Valve seal integrity verification systems and methods

A valve system comprising:

• a valve, and a processor,
• the valve including a main body member, a valve member, a trunnion, and a pressure sensor,
• the main body member having a first port, a second port, an internal cavity, and an inner bore,
• the valve member including a valve plug, a first slip member and a second slip member,
• the valve plug having a transverse passageway adapted for alignment with the first port and the second port in an open position,
• the first slip member being secured to a first side of the valve plug and disposed for radial movement relative to the valve plug, the second slip member being secured to a second side of the valve plug and disposed and radial movement relative to the valve plug, the first slip member including a first slip member seal, the second slip member including a second slip member seal,
• the trunnion being connected to the valve plug, the trunnion being adapted to rotate the valve plug relative to the main body member, move the valve plug up and down relative to the main body member to cause movement of the first slip member and the second member into and out of sealing engagement with the inner bore,
• the first and second slip members being in a first position when the first and second slip member seals move into initial contact with the inner bore when the valve plug is moving from an open position to a closed position,
• the first and second slip members being in a second position when the first and second slip members and the first and second slip member seals move into fully seated engagement with the inner bore to define a closed position of the valve plug,
• the internal cavity of the main body member being initially sealed from the first port and second port in the main body member when the first slip member seal and the second slip member seal make initial sealing contact with the inner bore,
• the pressure sensor being mounted to the main body member and in communication with the internal cavity,
• the processor being adapted to determine a first pressure in the cavity when the first and second slip member seals make initial contact with the inner bore,
• the processor being adapted to determine a second pressure in the cavity when the first and second slip members and the first and second slip member seals move into fully seated engagement with the inner bore,
• the processor further being adapted to determine whether the second pressure is less than the first pressure, to provide an indication of a leak if the second pressure is not less than the first pressure, to determine whether the second pressure remains constant if the second pressure is less than the first pressure, to provide an indication of a leak if the second pressure does not remain constant, and to provide an indication of no leak if the second pressure remains constant.