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US 8,985,143 B2Granted
Apparatus for monitoring of valves and method of operating the same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsGuido Felice Forte, Jr., David Ernest Welch, Edward Leo Kudlacik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve includes a valve stem assembly including at least one wall and at least one passage at least partially defined within the valve stem assembly. The at least one passage defines a first opening. At least one portion of the at least one wall defines an erosion site that is configured to undergo contact with solid particles such that a second opening of the passage is defined. The valve also includes at least one sensing device coupled in flow communication with the at least one passage through the first opening. The at least one sensing device is configured to transmit a signal representative of an increased fluid flow through the at least one passage.
Claims16
A valve comprising:
- a valve stem assembly comprising at least one wall and at least one passage at least partially defined within said valve stem assembly, said at least one passage defines a first opening,
- wherein at least one portion of said at least one wall defines an erosion site that is configured to undergo contact with solid particles such that a second opening of said passage is defined,
- wherein said valve stem assembly comprises a valve stem defining an outer surface thereon and at least one valve stem enclosure device at least partially extending about said valve stem, and
- wherein said at least one passage is drilled within at least one of said valve stem and said at least one valve stem enclosure device, wherein said at least one erosion site comprises at least one of:
- (i) a remaining portion of at least one of said valve stem and said at least one valve stem enclosure device that has not been removed by drilling, and (ii) a replacement material deposited at said at least one erosion site;
- and
- at least one sensing device coupled in flow communication with said at least one passage through said first opening, said at least one sensing device is configured to transmit a signal representative of an increased fluid flow through said at least one passage.
4 more elements
A fluid system comprising:
- at least one fluid source;
- at least one valve coupled in flow communication with said at least one fluid source, said at least one valve comprising a valve stem assembly comprising at least one wall, wherein said valve stem assembly comprises at least one of:
- a valve stem defining an outer surface thereon and at least one valve stem enclosure device at least partially extending about said valve stem;
- and
- a valve monitoring system comprising:
- at least a portion of said at least one wall;
- at least one passage at least partially defined within said valve stem assembly, wherein said at least one passage defines a first opening, said at least one passage is drilled within at least one of said valve stem and said at least one valve stem enclosure device;
- and
- at least one sensing device coupled in flow communication with said at least one passage through said first opening, said at least one sensing device is configured to transmit a signal representative of an increased fluid flow through said at least one passage,
- wherein said at least a portion of said at least one wall defines an erosion site that is configured to undergo contact with solid particles such that a second opening of said passage is defined, wherein said at least one erosion site comprises at least one of:
- (i) a remaining portion of at least one of said valve stem and said at least one valve stem enclosure device that has not been removed by drilling, and (ii) a replacement material deposited at said at least one erosion site.
8 more elements
A method of operating a fluid system, said method comprising:
- channeling a fluid from a fluid source to a valve, the fluid includes entrained particles, the valve includes a valve stem assembly, wherein the valve stem assembly comprises at least one of:
- a valve stem defining an outer surface thereon and a valve stem enclosure device at least partially extending about the valve stem;
- impinging the fluid with the entrained particles against at least a portion of the valve stem assembly;
- eroding the at least a portion of the valve stem assembly and exposing a passage that extends through the valve stem assembly to the fluid by eroding a portion of an erosion site that includes a wall of one of the valve stem and the valve stem enclosure device, wherein the passage is drilled within at least one of the valve stem and the valve stem enclosure device, and wherein the erosion site comprises at least one of:
- (i) a remaining portion of at least one of the valve stem and the valve stem enclosure device that has not been removed by drilling, and (ii) a replacement material deposited at the erosion site;
- channeling a portion of the fluid through the passage and contacting a sensing device;
- and
- transmitting a signal from the sensing device representative of increased fluid flow through the passage.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.