Pressure relief valve monitoring device

• US 6,283,138 B1
• Filed: 04/02/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Anderson Greenwood, LP
• Inventors: Jones, Michael Allen, Friend, Ronald George
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/285,268
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 137/554, 137/552, 137/552.7, 137/469, 137/476, 137/14
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/06 with special arrangements for adjusting the opening pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/005 for measuring fluid parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7738 Pop valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7745 Annular lip or baffle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8175 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8208 Time
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A pressure relief valve monitoring device is provided. The monitoring device includes a sensor input module located proximate to a pressure relief valve, a microcontroller located within the sensor input module, and a real time clock/calendar also located within the sensor input module. The monitoring device also includes a number of sensors, including (1) a position sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve for measuring the position of the valve'"'"'s closure element relative to the inlet nozzle seat and for generating a lift signal representative of such position; (2) a pressure sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve for measuring the pressure of the pressure system and generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure; and (3) a leakage sensor mounted on the pressure relief valve and positioned in close proximity to the inlet nozzle seat and capable of detecting noise generated by leakage of fluid between the inlet nozzle seat and the closure element when the closure element is engaged with the inlet nozzle seat. The microcontroller is configured to receive and store signals from any or all of the three sensors and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from the real time clock/calendar to determine certain characteristics of valve performance. A method for monitoring the operation of the pressure relief valve is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element in sealing engagement with a nozzle for blocking flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, to a position sensor, and to a pressure sensor, said method comprising the steps of:

a. sensing the position of the closure element when the closure element moves relative to the nozzle and thus is no longer in sealing engagement with the nozzle and thus allows fluid to escape through the pressure relief valve;

b. generating a position signal representative of said position of the closure element;

c. recording said position signal as a function of time;

d. generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve;

e. recording said pressure signal as a function of time; and

f. correlating said recorded position signal with said recorded pressure signal to determine the quantity of fluid that has escaped through the pressure relief valve while the closure element has been out of sealing engagement with the nozzle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve further comprises the step of:

sensing the inlet pressure of the fluid.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve further comprises the step of:

sensing the outlet pressure of the fluid.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a pressure signal representative of the pressure of the fluid escaping through the pressure relief valve further comprises the step of:

sensing the differential pressure of the fluid.

5. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, comprising:

a. a sensor input module including a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said sensor input module located proximate to the pressure relief valve;

b. a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve and that indicates the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle by generating a lift signal representative of such position;

c. said microcontroller configured to receive said lift signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar to determine the magnitude of movement of the closure element and the time of such movement; and

d. wherein said microcontroller compares the frequency of said movement with a predetermined limit to detect unstable operation.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said predetermined limit comprises a maximum limit and said microcontroller generates an indication of unstable operation when said maximum limit is exceeded.

7. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, comprising:

a. a sensor input module including a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said sensor input module located proximate to the pressure relief valve;

b. a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve and that indicates the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle by generating a lift signal representative of such position;

c. a pressure sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve that indicates pressure by generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure; and

d. said microcontroller configured to receive said lift signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar to determine the magnitude of movement of the closure element and the time of such movement, and to receive said pressure signal and correlate the receipt thereof with an indication of time from said clock/calendar and with the magnitude of said pressure signal and the time at which said pressure signal changed.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein said microcontroller uses said pressure signal and said lift signal to calculate the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve.

9. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and said pressure sensor measures the pressure at the inlet.

10. The invention according to claim 9, wherein said microcontroller uses said pressure signal and said lift signal to calculate the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve.

11. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the pressure relief valve has an outlet and said pressure sensor measures the pressure at the outlet.

12. The invention according to claim 11, wherein said microcontroller uses said pressure signal and said lift signal to calculate the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve.

13. The invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and an outlet and said pressure sensor measures the difference in pressure between the inlet and the outlet.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein said microcontroller uses said pressure signal and said lift signal to calculate the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve.

15. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block the flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, said sensor input module having a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said method comprising the steps of:

a. sensing the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle using a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;

b. generating a lift signal representative of said position;

c. communicating said lift signal to said sensor input module;

d. sensing pressure using a pressure sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;

e. generating a pressure signal representative of such pressure;

f. communicating said pressure signal to said sensor input module;

g. generating an indication of time using said real time clock/calendar;

h. determining the magnitude of movement of the closure element using said microcontroller and said lift signal;

i. determining the time of said movement of the closure element;

j. determining the magnitude of the pressure using said microcontroller and said pressure signal; and

k. correlating the receipt of said pressure signal with said indication of time and with the magnitude of said pressure signal.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing pressure at the inlet using said pressure sensor.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an outlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing pressure at the outlet using said pressure sensor.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the step of:

calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the pressure relief valve has an inlet and an outlet and the step of sensing pressure using a pressure sensor comprises sensing the difference in pressure between the inlet and the outlet.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

calculating the amount of fluid that has flowed through the pressure relief valve using said pressure signal, said lift signal, and said microcontroller.

23. A method for monitoring the operation of a pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve having a closure element engageable with a nozzle to block the flow of fluid through the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve being located proximate to a sensor input module, said sensor input module having a microcontroller and a real time clock/calendar, said method comprising the steps of:

a. sensing the position of the closure element relative to the nozzle using a position sensor located proximate to the pressure relief valve;

b. generating a lift signal representative of said position;

c. communicating said lift signal to said sensor input module;

d. generating an indication of time using said real time clock/calendar;

e. determining the magnitude of movement of the closure element as a function of time by correlating the receipt of said lift signal with said indication of time using said microcontroller; and

f. comparing the frequency of said movement with a predetermined limit to detect unstable operation.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said predetermined limit comprises a maximum limit and further comprising the step of generating an indication of unstable operation when said maximum limit is exceeded.