System and method for determining set pressure and lift of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve

Abstract

A spring-actuated pressure relief valve (100) comprises a valve housing (134); a valve seat (120); a valve disc assembly (116) configured to seal the valve seat; a main spring (112) arranged to bias the valve disc assembly toward the valve seat to define a set pressure of the pressure relief valve; and a load cell (104) wherein during operation of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, the load cell can be in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the valve housing and mechanically connected to the main spring so that it can be configured to measure the force applied by the main spring to the valve disc assembly when the valve disc assembly moves relative to the valve seat, wherein the load cell is not mechanically connected to the valve disc assembly via a spindle to measure the force applied by the main spring.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 979,129, filed on February 20, 2020, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SET PRESSURE AND LIFT OF A SPRING ACTUATED PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Background Art

[0003] Spring-actuated pressure relief valves are widely used in systems and vessels that require pressure protection. For example, in such systems, overpressure can cause process upsets, instrument failures, or equipment failures. Pressure relief valves relieve overpressure by allowing pressurized fluid to flow out of the system from an auxiliary passage. Summary of the invention

[0004] Some embodiments provide a spring-driven pressure relief valve including a main spring, a pressure adjustment screw, and a valve disc assembly biased toward a valve seat by the main spring. A load cell can be configured to measure the force applied by the main spring on the valve disc assembly, including determining an opening pressure and a set pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. In one embodiment, the pressure adjustment screw can be threadedly engaged with the load cell. In another embodiment, the load cell can be disposed between the pressure adjustment screw and the upper spring washer.

[0005] Some embodiments provide a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve. The method may include pressurizing a valve inlet of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve and adjusting a bias of a main spring of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve. The load on the main spring may be determined upon a selected adjustment of the main spring compression. A valve opening motion of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may be identified based on the determined load.

[0006] Some embodiments provide a method for monitoring the operation of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve. The method may include using a load cell to measure the force applied by a main spring of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve. The valve lift of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may be determined based on the measured force, which may allow for determination of the total relief capacity during a relief event (e.g., based on determination of a valve lift curve over time) or a set pressure of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may be monitored.

[0007] Some embodiments provide a spring-driven pressure relief valve. The spring-driven pressure relief valve may include a valve housing, a valve seat, a valve disc assembly configured to seal the valve seat to close the spring-driven pressure relief valve, a main spring, and a load cell. The main spring may be arranged to bias the valve disc assembly toward the valve seat to define a set pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. During operation of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the load cell may be in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the valve housing and in mechanical communication with the main spring, such that the load cell may be configured to measure a force applied by the main spring to the valve disc assembly when the valve disc assembly moves relative to the valve seat.

[0008] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a spindle extending from the valve disc assembly to guide the movement of the valve disc assembly relative to the valve seat. During operation of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, the spindle may move relative to the load cell to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve relative to the fluid flowing through the valve seat.

[0009] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a spindle extending through a load cell, the spindle being movable through the load cell to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve relative to fluid flowing through a valve seat.

[0010] In some embodiments, the spring-driven pressure relief valve may include a pressure adjustment member. The load cell may include an internal thread, and the pressure adjustment member is threadedly connected via the internal thread. Therefore, the pressure adjustment member can be threadedly adjusted relative to the load cell and the valve housing to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring.

[0011] In some embodiments, the spring-driven pressure relief valve may include a load cell. The load cell may be in mechanical communication with the main spring through the pressure regulating member to measure the force applied by the main spring on the valve disc assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a valve housing including a valve bonnet and a valve cover. A load cell may be held between the valve bonnet and the valve cover.

[0013] In some embodiments, the spring-driven pressure relief valve may include a first spring washer and a second spring washer. The first spring washer may be disposed opposite the main spring of the valve disc assembly. The second spring washer may be disposed opposite the main spring from the first spring washer and disposed between the main spring and the valve disc assembly. The force sensor may be mechanically connected to the main spring through the first spring washer.

[0014] In some embodiments, the spring-driven pressure relief valve may include a first spring washer and a second spring washer. The first spring washer may be disposed opposite the main spring of the valve disc assembly. The second spring washer may be disposed opposite the main spring from the first spring washer and disposed between the main spring and the valve disc assembly. The force sensor may be mechanically connected to the main spring through the second spring washer.

[0015] In some embodiments, a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a load cell held between a first spring washer and a pressure adjustment member that is threadably adjustable relative to the valve housing to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring.

[0016] In some embodiments, the spring actuated pressure relief valve may include a load cell integrated with the first spring washer.

[0017] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a load cell. The force measured by the load cell may directly correspond to the force of the fluid on the valve disc assembly without reference to the measured pressure of the fluid.

[0018] In some embodiments, a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a load cell located external to the valve housing.

[0019] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a spindle extending from the valve disc assembly to guide the movement of the valve disc assembly relative to the valve seat. The pressure regulating tube may receive the spindle and extend between the spring washer and the load cell to transfer force from the main spring to the load cell.

[0020] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a pressure adjustment member that is threadably adjustable relative to the load cell to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring via a pressure adjustment tube.

[0021] In some embodiments, a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a pressure adjustment member that is adjustable from outside of the valve housing.

