Battery-Powered Control Valve Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control valves for fluid and gas flow management in remote or hazardous locations require high energy levels for consistent operation, leading to inefficiency and reliability issues due to environmental susceptibility, especially when located in remote and dangerous areas.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered control valve system that uses a capacitor to store energy from a battery and a DC/DC converter to power a solenoid latching valve, with a processing unit that adjusts the energy application time based on the valve's state and pressure threshold, optimizing energy use and ensuring reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high energy levels are applied to the valve to ensure consistent operation, then the reliability of valve operation is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies energy to the valve in periodic pulses rather than continuous application. The controller monitors valve state and applies energy only when needed to transition between states, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the energy application parameters (duration, intensity) based on the valve's current state and environmental conditions. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system ensures reliable valve actuation while minimizing energy expenditure.
2Reliability
If the valve is actuated for longer periods to ensure consistent operation, then the reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the valve's state during actuation. Based on this feedback, the controller adjusts the actuation duration in real-time, applying energy only as long as needed to achieve the desired valve state, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring consistent operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation duration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adapts the actuation time based on environmental conditions and valve state, allowing shorter actuation times when conditions are favorable and longer times only when necessary, thus reducing overall energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If fixed energy application time is used for valve actuation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to environmental conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment based on environmental conditions and valve state feedback. The controller automatically modifies actuation parameters without requiring complex external control systems, achieving adaptability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently manages energy consumption by adjusting the actuation time of the valve based on its state and environmental conditions, ensuring consistent operation while minimizing energy expenditure and maintaining reliability in remote or hazardous locations.
Implementation Method 1
A battery-powered control valve system that uses a capacitor to store energy from a battery
Implementation Method 2
power a solenoid latching valve
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes, among other things, a method. The method may include receiving, by a wireless communication device, an instruction to actuate a valve. The method may also include receiving a period of time. The method may also include applying energy from a battery to the valve for the period of time.