Controller and control system for a pressure reducing valve

An apparatus for adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying fluid to a consumer region, in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller and
• a remote data processing system;
• wherein the controller comprises a processor, a data storage unit, a first input for a signal representative of a measured value which is used in determining the required output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a control output for providing a signal to an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a second input for receiving, from an output pressure sensor, a signal representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a data logging module for logging data representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve at moments in time, together with time stamp information;
• and a communications module for receiving data from and sending data to the remote data processing system;
• the data storage unit stores parameters representing a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve as a function of the measured value;
• and the processor is configured to process (i) data representative of the measured value and (ii) the stored parameters, so that a signal is provided from the control output in order to cause the pressure reducing valve to be adjusted to provide the required output pressure corresponding to the measured value;
• the controller is configured to use the communications module to communicate data logged by the data logging module to the remote data processing system at intervals;
• the remote data processing system is configured to receive the logged data from the controller;
• to receive critical point pressure data from a critical point pressure sensor adjacent the critical point, the critical point pressure data being representative of the pressure at the critical point at moments in time and including time stamp information;
• to use the logged data received from the controller and the critical point pressure data so as to calculate revised parameters to be transmitted to the controller;
• and to transmit the revised parameters to the controller at intervals;
• and
• the controller is configured to use the communications module to receive the revised parameters from the remote data processing system, and to store the revised parameters in the data storage unit.

A controller for adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying fluid to a consumer region, in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region, the controller comprising:

• a processor;
• a data storage unit;
• a first input for a signal representative of a measured value which is used in determining the required output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a control output for providing a signal to an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a second input for receiving, from an output pressure sensor, a signal representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a data logging module for logging data representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve at moments in time, together with time stamp information;
• and
• a communications module for receiving data from and sending data to a remote data processing system;
• wherein the data storage unit stores parameters representing a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve as a function of the measured value;
• and the processor is configured to process (i) data representative of the measured value and (ii) the stored parameters, so that a signal is provided from the control output in order to cause the pressure reducing valve to be adjusted to provide the required output pressure corresponding to the measured value;
• and
• the controller is configured to communicate logged data at intervals to the remote data processing system, to receive revised parameters from the remote data processing system, and to store the revised parameters in the data storage unit.

A method of adjusting the output pressure of a pressure reducing valve supplying fluid to a consumer region, in order to establish a desired minimum fluid pressure at a critical point in the consumer region, using a controller which comprises a processor, a data storage unit, a first input for a signal which is used to provide data representative of the flow rate from the pressure reducing valve;

• a control output for providing a signal to an adjusting mechanism to adjust the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• a second input which receives, from an output pressure sensor, a signal representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve;
• and a data logging module which logs data representative of the output pressure of the pressure reducing valve at moments in time, together with time stamp information, comprising:
• the data storage unit storing a first set of parameters representing a required output pressure from the pressure reducing valve as a function of the flow rate, the first set of parameters being applicable for a first period of time;
• the processor processes (i) the data representative of the flow rate and (ii) the stored set of parameters, so that a signal is provided from the control output which causes the pressure reducing valve to be adjusted to provide the required output pressure corresponding to the flow rate;
• and
• storing critical point pressure data from a critical point pressure sensor adjacent the critical point, the critical point pressure data being representative of the pressure at the critical point at moments in time and including time stamp information;
• and
• calculating, at intervals, revised sets of parameters using the logged data representative of the output pressure from the pressure reducing valve, and the stored critical point pressure data, and storing each revised set of parameters in the data storage module, each revised set of parameters being applicable for a subsequent period of time.