[0022] Some embodiments provide a spring-driven pressure relief valve, which includes a valve housing, a valve seat, a valve disc assembly, a spindle, a main spring, and a force sensor. The valve disc assembly can be configured to seal the valve seat to close the spring-driven pressure relief valve. The spindle can extend from the valve disc assembly to guide the movement of the valve disc assembly relative to the valve seat. The main spring can be arranged to bias the valve disc assembly toward the valve seat to define a set pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. During operation of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the force sensor can be fixed in the valve housing or fixed outside the valve housing. The force sensor can be mechanically connected to the main spring directly or through a rigid intermediate component. Therefore, the force sensor can be configured to measure the force applied by the main spring to the valve disc assembly when the valve disc assembly and the spindle move relative to the valve seat and the force sensor.

[0023] In some embodiments, the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include a spindle and a load cell. During operation of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, the spindle may move relative to the load cell to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve relative to fluid flowing through the valve seat. The load cell may be in mechanical communication with the valve disc assembly through the spindle to measure the force applied by the main spring on the spindle.

[0024] Some embodiments provide a method for installing or calibrating a spring-driven pressure relief valve. The method may include using a load cell to directly measure the force applied by a main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the main spring being arranged to bias a valve disc assembly of the spring-driven pressure relief valve toward a valve seat of the spring-driven pressure relief valve to define a set pressure and an opening pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. The method may also include one or more of the following steps: determining a valve lift of the spring-driven pressure relief valve based on the measured force; monitoring a current set pressure or an opening pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve based on the measured force; or setting a desired set pressure or an opening pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve by determining a target load on the main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the target load corresponding to the desired set pressure or an opening pressure, and adjusting the bias of the main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve until the force measured by the load cell corresponds to the target load.

[0025] In some embodiments, a method of installing or calibrating a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include determining a total relief capacity for a relief event based on a plurality of valve lifts identified based on a load cell measuring a plurality of forces applied by a main spring during a relief event.

[0026] In some embodiments, a method of installing or calibrating a spring-driven pressure relief valve may include directly measuring the force applied by a main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve using a load cell. The load cell may be fixedly disposed relative to a valve housing of the spring-driven pressure relief valve at one of the following locations: outside the valve housing of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, between a pressure regulating member and an upper spring washer of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, or between a valve cap and a valve cover of the spring-driven pressure relief valve.

[0027] In some embodiments, a method of installing or calibrating a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include pressurizing a valve inlet of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, adjusting the compression of a main spring between a plurality of compression loads, measuring the compression load of the main spring using a load cell upon a selected adjustment of the compression of the main spring, and identifying a valve opening movement of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve corresponding to the selected adjustment of the compression of the main spring. Upon identifying the valve opening movement, the method may include setting a pressure or cracking pressure based on the measured compression load.

[0028] Some embodiments provide a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-driven pressure relief valve. The method may include the following steps: pressurizing a valve inlet of the spring-driven pressure relief valve; adjusting the compression of a main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve between a plurality of compression loads; measuring the compression load of the main spring during the selective adjustment of the compression of the main spring using a load cell, the load cell being mechanically connected to the main spring and being spatially fixed relative to the valve body of the spring-driven pressure relief valve during operation of the spring-driven pressure relief valve; and identifying a valve opening movement of the spring-driven pressure relief valve corresponding to the selective adjustment of the compression of the main spring. Upon identifying the valve opening movement, the method may include determining the set pressure or cracking pressure based on the measured compression load.

[0029] In some embodiments, a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include using a load cell to measure a compressive load of a main spring during a selective adjustment of the compression of the main spring. A pressure adjustment member may be used to adjust the compression of the main spring and may be threadedly engaged with the load cell.

[0030] In some embodiments, a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-driven pressure relief valve may include using a load cell to measure the compressive load of a main spring during a selective adjustment of the compression of the main spring. The load cell may be disposed at one of the following locations: outside a valve housing of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, between a pressure adjustment member and an upper spring washer of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, or between a bonnet and a valve cover of the spring-driven pressure relief valve.

[0031] In some embodiments, a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include using a load cell to measure the force applied by a main spring to a valve disc assembly of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve during operation of the valve, and determining a valve lift of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve based on the measured force or monitoring a current set pressure or cracking pressure of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve based on the measured force, One or more steps.

[0032] In some embodiments, a method for setting a set pressure or cracking pressure of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve may include determining a total relief capacity for a relief event including one or more valve lifts. The one or more valve lifts may be characterized based on a load cell measuring one or more corresponding forces applied by a main spring during a relief event. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate examples of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure:

[0034] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to an example of the present technology, including a load cell held between a bonnet and a valve cover.

[0035] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to another example of the present technology, including a load cell located between a pressure regulating member and a spring washer.

[0036] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to yet another example of the present technology, including a load cell fixed to the outside of the valve housing.

[0037] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a method of installing or calibrating a spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to an example of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following discussion is presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use examples of the present technology. Various modifications to the examples shown will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the principles of the present technology. Therefore, the present technology is not intended to be limited to the examples shown, but should be given the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description will be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements in different drawings have similar reference numerals. The drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, depict selected examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The skilled person will recognize that the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] Before explaining any examples of the present technology in detail, it should be understood that the application of the present technology is not limited to the details of the construction and component arrangement set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. The principles of the present technology can be embodied in other examples and can be practiced or implemented in various ways. In addition, it should be understood that the words and terms used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. For example, the use of "including", "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is intended to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents as well as additional items.

