Fluid control system with automatic recovery feature
US6661112B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF03B13/00
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fluid control method includes providing fluid flow through a conduit having a pressure sensitive shutdown valve; driving an electrical power generator with the turbine wheel and delivering electrical power to a storage battery which in-turn powers the components of the system. The method further includes: detecting turbine RPM; calculating volume flow rate from the RPM value and conversion factors input to a computer program. Next, it is determined if average or peak flow rates exceed set point values and creating a shut down signal if it is true so as to close the shutdown valve. A fluid pressure delta is therefore established across the shutdown valve and it is only opened when fluid pressure equilibrium is restored across the valve after break or leak repair and after slowly refilling the downstream system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.