Process and system for controlling modulation assisted valves for the internet of things

A system for controlling a remote valve in a network of pipes, the system comprising:

• a. one or more computers,
• said one or more computers defining a computer network,
• at least one of said one or more computers being configured with a means of communicating with a command receiver of said remote valve,
• said remote valve having two or more flow settings,
• said remote valve being installed in said network of pipes,
• said command receiver being a means for said remote valve to receive commands to electromechanically actuate said remote valve between a first of said two or more flow settings and a second of said two or more flow settings,
• said remote valve being further configured to have a predetermined threshold actuation pressure, said threshold actuation pressure defining a total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve equal to or below which said remote valve possesses an ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while above said threshold actuation pressure said remote valve lacks said ability to be electromechanically actuated from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings,
• at least one of said one or more computers being configured with a means of communicating with a means of modulating said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve in said network of pipes,
• at least one of said one or more computers being further configured to effect an ordered sequence of steps comprising:
• i. commanding said means for modulating to set said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve to be less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure with the intent of enabling said electromechanical actuation of said remote valve from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings;
• ii. commanding said remote valve to actuate from said first of said two or more flow settings to said second of said two or more flow settings while said total fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve is less than or equal to said threshold actuation pressure;
• whereby said system assists in said actuation of said remote valve by coordinating said actuation with said modulation of said fluid pressure imposed across said remote valve.

An electronic valve for controlling fluids, the valve comprising:

• a. at least one inlet port, said at least one inlet port having a means of being fluidly connected with a network of pipes;
• b. at least one outlet port;
• c. an electromechanically actuated gating mechanism disposed between at least one of said at least one inlet port and at least one of said at least one outlet port, said gating mechanism being for the purpose of throttling the flow of fluids between said at least one of said at least one inlet port and said at least one of said at least one outlet port, said gating mechanism having two or more flow positions, said valve further configured to have a predetermined threshold actuation pressure, said threshold actuation pressure defining a total fluid pressure imposed across said at least one of said at least one inlet port and said at least one of said at least one outlet port above which said gating mechanism is so configured as to be held electromechanically immovable between a first of said two or more flow positions and a second of said two or more flow positions due to resultant hydraulic forces acting upon said gating mechanism and below which said gating mechanism is so configured as to be electromechanically movable between said first of said two or more flow positions and said second of said two or more flow positions due to resultant hydraulic forces acting upon said gating mechanism;
• d. a local electrical power supply, wherein said valve is disconnected from all external sources of electrical actuation power, said power supply being collocated with said valve, wherein source of power for said power supply is at least one selected from the group comprising a chemical battery, a photovoltaic array, an energy storage capacitor, and a hydroelectric generator, said hydroelectric generator being configurable to connect with and harvest hydraulic power from said network of pipes, said power supply being electrically connected so as to supply power for said electromechanically actuated gating mechanism;
• e. a radio frequency receiver, said radio frequency receiver being collocated with said valve, said radio frequency receiver being in communication with said gating mechanism such that said radio frequency receiver is enabled to receive and relay actuation commands for actuating said gating mechanism.