[0040] As used herein, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," "fixed," and "coupled," and variations thereof, as used with reference to physical connections, are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified or limited, "connected," "attached," or "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, attachments, or couplings.

[0041] As mentioned above, some systems and containers require pressure protection to avoid overpressure. In such systems, a spring-driven pressure relief valve can be used to release and transfer excessive fluid pressure. Typically, a spring-driven pressure relief valve includes a spring compressed to a predetermined value. The spring provides a force on the valve disc in the valve closing direction (e.g., downward), thereby biasing the valve toward the closed position. The compression of the spring can be adjusted by a spring adjustment mechanism (e.g., an adjustable screw that controls the degree of spring compression for a given valve lift). When the opening (e.g., upward) force applied by the pressurized fluid on the valve disc is equal to the closing (e.g., downward) force of the spring plus any auxiliary force (e.g., due to the weight of the valve disc assembly), the valve begins to open. As the fluid pressure continues to increase, the spring is further compressed and the valve is further opened.

[0042] Typically, spring-actuated pressure relief valves are configured to provide a set pressure that is typically predetermined and preset prior to installation of the valve. Although other definitions apply in different installations, the set pressure is generally the pressure at which the valve opens and the system pressure is significantly reduced, which is known in the industry. In some cases, the set pressure may be defined as the pressure at which the user hears the first audible response (i.e., a "pop") when the spring-actuated pressure relief valve releases system pressure, or may be defined as the pressure at which leakage through the valve is the first audible response to the operator. The set pressure of a particular valve can be adjusted as needed by changing the compression of the spring within the valve, including by adjusting the pressure adjustment screw to compress or release the spring to a certain degree.

[0043] In addition to the set pressure, spring-actuated pressure relief valves also define a cracking pressure. The cracking pressure is the pressure at which the valve disc assembly begins to lift from the valve seat in response to system pressure. In other words, the cracking pressure can be defined as the pressure at which the force of the fluid on the line side of the valve seat equals the force applied by the spring on the relief side of the valve seat (and any auxiliary forces). The effect on the system of reaching the cracking pressure may be a minor fluid leak or a low-decibel audible noise (e.g., not necessarily audible to an operator). In some cases, when the spring-actuated pressure relief valve is at the cracking pressure, the valve disc may lift from the valve seat. However, due to the relatively small travel distance, conventional lift measurement devices are generally unable to detect this movement until a greater pressure is applied. In some systems, the set pressure value can be a small percentage greater than the cracking pressure value (e.g., 3-5%), so that the set pressure can be defined relative to the cracking pressure (or vice versa), although other methods can also be used.

[0044] Generally, valve lift can be defined as the distance between the seat surface of the valve disc assembly (e.g., its disc insert) and the nozzle in a spring-actuated pressure relief valve when the valve is transitioning between the closed and open positions. When the valve is in the closed position, the lift is zero, and when the valve is in the fully open position, the lift reaches a maximum value.

[0045] Although valve lift at opening pressure or pressure just above the opening pressure is generally not detectable using conventional lift measurement devices, some conventional systems can be used to help determine or adjust the set pressure or otherwise measure valve lift at higher pressures. For example, some conventional systems include force sensors, controllers, and other components, wherein the force sensor is used to measure the total force required to move the internal moving parts of the valve, which include a valve disc insert, a valve disc bracket, a valve stem, etc., and is combined with a pressure sensor, a position sensor, a movable diaphragm, or an air bellows to define an airtight chamber; the controller can control the air pressure in these chambers (see, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 4,761,999 and 4,349,885, both of which are incorporated herein by reference). Such systems may require complex arrangements and controls, as well as precise positioning of the sensors to accurately measure force. Other conventional systems for determining and adjusting set pressures include the use of position transmitters and magnets that need to be connected to moving parts. The production of such devices can be complex and expensive due to the multiple components contained in the position transmitter itself. As another example, when manually adjusting the compression of a valve spring, some conventional methods determine the set pressure based on the operator's recognition of an auditory signal (eg, the first "pop").

[0046] Examples of the technology can improve upon these and other methods, including by utilizing a load measuring device to determine the load of a biasing spring of a spring-driven pressure reducing valve, thereby determining valve lift, total relief capacity for a relief event, and other related factors. For example, a force sensor can be used to determine the valve lift of a spring-driven pressure reducing valve by measuring the force applied by (and on) the main spring of the valve at any given time. Then, based on this measurement, the distance the spring is compressed can be easily calculated. For example, Hooke's law states that the force (F) required to stretch or compress a spring a distance (x) is linearly proportional to that distance multiplied by the spring stiffness coefficient (k): i.e., F = k·x. Therefore, if the spring stiffness of a given spring and the force applied by (or to) the spring are known, the distance the system is compressed or stretched can be easily determined.

[0047] In this regard, the spring rate is generally a characteristic of a given spring and can be readily determined by a number of known means. Further, the spring rate is generally constant, particularly outside the limits of the possible range of extension or compression of the given spring. However, in some cases, the spring rate may not be constant, varying as a function of temperature or other factors, particularly for relatively large temperature variations.

