Gas Regulator Diaphragm Sensing for Venting Event Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas pressure regulators often vent natural gas into the atmosphere due to debris-caused valve lock-ups, leading to safety, environmental, and economic concerns, and there is a need to monitor and reduce such venting events effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sensors and communication devices into gas pressure regulators to detect diaphragm and relief valve movements, providing real-time signals for lock-up and venting events, and using data analytics to identify and address the root causes of multiple venting instances, such as debris in the gas supply lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a relief valve is included as a second line of defense to prevent over-pressure damage, then safety is improved, but natural gas is vented into the atmosphere causing environmental harm, fire/explosion hazards, and economic loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using sensors to detect diaphragm position and relief valve status, then transmitting this information to a remote monitoring system. This feedback loop enables real-time detection of venting events and allows operators to respond to the underlying cause (debris, valve lockup) to prevent unnecessary relief valve activation while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary detection devices between the regulator components and the monitoring system. These sensors act as mediators that convert physical states (diaphragm position, valve opening) into detectable signals, enabling indirect observation and diagnosis of regulator conditions without directly interfering with the pressure regulation function
2Loss of information
If sensors and communication devices are incorporated into gas pressure regulators to detect and report venting events, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with electronic sensors and wireless communication devices. Instead of using mechanical linkages and physical indicators to track regulator status, the invention uses electronic sensors to detect diaphragm position and valve state, then transmits data wirelessly to remote systems, significantly reducing mechanical complexity while improving information availability
Data Source
AI summary
Device(s) and techniques determine if a gas regulator supplying gas at a regulated pressure to a gas meter (e.g., the gas meter of a house or business) within a gas distribution system has one or more lock-up failure events or venting events, wherein gas is vented to the atmosphere. In an example, a sensor obtains information indicating a relative position of a stop stem of a gas regulator and a diaphragm pin of the gas regulator. As pressure increases within the regulator, the diaphragm pin moves toward and/or touches the stop stem. The gas pressure increase may result from debris in the regulator that prevents a valve from fully closing. A signal may be sent from the regulator and/or associated gas meter. The signal may contain information based at least in part on data from the sensor, and which may indicate a lock-up failure event or a venting event by the gas regulator.