US 4,932,232 A · Methods of detecting and correcting spray header malfunctions

Abstract

A method of detecting spray header valve and nozzle malfunctions, in a spray header including plural nozzles each having its own control valve, by supplying the spray header with liquid at a constant pressure head through a conduit while opening and closing the nozzle valves one at a time, and measuring the flow rate through the conduit each time one of the valves is open and when all the valves are closed. In response to detection of a malfunction at a particular nozzle, the valves of one or more adjacent nozzles are adjusted so that the adjacent-nozzle flow rates compensate for the malfunction, for example to maintain a desired cooling pattern across a surface being cooled by the spray header notwithstanding the malfunction at the particular nozzle.

Claims8

Dependent claims

For use with a spray header having a manifold receiving liquid from a supply line and from which liquid is discharged, in parallel sprays, through a plurality of nozzles adjacent each other and separately controlled by a corresponding plurality of individual valves respectively associated with the nozzles, a method of detecting malfunctions of individual ones of said nozzles and/or their associated valves, said method comprising

(a) continuously supplying liquid under a constant pressure head to said manifold through a conduit, after initially closing all said valves, while
(b) measuring the flow rate of liquid through said conduit when all said valves are closed,
(c) successively opening and closing each of said valves with all the other valves maintained in closed condition, and
(d) measuring the flow rate of liquid through said conduit each time one of the valves is open during performance of step (c);
and
(e) deriving, from the flow rate measurements made in steps (b) and (d), an indication for each nozzle as to the existence, and if present the effect on nozzle discharge, of a malfunction at that nozzle.

3 more elements

For use with a spray header having a manifold receiving liquid from a supply line and from which liquid is discharged, in parallel sprays, through a plurality of nozzles adjacent each other and separately controlled by a corresponding plurality of individual valves respectively associated with the nozzles, each of said valves being adjustable to vary the flow rate through its associated nozzle, a method of compensating for malfunctions of individual ones of said nozzles and/or their associated valves, said method comprising

(a) detecting valve and/or nozzle malfunctions by
(i) continuously supplying liquid under a constant pressure head to said manifold through a conduit, after initially closing all said valves, while
(ii) measuring the flow rate of liquid through said conduit when all said valves are closed,
(iii) successively opening and closing each of said valves with all the other valves maintained in closed condition, and
(iv) measuring the flow rate of liquid through said conduit each time one of the valves is open during performance of step (iii);
and
(v) deriving, from the flow rate measurements made in steps (ii) and (iv), an indication for each nozzle as to the existence, and if present the effect on nozzle discharge, of a malfunction at that nozzle;
and
(b) upon deriving an indication of malfunction at one of said nozzles, and in response to said indication, setting at least one valve associated with a nozzle adjacent said one nozzle to provide a flow rate through said adjacent nozzle having a magnitude effective to compensate for the indicated malfunction at said one nozzle.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods of detecting and correcting spray header malfunctions

Life of this patent

Methods of detecting and correcting spray header malfunctions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8