Fluid flow control system, fluid delivery and control system for a fluid delivery line, and method for controlling pressure oscillations within fluid of a fluid delivery line

• US 6,568,416 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian L. Andersen
• Original Assignee: Brian L. Andersen
• Inventors: Andersen, Brian L., Mittelstadt, Robert, Tucker, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/798,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20020117214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 137/14, 137/486, 137/487.5, 137/557, 251/5, 251/30.01, 251/61.1, 700/282, 700/283, 700/284, 239/569
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2053 the plurality of throttling means comprising only a first throttling means acting on a higher pressure and a second throttling means acting on a lower pressure, e.g. the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/005 characterised by the use of auxiliary non-electric power combined with the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A fluid delivery and control system is provided for a fluid delivery line having elastic components. The system includes a pressure sensor, an electronically controlled valve, processing circuitry, and computer program code logic. The pressure sensor is operative to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line. The electronically controlled valve includes an adjustable flow regulating aperture disposed in the line, interposed along a linear flow axis, and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line. The processing circuitry communicates with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve. The computer program code logic is executed by the processing circuitry and is configured to generate an output signal. The output signal comprises an operating parameter of at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve to adjust flow capacity of the flow regulating aperture of the valve to dissipate pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery and control system for a fluid delivery line, comprising:

a pressure sensor operative to detect fluid pressure oscillations within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled valve comprising an adjustable flow regulating aperture having a variable outer diameter and disposed axially in the line along a linear flow axis, and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line;

processing circuitry communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve; and

computer program code logic executed by the processing circuitry and configured to generate an output signal comprising an operating parameter of at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve to adjust flow capacity of the flow regulating aperture of the valve to actively dissipate the pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line.

3. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the operating parameter generated by the computer program code logic comprises a set point pressure for the electronically controlled valve.

5. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry comprises proportional integral derivative (PID) control.

6. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is provided upstream of the electronically controlled valve.

7. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is provided downstream of the electronically controlled valve.

8. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the electronically controlled valve comprises a boot valve, and further comprising a boot control volume line and a solenoid interposed in the line, wherein the solenoid is controllably operated by the control circuitry to regulate fluid pressure within a boot of the boot valve to controllably adjust a throttling element of the boot valve.

9. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 8 wherein the boot control volume line is provided between an upstream line of the valve and a boot volume of the boot valve.

10. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 8 wherein the boot control volume line is provided between a boot volume of the boot valve and a downstream vent.

11. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 10 wherein the downstream vent is vented to atmosphere.

12. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 further comprising a communication interface operative to adjustably configure the control circuitry.

13. The fluid delivery and control system of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry adjusts the electronically controlled valve to increase fluid pressure to a fluid flush operating point.

2. A fluid delivery and control system for a fluid delivery line, comprising:

a pressure sensor operative to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled valve comprising an adjustable flow regulating aperture, disposed in the line, interposed along a linear flow axis, and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line;

processing circuitry communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve; and

computer program code logic executed by the processing circuitry and configured to generate an output signal comprising an operating parameter of at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve, the operating parameter including a pressure sampling interval that defines a sampling interval for the pressure sensor and the operating parameter operative to adjust flow capacity of the flow regulating aperture of the valve to dissipate pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line.

4. A fluid delivery and control system for a fluid delivery line, comprising:

a pressure sensor operative to detect fluid pressure oscillations within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled valve comprising an adjustable flow regulating aperture, disposed in the line, interposed along a linear flow axis, and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line;

processing circuitry communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve; and

computer program code logic executed by the processing circuitry and configured to generate an output signal comprising an operating parameter of at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled valve to adjust flow capacity of the flow regulating aperture of the valve to dissipate pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line;

wherein the operating parameter generated by the computer program code logic controllably regulates the electronically controlled valve to create a counter-oscillation of a fluid pressure oscillation detected with the sensor.

14. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect fluid pressure oscillations within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled flow regulating valve having a central bore with a variable outer diameter, the bore provided in the line to impart a substantially linear fluid streamline through at least a portion of the central bore and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line; and

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled flow regulating valve, the sensor generating a PID feedback control signal; and

the processor operative to regulate fluid flow through the valve to mitigate fluid pressure oscillations in the line.

15. The control system of claim 14 comprising a plurality of electronically controlled valves, each controlled by the processor and operative to regulate fluid flow through respective lines of an irrigation system.

16. The control system of claim 14 wherein the fluid pressure oscillations result from non-steady state flow conditions within the line.

19. The control system of claim 14 wherein the processor is operative to adjust a set point pressure for the electronically controlled valve to an operating point that imparts stability to the system and balances fluid flow through the line.

22. The control system of claim 14 wherein the processor is operative to controllably regulate operation of the electronically controlled valve to an elevated fluid pressure to a desired operating point in order to flush the line.

