Method and apparatus for testing solenoids in a safety system by bypassing the solenoid operated pilot valve
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorsMartin James Smith, Peter Yau-kwong Leung, Richard Arthur Stanley, Larry Lee Drake, Richard Thomas Mangan
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing the operation of solenoids in a safety system by bypassing the solenoid operated pilot valve and applying a pneumatic control source to the system being tested through a bypass line while demonstrating the operation of the solenoid operated pilot valve for such a system using a test pressure source and a test input through the testing system. The system thereby permits continued operation of the process system while verifying proper operation of the safety system.
Claims15
An apparatus for testing a solenoid and its associated solenoid operated valve in a safety system, comprising:
- a. a test pressure source containing a compressed gas;
- b. a first valve in fluid communication with the test pressure source;
- c. a valve which substantially isolates a fluid source from a component having an operator in fluid communication with the first safety system valve;
- d. a bypass line in fluid communication with the first valve and a pneumatic supply source;
- e. a first solenoid operated valve in fluid communication with the first valve and having an inlet, an outlet, a vent and a solenoid;
- f. a second valve in fluid communication with the pneumatic supply source, the inlet of the first solenoid operated valve, the bypass line and a solenoid operated vent valve
- thereby permitting the testing of the first solenoid operated valve and its associated solenoid without operating the safety system valve.
A method for testing solenoids and associated solenoid operated valves in safety system while a control system continues to operate a safety system valve, comprising:
- a. shifting a pneumatic control source to a safety system valve operator from a solenoid operated valve to a bypass supply line;
- b. aligning an outlet of the solenoid operated valve to a test pressure source containing a compressed gas;
- c. actuating the solenoid of the solenoid operated valve to change the position of the solenoid operated valve to vent the compressed gas in the test pressure source to atmosphere;
- d. monitoring the venting of the test pressure source through the solenoid operated valve to verify solenoid operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.