Automatically controlled desurging system
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsBobbie J. Patton, John W. Harrell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A desurging system is placed in the fluid flow line near the output of a fluid pump to remove pressure fluctuations created in the flowing fluid by action of the fluid pump. The fluid passes through a gas-loaded, diaphragm type, fluid desurger. A gas volume control unit automatically controls the gas volume in the desurger by controlling both the gas-charging and the gas-discharging operations in response to measurements of the gas volume in the desurger and the gas flow rate into and out of the desurger. A diaphragm protection control unit is responsive to a measurement of the differential pressure across the diaphragm of the desurger to automatically bleed off the gas pressure in the desurger any time that such pressure exceeds the strength limitations of the diaphragm.
Claims14
In a gas-loaded hydraulic desurger of the type having a flexible diaphragm dividing said desurger into a first chamber pressurized from a gas supply and a second chamber through which flowing fluid is passed, the method of controlling the gas pressure in said first chamber comprising the steps of:
- (a) measuring the gas volume within said first chamber,
- (b) comparing the measured gas volume with predetermined upper and lower limits for the gas volume,
- (c) charging the gas pressure in said first chamber should the measured gas volume fall below said lower limit,
- (d) discharging the gas pressure in said first chamber should the measured gas volume exceed said upper limit,
- (e) measuring the gas flow rate into and out of said first chamber during charging and discharging of said gas pressure,
- (f) determining from said measured gas flow rate the amount of change in said measured gas volume due to the charging or discharging of said gas pressure, and
- (g) terminating the charging or discharging of said gas pressure when the change in said measured gas volume reaches a first level.
A system for controlling the charging and discharging of a gas-loaded hydraulic desurger of the type having a flexible diaphragm dividing said desurger into a first chamber pressurized from a gas supply and a second chamber through which flowing fluid is passed so as to minimize any pressure fluctuations of the flowing fluid, comprising:
- (a) means for producing a first signal when the gas volume in said first chamber drops below a predetermined lower limit and a second signal when the gas volume in said first chamber exceeds a predetermined upper limit,
- (b) means responsive to said first signal for charging said first chamber with gas from said gas supply,
- (c) means responsive to said second signal for discharging gas from said first chamber,
- (d) means for measuring the charging or discharging gas flow rate, and
- (e) means responsive to said measured gas flow rate for indicating the amount of change in said gas volume due to a charging or discharging of said first chamber.
In a gas-loaded, hydraulic fluid desurging system having a housing divided by means of a flexible diaphragm into a first chamber which is pressurized from a gas supply and into a second chamber through which a flowing fluid is passed, the improvement comprising:
- (a) a first transducer for measuring the gas volume in said first chamber,
- (b) means for producing a first control signal when said measured gas volume drops below a predetermined lower limit for a desired gas volume in said first chamber,
- (c) means for producing a second control signal when said measured gas volume exceeds a predetermined upper limit for a desired gas volume in said first chamber,
- (d) a first valve responsive to said first control signal for charging said first chamber with gas from said gas supply,
- (e) a second valve responsive to said second control signal for discharging gas from said first chamber,
- (f) a second transducer for measuring the charging and discharging gas flow rate into and out of said first chamber,
- (g) means responsive to said measured gas flow rate for indicating the amount of change in said gas volume due to gas charging or discharging of said first chamber, and
- (h) means for terminating said first and second control signals when the change in said gas volume reaches a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.