[0048] In some examples of the technology, a load measuring device is attached or integrated into a spring-actuated pressure relief valve that includes a main spring to bias a valve disc assembly of the valve toward a valve seat on a nozzle of the valve (i.e., bias the valve closed). The load measuring device can be configured as a load cell of various known types (or otherwise) and can be configured to measure the load applied by the main spring to the valve disc assembly. The degree of compression of the main spring and the lift of the valve can then be determined based on the measured load and in combination with other known parameters of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, including, as appropriate, the spring rate of the main spring, the area of ​​the valve disc assembly exposed to the pipeline pressure, or the weight of the associated moving parts (e.g., the valve shaft and the valve disc assembly). Accordingly, it can also be determined whether the system is currently at (or above) a set pressure or cracking pressure, even when such system pressures may result in a relatively small valve lift. Further, such an arrangement can allow continuous monitoring of the valve state (e.g., open, closed, or in an intermediate position) and actual valve lift over time, which in turn can be used to determine other factors (including an estimate of the total fluid that has been released by the spring-actuated pressure relief valve).

[0049] In some examples, a load measurement device configured to determine the force on a spring-driven pressure relief valve can allow for automatic or semi-automatic setting of a set pressure of a spring-driven pressure relief valve. For example, the valve inlet of a spring-driven pressure relief valve can be pressurized to a desired set pressure (or other pressure value) prior to installation in an industrial environment. The compression of the main spring of the valve can then be adjusted using a pressure adjustment screw, wherein a load cell is used to measure the current spring force of the main spring at any given orientation of the adjustment screw (e.g., continuously measuring such force at a particular sampling rate). As described above, the spring force can then be converted (e.g., by a local or remote processor device) to a displacement value of the main spring and, accordingly, to a valve lift value of the valve.

[0050] Thus, by measuring the current spring force, the current valve lift corresponding to the current valve inlet pressure and the current position of the pressure adjusting screw can be determined. Further, the position of the pressure adjusting screw associated with the desired valve lift at a given valve inlet pressure can also be determined in a similar manner based on the load cell measurements. This in turn can allow the valve to be configured to provide a desired set pressure during operation without having to rely on the detection of an auditory signal (e.g., the first "pop") and without the need for a more complex (e.g., diaphragm-based) measurement system.

[0051] In some examples, the load cell can transmit the measured load as an electrical signal to a separate controller, which can, for example, allow further processing at or away from the associated valve assembly. In some examples, the electrical signal can be received by a device having a digital display (e.g., a computer monitor), which can, for example, allow the display of a warning, alarm, or other information.

[0052] In some instances, it may be useful to arrange the load cell in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the body of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve during valve operation. For example, the load cell may be configured to be adjustably positioned relative to the valve body, bonnet, and valve cover prior to operation of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, but may then be fixed to prevent movement relative to the valve body, bonnet, and valve cover during valve operation. In this manner, for example, the load from the main spring of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve may be measured without requiring a complex structural arrangement (such as additional springs, diaphragms, connecting rods, etc.).

[0053] For similar reasons, it may also be useful to arrange a load cell to measure the force applied by the main spring of a spring-driven pressure relief valve, either directly (i.e., by contact with the main spring) or through a rigid intermediate component. For example, the load cell may be configured to measure the force applied by the main spring through a rigid intermediate component that is pushed toward the load cell by the main spring (e.g., a spring washer or a rigid adjustment screw) so that complex intermediate structures or support measurements (e.g., a pressure system) are not necessarily required as part of determining the force applied by the main spring (or determining valve lift) based on the force measured by the load cell. In this regard, for example, the load cell in some configurations may not measure operational aspects of the main spring by force applied to the load cell via a spindle of an associated valve. Similarly, as another example, the load cell in some configurations may be arranged to provide a mechanical connection between the main spring and the body of the spring-driven pressure relief valve such that the main spring is pressed against the body via the load cell to apply a spring force to the valve disc assembly of the valve.

[0054] Reference now Figure 1 , shows a spring-driven pressure relief valve 100 according to an example of the present technology. In the illustrated example, the spring-driven pressure relief valve 100 includes a valve body 102 and a single load cell 104. The pressure relief valve 100 also includes a pressure adjustment member, which is configured as a pressure adjustment screw 108 engaged with a main spring 112. The main spring 112 is configured to bias a valve disc assembly 116 toward a valve seat 120 at an inlet nozzle 124. The main spring 112 biases the valve disc assembly 116 toward the valve seat 120 to define a set pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve 100. A spindle 126 extends from the valve disc assembly 116 to guide the movement of the valve disc assembly 116 relative to the valve seat 120. The pressure relief valve 100 also includes a bonnet 128 and a valve cover 132, the bonnet serving as a cover for the valve body 102, and the valve cover covers the pressure adjustment screw 108 at one end of the bonnet 128. Generally, the bonnet 128 and the valve cover 132 form a valve housing 134 of the valve 100 .

[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the load cell 104 is fixed to the pressure relief valve 100 to measure the axial force applied by the main spring 112 (through the middle upper spring washer 136) to the pressure adjustment screw 108. In the example shown, in particular, the load cell 104 includes an internal thread that is sized to accommodate and threadably engage the pressure adjustment screw 108, so that the pressure adjustment screw 108 can be adjusted relative to the load cell 104 and the housing 134 to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring 112.

