Monitoring condition of a valve plug in a valve
AssigneeDresser, Inc.
InventorsNavin Sakthivel, Cyril Vlassoff, Mikhail Anisimov, Stanley Amirthasamy, George Dodan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring unit is configured for use on a valve. These configurations may include sensors that can generate data consistent with physical condition of a closure member, like a valve “plug,” when the valve is in service on a process line. Analysis of this data may indicate erosion on the plug that is often due to highly-erosive working fluids or other process (or application) conditions. Signals or alerts from the process control system, or DCS, may alert operators to perform timely maintenance that avoids problems that may arise as a result of physical changes in the valve plug.
Claims20
A valve, comprising:
- a valve plug;
- a valve body having a flow path to receive the valve plug;
- and
- a sensor unit mounted to the valve body, the sensor unit generating a signal in response to physical changes on a surface of the valve plug.
A valve, comprising:
- a valve plug;
- a valve body having a flow path to receive the valve plug;
- and
- a property-sensitive device that generates a field that interacts with a surface of the valve plug to generate a signal.
A valve, comprising:
- a valve plug having a coating on its surface;
- and
- a monitoring unit with one or more sensors that are configured to show changes in thickness of the coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.