Regulator diagnostics system and method

Apparatus for measuring operation parameters of a pressure regulator and obtaining diagnostic data based on the operation parameters, the pressure regulator being disposed in a fluid flow passage and having a throttling element moveable in the flow passage, the apparatus comprising:

• a first pressure sensor in fluid communication upstream of the throttling element that provides an upstream pressure signal;
• a second pressure sensor in fluid communication downstream of the throttling element that provides a downstream pressure signal;
• a travel indicator for determining a position of the throttling element and generating a travel signal;
• a processor for receiving the first pressure signal, second pressure signal, and travel signal, the processor including a logic sub-routine for comparing at least two of the first pressure, second pressure, and travel signals and generating an alarm signal in accordance with a logic sub-routine.

A method for performing diagnostics on a pressure regulator positioned in a fluid flow passage, the pressure regulator having a throttling element movable in the flow passage, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a first pressure signal indicating a pressure of the fluid upstream of the throttling element;
• generating a second pressure signal indicating a pressure of the fluid downstream of the throttling element;
• and
• generating an alarm signal based on at least one of the first and second pressure signals in accordance with a logic sub-routine.

A method for performing diagnostics on a pressure regulator positioned in a fluid flow passage, the pressure regulator having a throttling element movable in the flow passage, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating an upstream pressure value by measuring fluid pressure upstream of the throttling element;
• generating a downstream pressure value by measuring fluid pressure downstream of the throttling element;
• generating a travel value by determining a position of the throttling element;
• comparing at least two of the upstream pressure, downstream pressure, travel values and generating an alarm signal in accordance with a logic sub-routine.