[0056] Continue to refer Figure 1In the illustrated example, the load cell 104 is held between the bonnet 128 and the valve cover 132 such that the load cell 104 is immovable relative to the housing 134 (i.e., has an unchanging fixed spatial relationship), and the spindle 126 is movable relative to the load cell 104. In particular, in the illustrated example, the spindle 126 is configured to move through the load cell 104 to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve 100. Further, the pressure adjustment screw 108 (i.e., as a rigid body) is configured to transmit the axial force from the main spring 112 (and the spring washer 136) to the bonnet 128 and the valve cover 132 only through the load cell 104. Therefore, in the illustrated example and as further discussed below, the load cell 104 is arranged to effectively measure the total force exerted by the main spring 112 on the valve disc assembly 116 (minus incidental friction losses from various moving parts) through an equal and opposite reaction force. However, in other examples, the load cell may be configured in other ways, including with one or more additional (or alternative) intermediate rigid components, as described below. Further, any type of load cell may be used depending on the particular environment and the desired sensing range.

[0057] In use, the main spring 112 applies equal and opposite forces to the upper spring washer 136 and the lower spring washer 138 to bias the valve disc assembly 116 toward a closed direction (as shown) relative to the valve cover 128. Typically, the upper spring washer 136 is disposed opposite the main spring 112 from the valve disc assembly 116, and the lower spring washer 138 is disposed opposite the main spring 112 from the upper spring washer 136. Typically, each of the upper spring washer 136 and the lower spring washer 138 provides a spring seat against which the main spring 112 can rest.

[0058] Because the load cell 104 secures the upper spring washer 136 relative to the bonnet 128 via the intervening pressure adjustment screw 108, the force from the main spring 112 at the upper spring washer 136 can be determined by the load cell 104. That is, the load cell 104 is in mechanical communication with the main spring 112 so that when the valve disc assembly 116 and the spindle 126 move relative to the valve seat 120 and the load cell 104 (e.g., to open the valve 100 relative to flow through the valve seat 120), the load cell 104 can measure the force applied by the main spring 112 on the valve disc assembly 116. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the load cell 104 is not in mechanical communication with the valve disc assembly 116 via the spindle 126 to measure the force applied by the main spring 112. Thus, as described above, the degree of compression of the main spring 112 can be easily determined based on the force measurement at the load cell 104. Accordingly, the displacement of the valve disc assembly 116 relative to a reference position (eg, fully closed) may also be determined without reference to the measured pressure of the fluid.

[0059] exist Figure 1 During a setup operation (e.g., initial configuration) of the pressure relief valve 100, as the pressure adjustment screw 108 is adjusted in opposite directions, the compression of the main spring 112 is increased or decreased, respectively, which correspondingly increases or decreases the cracking pressure and set pressure of the pressure relief valve 100. For a desired set (or cracking) pressure and valve size, a desired load value on the main spring 112 can be calculated, and the pressure adjustment screw 108 can then be adjusted until the load and the desired set (or cracking) pressure are reached, as indicated by the load cell 104. Alternatively, as also described above, the inlet 124 of the pressure relief valve 100 can be pressurized to a desired set (or other) pressure, and the measurement value measured by the load cell 104 can be used to identify the valve lift in conjunction with other known factors of the valve 100, thereby determining a specific setting of the pressure adjustment screw 108 at which the valve 100 is properly opened (e.g., corresponding to the cracking pressure or set pressure). For example, the mathematical product of the applied pressure and the associated area of ​​the valve disc assembly 116 can indicate the cracking pressure of the applied pressure on the valve disc assembly 116. Under known principles and in combination with the change in load measured by the load cell due to the applied pressure, this force can then be used to derive the distance the valve disc assembly 116 has been lifted (ie, the valve lift).

[0060] Similarly, during operation, as the valve disc assembly 116 is lifted from the valve seat 120 by system pressure, the valve lift (L) can be measured as the current load cell reading (LC c ), the initial load cell reading (LC0), and the spring stiffness (k) (e.g., L = ((LC c -LC0) / k). In some cases, the occurrence and extent of a release (or other) event can be determined accordingly.

[0061] In various embodiments, the load cell may be arranged in a variety of ways to appropriately measure the force on the main spring of the valve, including those that may embody the same configuration as described above. Figure 1 Similar principles apply. In this regard, for example Figure 2 A spring-actuated pressure relief valve 200 is shown, which includes a valve body 202 and various other components similar to valve 100 (which operates similarly). Figure 2 In the example shown, the load cell 204 is disposed between the upper spring 236 washer and the pressure adjustment screw 208. Figure 1 The force sensor 104 shown, Figure 2The illustrated load cell 204 can measure the force exerted by the main spring 212 on the upper spring washer 236, which corresponds to the force exerted by the main spring 212 to bias the valve disc assembly 216 toward the valve seat 220. Therefore, as described above, the measurements from the load cell 204 can be used to identify the cracking pressure or set pressure, to quantify the flow rate of a venting event, or to otherwise monitor the valve 200.

[0062] Generally, similar to the load cell 104, the load cell 204 is non-movably fixed to the valve 100 relative to the valve housing 234 during operation of the valve to sense and release pressure. In particular, the load cell 204 is fixed within the valve housing 234 and is in mechanical communication with the main spring 212 through the upper spring washer 236. In addition, in the illustrated example, the pressure adjustment screw 208 is threadedly engaged with the bonnet 228 of the housing 234 and receives a spindle 226 extending from the valve disc assembly 216. The spindle 226 can also extend through the load cell 204 to be movable through the load cell 204 to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve 200 (i.e., the spindle 226 is not in mechanical communication with the load cell 204 to transmit force from the main spring 212 to the load cell 204).

