System and method for monitoring and diagnostics of an actuator device for actuation of a valve for fluid pipelines, and actuator device forming part of this system

A monitoring system for an on/off actuator device for activating a valve for fluid pipelines,

• said actuator device being configured for moving a valve member of said valve between a first position corresponding to a normal operating condition of the valve and a second position corresponding to an emergency operating condition of the valve, said actuator device comprising at least one fluid cylinder configured to drive a linear movement of an actuator rod,
• wherein said monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on the actuator device and configured to detect a plurality of operating parameters of the actuator device,
• characterized in that said plurality of sensors comprises:
• at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the fluid cylinder,
• a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the fluid cylinder,
• a linear position sensor for detecting the linear position of the actuator rod, and
• one or more deformation sensors of one or more components of the actuator,
• and in that said monitoring system comprises an electronic processing and control unit configured for:
• activating said actuator device to impart a micro-movement of the valve member,
• detecting, via said plurality of sensors, signals indicative of the values of said operating parameters during said micro-movement of the valve member, and
• as a function of the values of said operating parameters detected during said micro-movement of the valve member, estimating whether said actuator device is capable of applying a torque or force value sufficient to make said valve member perform the entire movement from the first position to the second position,
• said micro-movement being such as to constitute only the start of movement of the movable member of the valve, corresponding only to the overcoming of mechanical clearances and dissipative and deformation effects internal to the actuator, and furthermore being such as not to substantially involve any alteration in the flow of fluid controlled by the valve, and
• said steps of detecting the sensor signals and estimating the torque or force value applicable by the actuator device being automatically activated immediately following the execution of said micro-movement;
• wherein:
• said actuator device is configured for rotating said valve member of said valve between said first position and said second position,
• said actuator device comprises an actuator shaft for driving the rotation of said valve member between said first position and said second position, and a transmission for transforming a linear movement of said actuator rod into a rotation of said actuator shaft, and
• said plurality of sensors comprises an angular position sensor to detect the angular position of the actuator shaft.

A monitoring system for an on/off actuator device for activating a valve for fluid pipelines,

• said actuator device being configured for moving a valve member of said valve between a first position corresponding to a normal operating condition of the valve and a second position corresponding to an emergency operating condition of the valve, said actuator device comprising at least one fluid cylinder configured to drive a linear movement of an actuator rod,
• wherein said monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on the actuator device and configured to detect a plurality of operating parameters of the actuator device,
• characterized in that said plurality of sensors comprises:
• at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the fluid cylinder,
• a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the fluid cylinder,
• a linear position sensor for detecting the linear position of the actuator rod, and
• one or more deformation sensors of one or more components of the actuator,
• and in that said monitoring system comprises an electronic processing and control unit configured for:
• activating said actuator device to impart a micro-movement of the valve member,
• detecting, via said plurality of sensors, signals indicative of the values of said operating parameters during said micro-movement of the valve member, and
• as a function of the values of said operating parameters detected during said micro-movement of the valve member, estimating whether said actuator device is capable of applying a torque or force value sufficient to make said valve member perform the entire movement from the first position to the second position,
• said micro-movement being such as to constitute only the start of movement of the movable member of the valve, corresponding only to the overcoming of mechanical clearances and dissipative and deformation effects internal to the actuator, and furthermore being such as not to substantially involve any alteration in the flow of fluid controlled by the valve, and
• said steps of detecting the sensor signals and estimating the torque or force value applicable by the actuator device being automatically activated immediately following the execution of said micro-movement;
• wherein:
• said normal operating condition of the valve corresponds to an opened condition of the valve and said emergency operating condition of the valve corresponds to a closed condition of the valve,
• said at least one fluid cylinder is a single-acting fluid cylinder, which is normally active for holding the valve member in its first position,
• the actuator device further comprises at least one spring coupled to the actuator rod and tending to rotate the valve member towards its second position, so that closing of the valve in an emergency condition is obtained by de-activating said fluid cylinder, and
• said plurality of sensors comprises at least one of a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature at said spring, and a load cell sensor for detecting a force exerted by said spring on the actuator rod.

A monitoring system for an on/off actuator device for activating a valve for fluid pipelines,

• said actuator device being configured for moving a valve member of said valve between a first position corresponding to a normal operating condition of the valve and a second position corresponding to an emergency operating condition of the valve, said actuator device comprising at least one fluid cylinder configured to drive a linear movement of an actuator rod,
• wherein said monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors mounted on the actuator device and configured to detect a plurality of operating parameters of the actuator device,
• characterized in that said plurality of sensors comprises:
• at least one pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the fluid cylinder,
• a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the fluid cylinder,
• a linear position sensor for detecting the linear position of the actuator rod, and
• one or more deformation sensors of one or more components of the actuator,
• and in that said monitoring system comprises an electronic processing and control unit configured for:
• activating said actuator device to impart a micro-movement of the valve member,
• detecting, via said plurality of sensors, signals indicative of the values of said operating parameters during said micro-movement of the valve member, and
• as a function of the values of said operating parameters detected during said micro-movement of the valve member, estimating whether said actuator device is capable of applying a torque or force value sufficient to make said valve member perform the entire movement from the first position to the second position,
• said micro-movement being such as to constitute only the start of movement of the movable member of the valve, corresponding only to the overcoming of mechanical clearances and dissipative and deformation effects internal to the actuator, and furthermore being such as not to substantially involve any alteration in the flow of fluid controlled by the valve, and
• said steps of detecting the sensor signals and estimating the torque or force value applicable by the actuator device being automatically activated immediately following the execution of said micro-movement;
• wherein:
• said electronic processing and control unit is located in a remote control station and connected to the actuator device by means of a wired or wireless communication line,
• the sensors in said plurality of sensors mounted on the actuator device transmit signals indicative of the values of said operating parameters of the actuator device to said electronic processing and control unit, and
• said electronic processing and control unit transmits command signals to said actuator device for its activation;
• said electronic processing and control unit is connected to a plurality of actuator devices of the on/off type for activating respective valves for fluid pipelines and is configured for:
• activating said actuator devices to impart micro-movements to the respective valve members,
• detecting, by the respective plurality of sensors, respective signals indicative of the values of said operating parameters during the micro movements of the respective valve members, and
• as a function of the values of the respective operating parameters detected during the micro-movements of the respective valve members, estimating whether said actuator devices are capable of applying respective torque or force values sufficient to make the respective valve members complete the entire movement from the first position to the second position.