet coupled to atmosphere, said third valve operative to automatically open in the event of a failsafe condition; and

control circuitry operative to selectively OPEN and CLOSE said first and second valves to control the pressure of fluid applied to said setpoint pressure node.

25. The system defined in claim 24, wherein the pressure provided to said pressure node is the setpoint pressure.

26. The system defined in claim 24, further comprising:

a pressure regulator connected to a fluid source and to the inlet of said first valve, said pressure regulator regulates fluid received from said fluid source.

27. The system defined in claim 24, further comprising:

a pressure regulator connected to received fluid from a fluid source, said pressure regulator regulates said received fluid to a predetermined pressure; and

an accumulator connected to said pressure regulator and to the inlet of said first valve, said accumulator minimizes pressure swings as said first and second valves OPEN and CLOSE.

28. The system defined in claim 24, further comprising:

a fluid source, wherein said first valve is connected downstream of said fluid source; and

a regulator coupled to receive fluid from said fluid source, said regulator having a setpoint pressure port connected to said setpoint pressure node and operative to provide fluid downstream based on the pressure of fluid applied to said setpoint pressure port.

29. The system defined in claim 24, wherein said first, second, and third valves are electronically actuated solenoid valves.

30. The system defined in claim 29, wherein said first and second valves are normally CLOSED solenoid valves.

31. The system defined in claim 29, wherein said third valve is a normally OPEN solenoid valve.

32. The system defined in claim 24, wherein said first, second, and third valves are bubble tight solenoid valves.

33. The system defined in claim 24, wherein said first and second valves are CLOSED and said third valve is OPEN when said system is operating in a standby mode.

34. The system defined in claim 24, wherein said third valve is CLOSED when said system is controlling the pressure being applied to said setpoint pressure node.

35. The system defined in claim 24, further comprising:

an amplifying regulator having an inlet connected to receive fluid, an amplifier setpoint port connected to said setpoint pressure node, and an amplifier outlet, said amplifying regulator amplifies the pressure applied to said amplifier setpoint port to an amplified pressure and provides said amplified pressure to said amplifier outlet, said amplified pressure is the setpoint pressure.

36. The system defined in claim 35, further comprising a fourth valve having an inlet connected to said amplifier outlet and an outlet connected to atmosphere, said fourth valve operative to OPEN in the event of a failsafe condition.

37. An electrical generation system, comprising:

a source of a fluid;

a pressure regulator having a setpoint port that is connected to receive fluid from said source and operative to regulate received fluid pressure based on the pressure applied to said setpoint port;

a turbine-generator coupled to receive said regulated fluid and operative to generate power when receiving said regulated fluid; and

a pressure control system as defined in claim 24 coupled to said source and regulator, said control system operative to control the pressure applied to said setpoint port.

38. A system for controlling the setpoint pressure of at least two regulators, said system comprising:

first and second setpoint pressure nodes;

a first valve having an inlet connected to receive a fluid and an outlet connected to said first pressure node;

a second valve having an inlet connected to said first pressure node and an outlet connected to atmosphere;

a third valve having an inlet connected to receive said fluid and an outlet let connected to said second pressure node;

a fourth valve having an inlet connected to said second pressure node and an outlet coupled to atmosphere;

a fifth valve having an inlet connected to said first and second pressure nodes and an outlet coupled to atmosphere, said fifth valve operative to automatically open in the event of a failsafe condition; and

control circuitry operative to (a) selectively OPEN and CLOSE said first and second valves to control the pressure of fluid applied to said first pressure node and (b) selectively OPEN and CLOSE said third and fourth valves to control the pressure of fluid applied to second pressure node.

39. The system defined in claim 38, wherein said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth valves are solenoid valves.

40. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth valves are normally CLOSED solenoid valves.

41. The system defined in claim 39, wherein said fifth valve is a normally OPEN solenoid valve.

42. The system defined in claim 38, wherein first, second, third, fourth, and fifth valves are bubble tight solenoid valves.

43. The system defined in claim 38, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth valves are CLOSED and said fifth valve is OPEN when said system is operating in a standby mode.

44. The system defined in claim 38, wherein said fifth valve is CLOSED when said system is controlling the pressure of fluid being applied to said first and second setpoint pressure nodes.

45. An electrical generation system, comprising:

at least one source of a fluid;

a first pressure regulator having a first setpoint port that is connected to receive fluid from said at lease one source and operative to regulate received fluid pressure based on the pressure applied to said first setpoint port;

a second pressure regulator having a second setpoint port that is connected to receive fluid from said at least one source and operative to regulate received fluid pressure based on the pressure applied to said second setpoint port;

a turbine-generator coupled to receive said regulated fluid from both said first and second pressure regulators and operative to generate power when receiving said regulated fluid; and

a pressure control system as defined in claim 38 coupled to said source and said first and second regulators, said control system operative to control the pressure applied to said first and second setpoint ports.