[0063] Thus, with the arrangement shown, similar to valve 100, the pressure adjustment screw 208 of valve 200 can be adjusted to set the set pressure or cracking pressure of valve 200. However, unlike valve 100, when the pressure adjustment screw 208 moves relative to housing 234, the load cell 204 can also move relative to housing 234 to set the set pressure (i.e., adjust the degree of compression of main spring 212). Therefore, the load cell 204 is not absolutely immovable relative to housing 234. However, because the pressure adjustment screw 208 is generally fixed during operation of valve 200 to sense and release system pressure, and the load cell 204 is mechanically fixed relative to housing 234 by the adjustment screw 208, the load cell 204 is generally immovable relative to housing 234 during operation of valve 200 (also as described above).

[0064] In some examples, the load cell can be integrated into other components of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve. Figure 2 In the configuration shown, the load cell can be integrated with the spring washer of the main spring for a spring-actuated pressure relief valve. In general, the load cell can be placed anywhere that can measure the axial spring load, including on or in the upper or lower spring washers, or anywhere that is appropriately connected to the main spring to measure the spring force on the valve disc assembly.

[0065] For example, in some embodiments, the force sensor can be disposed between the lower spring washer and the valve disc assembly of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve. As described above, the upper spring washer and the lower spring washer each provide a spring seat against which the main spring can rest. Therefore, the main spring applies equal and opposite forces on each spring washer. Therefore, in embodiments where the force sensor is disposed between the lower spring washer and the valve disc assembly, the force sensor can directly measure the force applied to the main spring of the pressure relief valve, similar to the reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 However, configurations in which the load cell is immovably fixed relative to the housing to directly measure the force applied by the main spring may be particularly beneficial, including for the reasons described above.

[0066] In another example, if Figure 3 As shown, the valve 300 may include a valve body 302 and a valve sleeve 334. In the illustrated configuration, the valve 300 also includes a load cell 304 that is immovably fixed to the outside of the bonnet 328 (and generally the housing 334) relative to the valve housing 334. Similar to Figure 1 The example shown in Figure 3 The load cell 304 in the example includes a threaded hole extending therethrough that is sized to receive a threaded pressure adjustment screw 308. The threaded pressure adjustment screw 308 engages a rigid non-threaded pressure adjustment tube 340 that is configured to compress the main spring 312 of the valve 300 by an adjustable amount corresponding to different positions of the adjustment screw 308.

[0067] As with valves 100 and 200, valve 300 includes a spindle 326 extending from the valve disc assembly 316 to guide movement of the valve disc assembly 316 relative to the valve seat 320. The spindle 326 extends into the pressure regulating tube 340 while remaining mechanically separated from the load cell 304 (e.g., similar to the spindles 126, 226 relative to the load cells 104, 204). Thus, in the example shown, the load cell 304 is mechanically connected to the main spring 312 via the pressure regulating tube 340 extending between the load cell 304 and the upper spring washer 336 for directly measuring the force applied by the main spring 312. However, in other examples, other arrangements are possible, including having additional (or alternative) rigid intermediate components.

[0068] Thus, the load cell 304 can measure the axial load applied by the main spring 312 to the pressure adjusting screw 308, which is transmitted through the upper spring washer 336 and the pressure regulating tube 340. In particular, because it can help to allow for illustrative simplification of the arrangement and related monitoring of the valve 300, the load cell 304 is not mechanically connected to the main spring 312 via the valve disc assembly 316 or the spindle 326 of the valve 300 to measure the force on the main spring 312. Relatedly, the force measured by the load cell 304 directly corresponds to the fluid force on the valve disc assembly 316 (or, more generally, to the force applied to the valve disc assembly 316 by the main spring 312, including when the system is below a set pressure or cracking pressure), without necessarily requiring the sensing of other reference pressures or forces (e.g., a measured fluid pressure). Similar to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 can use measurements from load cell 304 to determine the appropriate setting for pressure regulating tube 340, such as to initially configure valve 300 for a particular setting or cracking pressure, and can be used to monitor valve lift during operation, including at cracking pressure (among other situations).

[0069] In some embodiments, methods embodying aspects of the present technology can be used to utilize, manufacture, or install the devices or systems disclosed herein. Correspondingly, any description of a particular feature, capability, or intended use of a device or system herein is generally intended to include the disclosure of the following: methods of using such a device for an intended purpose, methods of otherwise implementing such capabilities, methods of manufacturing related components of such a device or system (or a device or system as a whole), and methods of installing disclosed (or otherwise known) components to support such purposes or capabilities. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated or limited, the discussion of any method of manufacturing or using a particular device or system (including installing a device or system) herein is intended to essentially include the disclosure of the utilized features and implemented capabilities of such a device or system as an example of the present technology.

[0070] In this regard, for example Figure 4 Example methods that can be implemented with respect to various spring-actuated pressure relief valves and related control systems disclosed herein are shown. In the following discussion, specific reference may be made to selecting only one or more of the spring-actuated pressure relief valves 100, 200, 300. However, according to the disclosed technology, the methods disclosed herein can generally be implemented with respect to any of these (or other) valves.

