# US 2022/0034416 A1 · System And Method For Detecting Safe Operating Conditions And Maintained Integrity In A Pressure Safety Valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034416 A1 - Document ID: US20220034416A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/310,049 - Filed: 2020-01-16 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-16 - Assignees: Ideation AS - Applicants: Ideation AS - Inventors: Arne Ole Roald; Knut Are Dyrdal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034416A1 ## CPC - F16K 15/063: {the valve being loaded by a spring} - F16K 37/0091: {by measuring fluid parameters} - F16K 15/028: {the valve member consisting only of a predominantly disc-shaped flat element} - F16K 17/0413: {in the form of closure plates} - F16K 17/048: {combined with other safety valves, or with pressure control devices} - F16K 17/0493: {with a spring other than a helicoidal spring} - F16K 17/082: {with piston} - F16K 37/0025: {Electrical or magnetic means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0033: {using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays} - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/005: {for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0058: {Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0075: {For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment} - F16K 37/0083: {by measuring valve parameters} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A system for detecting safe operating conditions and maintained integrity in a Pressure Safety Valve (PSV) the valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve disc controlling fluid flow between the inlet and outlet, a stem connected to the valve disc, a spring washer, and a spring in communication with the valve disc and the spring washer, a vibration sensor which detects vibration in the valve disc, an inlet pressure sensor which detects the static pressure in the inlet, a position sensor which detects the position of the valve disc transferred through the stem, a compression load cell sensor which detects the dynamic force applied on the valve spring washer by the spring, an outlet pressure sensor which detects the pressure in the outlet, a separate shock sensor adapted to determine if the PSV has popped and then activate a microcontroller. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-7. (canceled) ### Claim 8 A system for detecting safe operating conditions and maintained integrity in a pressure safety valve, comprising: an inlet and an outlet; a valve disc controlling fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet; a stem connected to the valve disc; a spring washer and a spring in communication with the valve disc and the spring washer; a position sensor for detecting the position of the valve disc via the stem; a vibration sensor for detecting vibration in the valve disc; an inlet pressure sensor for detecting the static pressure in the inlet; and a microcontroller in communication with the position sensor, the vibration sensor, and the inlet pressure sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, further including a compression load cell sensor for detecting the dynamic force applied on the valve spring washer by the spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9, further including an outlet pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, further including an outlet pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the outlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, wherein, in response to the microcontroller reading an inlet pressure from the inlet pressure sensor that is above a threshold pressure, the microcontroller generates a valve-struck alarm message. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller computes a time series of frequency magnitudes based on sensed data from the vibration sensor and the inlet pressure sensor, and wherein, in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes being outside of predefined range, the microcontroller generates a check-movement message. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A system according to claim 13, wherein, in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes being outside of predefined range, the microcontroller generates a movement alarm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller computes a time series of frequency magnitudes based on data read from the vibration sensor and the inlet pressure sensor, and wherein in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforming to a corresponding stored pop data set reflecting a fast opening of the valve outside of predefined range, the microcontroller generates an estimate of a flow volume. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforming to a corresponding stored pop data set reflecting a fast opening of the valve outside of predefined range, the microcontroller generates a log that a pop has occurred. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) A system according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller computes a time series of frequency magnitudes based on data read from the vibration sensor, and wherein in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforming to a corresponding stored leak data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a leaky valve, the microcontroller generates an estimate of a leak flow volume. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein in response to the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforming to a corresponding stored leak data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a leaky valve, the microcontroller generates a log that a valve is leaking. ### Claim 19 A method for detecting safe operating conditions in a pressure safety valve, the pressure safety valve including an inlet and an outlet, a valve disc controlling fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, a position sensor for detecting the position of the valve disc, a vibration sensor for detecting vibration in the valve disc, and an inlet pressure sensor for detecting the inlet pressure in the inlet, the method comprising: a) comparing the inlet pressure with a predefined value, and if the inlet pressure is above the predefined value, generating a valve-stuck alarm, storing sensor data, and terminating the method; b) if the inlet pressure is below the predefined value, computing a time series of frequency magnitudes for sensor data from the vibration sensor and inlet pressure sensor, and comparing the computed time series of frequency magnitudes with a corresponding stored condition data set of time series of frequency magnitudes, and if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes is outside of an acceptable range: generating a check-movement alarm, storing sensor data, and terminating the method; c) if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes is within the acceptable range, comparing the time series of frequency magnitudes with a corresponding stored pop data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a fast opening of the valve, and if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforms to the stored pop data set: estimating a flow volume through the valve, logging that a pop has occurred, storing sensor data and the flow volume, and terminating the procedure; d) if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes does not conform to the stored pop data set, comparing the time series of frequency magnitudes for the vibration sensor with a corresponding stored leak data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a leaky valve, and if the time series of frequency magnitudes for the vibration sensor conforms to the stored leak data set: estimating leak flow volume through the valve, logging that the valve is leaking, storing sensor data and the leak flow volume, and terminating the procedure; and e) if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes does not conform to the stored leak data set, terminating the procedure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the flow volume through the valve is estimated from the pressures read by the inlet pressure sensor and an outlet pressure sensor, and by the position of the valve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, further including, comparing sensed data of a compression load cell sensor for detecting the dynamic force applied on a valve spring washer with a predefined value, and if the compression load cell sensor data is out of acceptable range, generating a check movement message and a movement alarm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, wherein the pressure safety valve includes a microprocessor, the microprocessor initially being in a sleep mode, the microprocessor is activated either by detecting a certain level of vibration or by receiving a signal from a wake-up timer. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) A method according to claim 19, further comprising communicating a message to an external system, the message being associated with one of the alarms, the logged pop, or the logged leaking valve. ### Claim 24 A method for detecting safe operating conditions in a pressure safety valve, the pressure safety valve including an inlet and an outlet, a valve disc controlling fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, a position sensor for detecting the position of the valve disc, a vibration sensor for detecting vibration in the valve disc, and an inlet pressure sensor for detecting the inlet pressure in the inlet, the method comprising: a) comparing the inlet pressure with a predefined value and, if the inlet pressure is above the predefined value, generating a valve-stuck alarm; b) computing a time series of frequency magnitudes for sensor data from the vibration sensor and inlet pressure sensor, c) comparing the computed time series of frequency magnitudes with a corresponding stored condition data set of time series of frequency magnitudes, and, if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes is outside of an acceptable range, generating a check-movement alarm, d) comparing the time series of frequency magnitudes with a corresponding stored pop data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a fast opening of the valve and, if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforms to the stored pop data set, developing a log that a pop has occurred; and e) comparing the time series of frequency magnitudes for the vibration sensor with a corresponding stored leak data set of time series of frequency magnitudes reflecting a leaky valve and, if the time series of frequency magnitudes for the vibration sensor conforms to the stored leak data set, developing a log that the valve is leaking. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, wherein, if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes conforms to the stored pop data set, estimating the flow volume through the valve and storing the flow volume. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, wherein, if the computed time series of frequency magnitudes for the vibration sensor conforms to the stored leak data set, estimating the leak flow volume through the valve and storing the leak flow volume. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) A method according to claim 24, further comprising communicating a message to an external system, the message being associated with one of the alarms, the logged pop, or the logged leaking valve.