Flow Line Valve Control for Liquid Blockage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow line systems face instability and liquid blockages due to sudden drops in outlet flow, leading to poor controllability and potential slugging, which conventional control methods fail to prevent effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that measure and estimate outlet flow rates, pressure differences, and fluid density to detect sudden drops, increasing the valve opening to prevent liquid blockages and maintaining controllability by adjusting the valve opening at isolated points in time, while inhibiting further manipulation until a non-zero time period has expired.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the inlet pressure set point is lowered to maximize production, then flow rate increases, but controllability deteriorates and flow stability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism that continuously monitors the actual inlet pressure and compares it with the target inlet pressure. Based on this comparison, the controller automatically adjusts the outlet valve opening to maintain stable flow conditions. This closed-loop feedback system enables the controller to respond dynamically to pressure deviations, preventing flow instability while maintaining high productivity through optimized set point selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies the inlet pressure set point parameter to identify the optimal value that maximizes production while maintaining flow stability. By changing this critical parameter and observing system responses, the method determines the highest stable operating point, thereby resolving the contradiction between maximizing flow rate and maintaining flow stability.
2Productivity
If the inlet pressure set point is lowered to increase production, then throughput increases, but the ability to control inlet pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control mechanism continuously monitors actual inlet pressure and automatically adjusts the outlet valve to maintain the desired pressure level. This enables effective controllability even at lower pressure set points by providing real-time corrections, thereby maintaining both high throughput and ease of operation through automated pressure regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-adjustment by automatically modifying the outlet valve opening in response to pressure deviations. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention, maintaining controllability and enabling high throughput operation without requiring operator expertise or continuous adjustment.
3Device complexity
If conventional control methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but liquid blockages and slugging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback control mechanism that monitors inlet pressure and automatically adjusts the outlet valve to prevent liquid blockages and slugging. This feedback-based approach maintains relatively simple system architecture while dramatically improving flow stability and preventing operational problems that plague conventional control methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically controlling a flow in a flow line system including a flow line, a flow line inlet and outlet, and a control valve located in the flow line at the outlet. The method includes controlling the opening of the valve with a control unit. An outlet flow rate is measured or estimated from the flow line. The valve is opened. It is determined if a sudden drop occurs in any of the measurements or estimates. It is decided if a liquid blockage in the flow line is present or approaching. If a liquid blockage is indicated as present or approaching, the opening of the valve is increased by an amount determined by the measurements or estimates. Any further manipulation of the valve is inhibited before a non-zero time period has expired. The steps are repeated. Also a system and a computer program product.