[0071] in particular, Figure 4A method 400 is shown, which includes: step 410, using a load cell (e.g., load cell 104) to directly measure the force applied by a main spring (e.g., main spring 112) of a spring-driven pressure relief valve. Based on the measurement data of the load cell, the method 400 may further include: step 420, performing one or more of various additional calibration, monitoring or other operations. For example, the method 400 may include: step 422, determining the valve lift of the spring-driven pressure relief valve based on the measured force, or step 424, monitoring the current set pressure or cracking pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve based on the measured force. In this regard, for example, the valve lift (step 422) or the cracking pressure or set pressure (step 424) can be determined in various ways, including as described above: for example, determining the valve lift based on the measured force and the spring constant of the corresponding main spring, or determining the current set pressure based on equalizing the pressure on the valve disc assembly (e.g., valve disc assembly 116) with the spring force measured by the load cell. In particular, in some cases, changes in load sensed by a load cell (which directly measures the force applied by the pressure relief valve's main spring) can indicate movement of the valve disc assembly from the valve seat because the force acting on the main spring generally remains constant until the set pressure is reached.

[0072] In some embodiments, the operations performed (step 420) may include: step 426, setting a desired set pressure or cracking pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. For example, a target load on a main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve may be determined, which may correspond to the desired set pressure or cracking pressure. Then, the bias of the main spring (e.g., main spring 112) may be adjusted until the force measured by the load cell corresponds to the target load.

[0073] In some embodiments, the operations performed (step 420) may include: step 428, determining a total bleed capacity for a bleed event based on a plurality of valve lifts identified based on a plurality of forces applied by a main spring during a bleed event measured by a load cell. For example, for a bleed event, a numerical integration of the valve lift and the flow corresponding to the valve lift may be performed, and the sum of the resulting flows over time indicates a total bleed capacity for the bleed event.

[0074] In some embodiments, the operation performed (step 420) may include: step 430, calibrating the spring-driven pressure relief valve. For example, calibrating the spring-driven pressure relief valve (step 430) may include pressurizing the valve inlet (e.g., the inlet nozzle 124) of the spring-driven pressure relief valve. Then, the compression of the main spring (e.g., the main spring 112) of the spring-driven pressure relief valve can be adjusted in one or more compression loads (e.g., continuously within a predetermined range), and the load cell can be used to measure the compression load of the main spring during one or more adjustments of the main spring compression. Based on the measurement results of the load cell, the current set pressure or opening pressure can be determined. For example, when the load cell measurement indicates an appropriate valve lift, the current set pressure or opening pressure can be determined directly from the pressure reading at the valve inlet. As another example, when the load cell indicates an appropriate valve lift, the current set pressure or opening pressure can be indirectly determined by solving a force balance equation between the force measured by the load cell and the pressure applied to the associated valve disc assembly.

[0075] Thus, examples of the present technology may be improved in the following aspects: setting the set pressure of a spring-driven pressure relief valve, detecting the opening pressure or set pressure of a valve, or monitoring the traditional arrangement of a valve during operation. The foregoing description of the disclosed examples is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present technology. Various modifications to these examples will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the present technology. Therefore, the present technology is not intended to be limited to the examples shown herein, but should be given the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0076] In some examples, aspects of the present technology, including computerized implementations of methods according to the present technology, can be implemented as a system, method, device, or article of manufacture using standard programming or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a processor device (e.g., any combination of serial or parallel general-purpose or special-purpose processor chips, single-core or multi-core chips, microprocessors, field programmable gate arrays, control units, arithmetic logic units, and processor registers, etc.), a computer (e.g., a processor device operably connected to a memory), or another electronically operated controller to implement the aspects detailed herein. Thus, for example, some examples of the present technology can be implemented as a set of instructions, tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such that a processor device can implement the instructions based on reading the instructions from the computer-readable medium. Consistent with the discussion below, some examples of the present technology can include (or utilize) a control device such as an automation device, a special-purpose or general-purpose computer including various computer hardware, software, firmware, etc. As a specific example, the control device may include a processor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array, a programmable logic controller, logic gates, etc., as well as other typical components known in the art for implementing appropriate functions (e.g., memory, communication system, power supply, user interface and other input terminals, etc.).

[0077] The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier (e.g., non-transitory signal), or medium (e.g., non-transitory medium). For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic strips, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact disks (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., cards, sticks, etc.). In addition, it should be understood that a carrier wave may be employed to carry computer-readable electronic data, such as those used to send and receive e-mail or to access a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications may be made to these configurations without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.

[0078] Certain operations of methods according to the present technology or systems performing those methods may be schematically represented in the drawings or otherwise discussed herein. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the representation of particular operations in a drawing in a particular spatial order may not necessarily require that those operations be performed in a particular sequence corresponding to the particular spatial order. Correspondingly, certain operations represented in the drawings or otherwise disclosed herein may be performed in an order different from the order explicitly illustrated or described, when appropriate for a particular instance of the present technology. In addition, in some instances, certain operations may be performed in parallel, including by dedicated parallel processors or separate computing devices configured to interoperate as part of a larger system.

[0079] As used herein in the context of computer implementations, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "component," "system," "module," and the like are intended to encompass a portion or all of a computer-related system comprising hardware, software, a combination of hardware and software, or software being executed. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a processor device, a process executed (or executable) by a processor device, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a computer program, or a computer. As an illustration, both an application running on a computer and a computer may be a component. One or more components (or systems, modules, etc.) may reside in a process or execution thread, may be located on one computer, may be distributed between two or more computers or other processor devices, or may be included in another component (or system, module, etc.).

