US 8,600,566 B1Granted

Thermal management smart valve with rupture detection and isolation

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsDonald R. Longo, Donald D. Dalessandro, Qing Dong, Frank T. Ferrese, John M. Roach, Michael G. Zink

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Abstract

The condition of a fluid piping system is monitored by multiple intercommunicative smart valves, each executing a computer algorithm that designates smart valves as critical or non-critical, compares measurement data versus simulation data, and makes decisions based on the critical-or-noncritical designations and the measurement-versus-simulation comparisons. Initial measurement-versus-simulation comparisons are made for downstream pressure, flow rate, and temperature. If a measurement-versus-simulation discrepancy is found in either the downstream pressure or the flow rate, then the algorithm compares a measurement rupture determinant versus a simulation rupture determinant; if a measurement-versus-simulation discrepancy is found in the rupture determinant, then the smart valve is closed. If a measurement-versus-simulation discrepancy is found in the temperature, then the smart valve, if non-critical, is closed; however, if the smart valve is critical, then the nearest upstream non-critical smart valve is closed. Any measurement-versus-simulation discrepancy results, at least, in an alarm or warning.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored thereon for execution by a first computer to perform a method for managing fluid conduction in a temperature-critical fluid system including multiple valves, each of said multiple valves associated with one of multiple computers executing said computer readable program, said first computer having a first said valve associated therewith, the method including:

modeling said fluid system so as to represent predictive characteristics of fluid passing through each of said multiple valves in said fluid system, said predictive characteristics including a predictive fluid inlet pressure, a predictive fluid outlet pressure, a predictive fluid temperature, and a predictive flow rate;
determining actual characteristics of fluid passing through said first valve, said actual characteristics including an actual fluid inlet pressure, an actual fluid outlet pressure, an actual fluid temperature, and an actual flow rate;
ascertaining whether an abnormal condition exists in said fluid system with respect to said first valve, said ascertaining of whether said abnormal condition exists including comparing said actual fluid outlet pressure versus said predictive fluid outlet pressure, comparing said actual flow rate versus said predictive flow rate, and comparing said actual fluid temperature versus said predictive fluid temperature, wherein said abnormal condition is implied by at least one nonequivalent comparison of said actual characteristic versus said predictive characteristic;
and
taking remedial action if said abnormal condition is ascertained to exist with respect to said first valve, wherein the action taken includes causing closure of said first valve, or causing closure of at least one valve other than said first valve;
communicating information pertaining to said abnormal condition to every computer, other than said first computer, with which a valve is associated in said fluid system, said communication including information of said closure;
updating said modeling of said fluid system to account for said closure, wherein said updated modeling includes adjustment of said predictive fluid temperature of each of said multiple valves in said fluid system.

4 more elements

A valvular network comprising plural smart valvular units that are in electronic communication with each other and that are suitable for use in a temperature-critical fluid system, each said smart valvular unit of said plural smart valvular units comprising:

a valve;
a fluid temperature sensor;
an inlet fluid pressure sensor;
an outlet fluid pressure sensor;
and
a computer configured to execute computer program logic that, when executed, is capable of processing data including sensing performed by said fluid temperature sensor in the same said smart valvular unit, said inlet fluid pressure sensor in the same said smart valvular unit, and said outlet fluid pressure sensor in the same said smart valvular unit, said computer program logic being capable of processing said data so as to detect an anomalous circumstance relating to the same said smart valvular unit based on comparison between a sensory-derived value and a corresponding predicted value, initiate activity responsive to the detected anomalous circumstance relating to the same said smart valvular unit, and continually update a simulation of said fluid system, said data processable by said computer program logic including critical-versus-noncritical valve status of said valve of each said smart valvular unit in the valvular network, open-versus-closed condition of said valve of each said smart valvular unit in the valvular network, fluid temperature relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, inlet fluid pressure relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, and outlet fluid pressure relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, wherein according to said computer program logic:
if a sensory-derived value for said outlet fluid pressure relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit or a flow rate relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit does not match a corresponding predicted value for said outlet fluid pressure relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, or said flow rate relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit and a sensory-derived value for rupture determinant relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit does not match a corresponding predicted value for said rupture determinant relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, then said valve of the same said smart valvular unit is closed;
if a sensory-derived value for said fluid temperature relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular does not match a corresponding predicted value for said fluid temperature relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, and said valve of the same said smart valvular unit is non-critical, then said valve of the same said smart valvular unit is closed;
if a sensory-derived value for said fluid temperature relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit does not match a corresponding predicted value for said fluid temperature relating to said valve of the same said smart valvular unit, and said valve of said valve of the same said smart valvular unit is critical, then a nearest upstream non-critical valve of at least one different smart valvular unit of said plural smart valvular units in the valvular network is closed;
said computer program logic being further capable of:
if at least one valve of said plural smart valvular units in the valvular network is closed according to said computer program logic, updating said simulation of said fluid system to reflect said closure of said at least one valve of said plural smart valvular units in the valvular network, wherein said updating includes change of at least one said corresponding predicted values for said fluid temperature relating to said at least one valve of said plural smart valvular units in the valvular network.

8 more elements

A method for monitoring and controlling a fluid system, the method comprising performing the following steps on a continual basis:

obtaining empirical data in association with each valve in a fluid system having multiple valves, said empirical data including an empirical fluid temperature, an empirical outlet fluid pressure, an empirical flow rate, and an empirical rupture determinant, said empirical rupture determinant being calculated based on said empirical outlet fluid pressure and said empirical flow rate;
simulating said fluid system, said simulating of said fluid system including obtaining simulative data in association with each said valve, said simulative data including a simulative fluid temperature, a simulative outlet fluid pressure, a simulative flow rate, and a simulative rupture determinant, said simulative rupture determinant being calculated based on said simulative outlet fluid pressure and said simulative flow rate;
for each said valve in said fluid system, comparing said empirical fluid temperature to said simulative fluid temperature, said empirical outlet fluid pressure to said simulative outlet fluid pressure, said empirical flow rate to said simulative flow rate, and said empirical rupture determinant to said simulative rupture determinant, wherein said empirical rupture determinant is compared to said simulative rupture determinant if:
said empirical outlet fluid pressure compares nonequivalently to said simulative outlet fluid pressure;
or, said empirical flow rate compares nonequivalently to said simulative flow rate;
closing a said valve in said fluid system, if:
said empirical rupture determinant compares nonequivalently to said simulative rupture determinant;
or, said valve is noncritical and said empirical fluid temperature compares nonequivalently to said simulative fluid temperature;
closing a said valve in said fluid system, if at least one other said valve in said fluid system is critical and said empirical fluid temperature associated with the other said valve compares nonequivalently to said simulative fluid temperature associated with the other said valve, wherein said valve being closed is upstream of and nearest to the other said valve;
upon closure of at least one said valve in said fluid system, changing said simulation of said fluid system in accordance with said closure, wherein said change of said simulation of said fluid system includes change of said simulative fluid temperature in association with at least one said valve in said fluid system.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.