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US 7,069,137 B2Granted
Valve flow metering control system and method
AssigneePrecision Engine Controls Corporation
InventorNathan Todd Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine valve control system is provided. The turbine valve control system includes a variable flow metering device, a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, a fourth sensor, memory, and processing circuitry. The variable flow metering device is capable of meeting a plurality of predetermined mass flow rates by varying positioning of the flow metering device. The processing circuitry is configured to receive the signals, determine whether the flow is subsonic or sonic, and implement a corresponding one of the first and second computer program codes to calculate a combined coefficient of discharge times area that will generate a desired mass flow rate for the flow metering device. A method is also provided.
Claims20
A gas control valve, comprising:
- a variable flow metering device capable of realizing a plurality of predetermined mass flow rates by varying configuration of the flow metering device;
- at least one sensor configured to:
- a. detect variable configurations of the flow metering device and generate a first output signal that is a function of the configuration of the flow metering device;
- b. detect fluid pressure upstream of the flow metering device and generate a second output signal that is a function of the detected upstream fluid pressure;
- c. detect fluid pressure downstream of the flow metering device and generate a third output signal that is a function of the detected downstream fluid pressure;
- d. detect temperature upstream of a flow metering device and generate a fourth output signal that is a function of the detected temperature;
- memory including first computer program code for calculating a combined coefficient of discharge times area that gives a desired flow for a given configuration of the flow metering device, upstream pressure, downstream pressure, and temperature for subsonic flow and second computer program code for calculating a combined coefficient of discharge times area that gives a desired flow for a given configuration of the flow metering device, upstream pressure, and temperature for sonic flow;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to receive the signals, determine whether flow is subsonic or sonic, and implement a corresponding one of the first and second computer program codes to calculate a combined coefficient of discharge times area that will generate a desired mass flow rate for the flow metering device.
6 more elements
A method for measuring gas flow rate into a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- providing an adjustable position valve having a known coefficient of discharge and flow area for meeting a predetermined mass flow rate at each position of the valve;
- sensing at least two of:
- a. position of the valve, b. pressure upstream of the valve, c. pressure downstream of the valve, and d. temperature upstream of the valve:
- determining whether flow through the valve is subsonic or sonic;
- based on whether the flow is determined to be subsonic or sonic, providing a coefficient of discharge times area for the valve that provides a desired flow rate through the valve;
- and
- calculating a new position for the valve that realizes the calculated coefficient of discharge times area for the valve.
4 more elements
A turbine valve control system, comprising:
- a variable flow metering device having a known coefficient of discharge and flow area, the flow metering device capable of meeting a plurality of predetermined mass flow rates by varying positioning of the flow metering device, with the coefficient of discharge and the flow area each being functions of position of the flow metering device;
- a first sensor for detecting variable positioning of the flow metering device and generating a first output signal that is a function of the positioning of the flow metering device;
- a second sensor for detecting fluid pressure upstream of the flow metering device and generating a second output signal that is a function of the detected upstream fluid pressure;
- a third sensor for detecting fluid pressure downstream of the flow metering device and generating a third output signal that is a function of the detected downstream fluid pressure;
- a fourth sensor for detecting temperature upstream of the flow metering device and generating a fourth output signal that is a function of the detected temperature;
- memory including first computer program code for calculating a combined coefficient of discharge times area that gives a desired flow for a given valve position, upstream pressure, downstream pressure, and temperature for subsonic flow and second computer program code for calculating a combined coefficient of discharge times area that gives a desired flow for a given valve position, upstream pressure, and temperature for sonic flow;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to receive the signals, determine whether flow is subsonic or sonic, and implement a corresponding one of the first and second computer program codes to calculate a combined coefficient of discharge times area that will generate a desired mass flow rate for the flow metering device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.