Claims

1. A spring-driven pressure relief valve (100), comprising: Valve housing (134); Valve seat (120); a valve disc assembly (116) configured to seal against the valve seat (120) to close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve (100); a main spring (112) arranged to bias the valve disc assembly (116) toward the valve seat (120) to define a set pressure of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve (100); a load cell (104) in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the valve housing (134) during operation of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve (100) and in mechanical communication with the main spring (112), such that the load cell (104) is configured to measure a force exerted by the main spring (112) on the valve disc assembly (116) as the valve disc assembly moves relative to the valve seat (120); and A pressure regulating member (108); The load cell (104) includes an internal thread and the pressure adjustment member (108) is threadably received by the internal thread, whereby the pressure adjustment member (108) is threadably adjustable relative to the load cell (104) and the valve housing (134) to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring (112).

2. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a spindle (126) extending from the valve disc assembly (116) to guide movement of the valve disc assembly relative to the valve seat (120), During operation of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the spindle (126) is movable relative to the load cell (104) to open and close the spring-driven pressure relief valve relative to fluid flowing through the valve seat (120).

3. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve of claim 2, wherein the spindle (126) extends through the load cell (104) so ​​as to be movable through the load cell to open and close the spring-actuated pressure relief valve relative to fluid flowing through the valve seat (120).

4. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve of claim 2, wherein the load cell (104) is not in mechanical communication with the valve disc assembly (116) through the spindle (126) to measure the force applied by the main spring (112).

5. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to claim 1, wherein the load cell (104) is mechanically connected to the main spring (112) through the pressure regulating member (108) to measure the force applied by the main spring (112) on the valve disc assembly (116).

6. The spring-driven pressure relief valve (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a first spring washer (236) arranged to be arranged opposite to the valve disc assembly (216) with respect to the main spring (212); and a second spring washer, which is arranged to be opposite to the first spring washer (236) with respect to the main spring (212) and is disposed between the main spring (212) and the valve disc assembly (216); and Wherein, the force sensor (204) is mechanically connected to the main spring (212) through the first spring washer (236).

7. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve (200) of claim 6, wherein the load cell (204) is held between the first spring washer (236) and the pressure adjusting member (208), and the pressure adjusting member is threadably adjustable relative to the valve housing (234) to adjust the degree of compression of the main spring (212).

8. A spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the force measured by the load cell (104) corresponds directly to the fluid force on the valve disc assembly (116) without reference to a measured pressure of the fluid at a valve inlet (124) of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve.

9. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the load cell (104, 204, 304) is in mechanical communication with the main spring (112, 212, 312) directly or via a rigid intermediate component (108, 208, 340).

10. The spring-driven pressure relief valve (300) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a spindle (326) extending from the valve disc assembly (316) to guide movement of the valve disc assembly relative to the valve seat (320); and A pressure regulating tube (340) receives the spindle (326) and extends between the spring washer (336) and the load cell (304) to transfer force from the main spring (312) to the load cell.

11. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve according to claim 10, further comprising: A pressure adjustment member (308) is threadably adjustable relative to the load cell (304) to adjust the compression degree of the main spring (312) through the pressure adjustment tube (340).

12. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve of claim 11, wherein the pressure adjustment member (308) is adjustable from outside the valve housing (334).

13. The spring-actuated pressure relief valve of claim 6, wherein the load cell (204) is integrated with the first spring washer (236).

14. The spring-driven pressure relief valve according to claim 9, wherein during operation of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the load cell is fixed relative to a valve housing (134, 234, 334) of the spring-driven pressure relief valve in one of the following positions: on the exterior of a valve housing (334) of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve; between a pressure regulating member (208) and an upper spring washer (236) of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve; or Between the bonnet (128) and the valve cover (132) of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve.

15. A method (400) of installing or calibrating a spring-actuated pressure relief valve, the method comprising: Step (410): directly measuring, using a load cell, a force applied by a main spring of the spring-driven pressure relief valve, the main spring being arranged to bias a valve disc assembly of the spring-driven pressure relief valve toward a valve seat of the spring-driven pressure relief valve to define a set pressure and a cracking pressure of the spring-driven pressure relief valve; pressurizing a valve inlet of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve; adjusting compression of the main spring among a plurality of compression loads; measuring the compressive load of the main spring using the force sensor during the selective adjustment of the compression of the main spring; identifying a valve opening movement of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve corresponding to a selected adjustment of the main spring compression; When the valve opening movement is identified, a current set pressure or cracking pressure is determined based on the measured compressive load; and One or more of the following steps: Step (422): Determining a valve lift of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve based on the measured force; Step (424): monitoring a current set pressure or cracking pressure of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve based on the measured force; or Step (426): Setting the desired set pressure or opening pressure of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve by: determining a target load on a main spring of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve, the target load corresponding to the desired set pressure or cracking pressure; and The bias of the main spring of the spring-actuated pressure relief valve is adjusted until the force measured by the load cell corresponds to the target load.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: Step (428): Determining a total bleed capacity for a bleed event based on a plurality of valve lifts identified based on a plurality of forces applied by the main spring during the bleed event as measured by the load cell.

Images