Energy Storage and Control System for Pipeline Flow Control
OwnerJason Hoffbauer, John Carroll +1inventors
InventorsJason Hoffbauer, John Carroll, Jamie Lorentz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid control system for controlling flow of a process fluid can include an actuator and an energy storage system. The actuator can be configured to actuate a valve to control the flow of the process fluid and the energy storage system can drive the actuator. The energy storage system can include an accumulator in fluid communication with the actuator and a manual pump configured to charge the accumulator.
Claims20
1-15. (canceled)
A fluid control system comprising:
- an actuator configured to move a valve between open and closed positions;
- and
- an energy storage system in fluid communication with the actuator to drive the actuator, the energy storage system including:
- a single accumulator having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber in fluid communication with the actuator and the second chamber in fluid communication with a pipeline to receive pressurized fluid from the pipeline;
- and
- a pump arranged to pump hydraulic fluid into the first chamber of the single accumulator to charge the single accumulator against the pressure of the pressurized fluid in the second chamber,
- the energy storage system defining:
- a fully charged state, in which the first chamber of the single accumulator includes a maximum operational volume of the hydraulic fluid and the second chamber includes a minimum operational volume of the pressurized fluid, and
- a fully discharged state, in which the first chamber of the single accumulator includes a minimum operational volume of the hydraulic fluid and the second chamber includes a maximum operational volume of the pressurized fluid.
An energy storage system for driving an actuator, the actuator configured to move a valve between open and closed positions to control flow of a process fluid through a section of a pipeline, the energy storage system comprising:
- a vessel defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with the actuator and with a pump, the pump configured to charge the vessel with a control fluid against pressure applied by the process fluid;
- and
- a sensor configured to sense a fluid level of the control fluid within the vessel and signal whether the control fluid is at a maximum operational volume, the maximum operational volume being less than the total volume of the internal chamber of the vessel.
A method of actuating a valve of a pipeline for a process fluid, the method comprising:
- charging an accumulator, wherein charging the accumulator includes manually pumping a control fluid from a fluid reservoir to charge a first chamber of the accumulator with the control fluid,
- discharging the accumulator to drive an actuator of the valve via a flow of the control fluid out of the first chamber, powered by pressure of process fluid within the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.