23. The control system of claim 14 wherein the pressure sensor and the processor cooperate to sustain a maximum fluid pressure condition, and the processing circuitry adjusts operation of the electronically controlled valve in response to the detected over-pressure condition to open the valve and discharge fluid therethrough to avoid over-pressurization of the system.

17. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled flow regulating valve provided in the line to impart a substantially linear flow axis and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line; and

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled flow regulating valve, the sensor generating a PID feedback control signal;

wherein the processor is operative to regulate fluid flow through the valve to mitigate fluid pressure oscillations in the line and is further operative to adjust a sampling rate of the pressure sensor to a correction frequency that substantially negates detection of the fluid pressure oscillations.

18. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled flow regulating valve provided in the line to impart a substantially linear flow axis and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line; and

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled flow regulating valve, the sensor generating a PID feedback control signal;

wherein the processor is operative to regulate fluid flow through the valve to mitigate fluid pressure oscillations in the line and is further operative to discern an operating pressure base line about which fluid pressure oscillations occur, the processor operative to adjust a sampling frequency of the sensor that detects the pressure base line and mitigates the pressure oscillation so as to provide a feedback signal used to control the electronically controlled valve.

20. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled flow regulating valve provided in the line to impart a substantially linear flow axis and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line; and

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled flow regulating valve, the sensor generating a PID feedback control signal;

wherein the processor is operative to regulate fluid flow through the valve to mitigate fluid pressure oscillations in the line and is further operative to detect the presence of a fluid pressure oscillation within the line and generate a substantially inverse oscillation that counteracts the detected fluid pressure oscillation so as to bring the system to a relatively stable operating point.

21. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor to detect fluid pressure within a fluid delivery line;

an electronically controlled boot valve provided in the line to impart a substantially linear flow axis and operative to regulate fluid flow through the line;

at least one solenoid communicating between the fluid delivery line and a boot of the electronically controlled boot valve so as to adjustably control fluid flow to the electronically controlled boot valve boot;

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the electronically controlled boot valve, the sensor generating a PID feedback control signal; and

the processor operative to regulate fluid flow through the valve to mitigate fluid pressure oscillations in the line.

24. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to detect fluid pressure within a primary fluid delivery line;

a primary control valve including a boot valve provided in the primary fluid delivery line and operative to regulate fluid flow through the primary fluid delivery line;

an auxiliary fluid delivery line extending between the primary control valve and the fluid delivery line and operative to deliver fluid between the primary control valve and the fluid delivery line to controllably adjust a throttling element of the primary control valve;

an auxiliary control valve including a solenoid interposed in the auxiliary fluid delivery line and operative to regulate fluid flow through the auxiliary fluid delivery line; and

a processor communicating with the pressure sensor and the auxiliary control valve;

the processor operative to controllably adjust the throttling element of the primary control valve by regulating operation of the auxiliary control valve to deliver fluid between the primary control valve and the fluid delivery line via the auxiliary fluid delivery line.

25. The control system of claim 24 wherein the auxiliary fluid delivery line extends between the boot valve and the primary fluid delivery line upstream of the boot valve.

26. The control system of claim 24 wherein the auxiliary fluid delivery line extends between the boot valve and the primary fluid delivery line downstream of the boot valve.

27. The control system of claim 24 wherein a first auxiliary fluid delivery line extends between the boot valve and the primary fluid delivery line upstream of the boot valve, and a second auxiliary fluid delivery line extends between the boot valve and a downstream vent, wherein the boot valve further comprises a boot volume with which the first auxiliary fluid delivery line and the second auxiliary fluid delivery line communicate so as to controllably adjust a fluid flow orifice of the boot valve.

28. A method for controlling pressure oscillations within fluid of a fluid delivery line, comprising:

providing an electronically controlled, flow regulating valve disposed within a fluid delivery line having a central bore axially aligned with the fluid delivery line for passage of fluid through the valve and a pressure sensor communicating with the fluid delivery line;

detecting fluid pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line using the pressure sensor; and

generating a PID feedback control signal from the pressure sensor indicative of detected fluid pressure oscillations; and

controllably regulating the electronic valve in response to the PID feedback control signal to dissipate the fluid pressure oscillations in the fluid delivery line.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the pressure sensor is provided upstream of the electronically controlled valve.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the pressure sensor is provided downstream of the electronically controlled valve.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein controllably regulating the electronic valve comprises controllably generating an output signal including an operating parameter of at least one of the pressure sensor and the electronic valve to adjust fluid flow through the valve so as to dissipate pressure oscillations within the fluid delivery line.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein controllably generating an output signal comprises controllably generating an operating parameter comprising a pressure sampling interval that defines a sampling interval for the pressure sensor.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein controllably generating an output signal comprises generating an operating parameter comprising a set point pressure for the electronic valve.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein controllably generating an output signal comprises generating an operating parameter that controllably regulates the electronic valve to create a counter-oscillation that substantially counteracts a fluid pressure oscillation detected by the sensor.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein controllably regulating comprises implementing proportional integral derivative (PID) control.