Wireless valve actuator system and method

A process control system comprising:

• a valve installed in a natural gas pipeline;
• a gas-over-oil actuator system operatively coupled to the valve, the gas-over-oil actuator system including;
• a gas-over-oil actuator;
• a wireless position monitor operatively coupled to the gas-over-oil actuator, the wireless position monitor having an integral pneumatic pilot valve;
• at least one switching relay operatively coupled to the gas-over-oil actuator and the wireless position monitor, the at least one switching relay for receiving a signal from the pneumatic pilot valve of the wireless position monitor;
• and
• a bleed valve for maintaining the at least one switching relay in an open position for a time required by the valve to complete a desired travel distance, the bleed valve having a locking nut to prevent tampering and disposed within a lockable cabinet;
• a workstation having a controller communicatively coupled to the wireless position monitor via a wireless network;
• wherein, upon receiving a command from the controller via the wireless network, the wireless position monitor drives a signal from the pneumatic pilot valve to the at least one switching relay to manage pressure supply to the gas-over-oil actuator and move the valve to a desired position.

A wireless actuator system for use with a valve in a natural gas pipeline, the wireless actuator system comprising:

• an actuator adapted to be operatively coupled to a valve disposed in a natural gas pipeline;
• a wireless position monitor operatively coupled to the actuator, the wireless position monitor having an integral opened center spool valve and adapted to be communicatively coupled to a remote workstation via a wireless network;
• at least one switching relay operatively coupled to the actuator and the wireless position monitor, the at least one switching relay for receiving a pressure signal from the opened center spool valve of the wireless position monitor;
• and
• a differential pressure transmitter operatively coupled to the actuator to measure one or more of a differential pressure across the actuator or an operating torque of the valve, the differential pressure transmitter communicatively coupled to the workstation via the wireless network and a gateway to allow data acquisition and feedback relative to the differential pressure across the actuator or the operating torque of the valve,
• wherein, upon receiving a wireless command from the remote workstation, the wireless position monitor drives the pressure signal from the opened center spool valve to the at least one switching relay to manage pressure supply to the actuator and move the valve to a desired position.

A method of operating a valve disposed within a natural gas pipeline, the method comprising:

• integrating a wireless position monitor into an actuator operatively coupled to the valve, the wireless position monitor communicatively coupled to a workstation via a wireless network;
• transmitting, via one or more transmitters, a command from a controller of the workstation to the wireless position monitor via the wireless network;
• sending a pressure signal from a pneumatic pilot valve of the wireless position monitor to at least one switching relay upon receiving the command, the at least one switching relay operatively coupled to the wireless position monitor and the actuator;
• preventing excess torque from the actuator via at least one torque limiting device disposed between and operatively coupled to the wireless position monitor and the at least one switching relay;
• and
• managing a high pressure supply to the actuator via the at least one switching relay to move the valve to a desired position in response to the pressure signal received from the pneumatic pilot valve.

A gas-over-oil actuator system for use with a valve in a natural gas pipeline, the system comprising:

• a gas-over-oil actuator;
• a wireless position monitor operatively coupled to the gas-over-oil actuator, the wireless position monitor having an integral opened center spool valve and adapted to be communicatively coupled to a remote workstation;
• a solenoid valve system operatively coupled and external to the wireless position monitor, the solenoid valve system having at least one solenoid valve;
• at least one switching relay operatively coupled to the gas-over-oil actuator and the wireless position monitor, the at least one switching relay for receiving a high pressure signal from the opened center spool valve of the wireless position monitor;
• and
• at least one torque limiting device disposed between the wireless position monitor and the at least one switching relay to prevent excess torque from the gas-over-oil actuator;
• wherein, upon wirelessly receiving a command from the remote workstation, the wireless position monitor drives a high pressure signal from the solenoid valve system to the opened center spool valve and into the at least one switching relay to manage a high pressure supply having the same pressure as the high pressure signal to the gas-over-oil actuator.