Gas Regulator Relief Monitoring for Debris-Driven Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas regulators often vent natural gas into the atmosphere due to debris-induced valve lock-ups, leading to safety hazards, environmental issues, and wastage of a valuable resource, with current systems lacking effective monitoring and remediation for such events.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sensors to monitor the movement and pressure of diaphragm components within gas regulators, which send signals to associated meters or monitoring systems, allowing for early detection of potential venting events and enabling corrective actions to prevent gas leaks, and using communication systems to identify and address the root cause of multiple venting instances across connected gas supply lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a relief valve is included to prevent over-pressure damage, then safety is improved, but gas is vented into the atmosphere causing environmental harm and resource wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements monitoring systems that detect diaphragm movement and pressure conditions, providing feedback signals when venting is about to occur. This allows for early intervention to prevent unnecessary gas venting while maintaining safety through the relief valve system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated monitoring and detection mechanisms that operate independently to identify and respond to conditions that would trigger venting, reducing the need for actual gas release while maintaining protective functions.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are added to monitor diaphragm movement and pressure, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring functions (diaphragm movement detection, pressure sensing, and signal generation) into an integrated sensor assembly that works as a unified system, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting diaphragm position, monitoring pressure conditions, and generating alarm signals. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
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 solution significantly reduces the frequency and impact of gas venting events by enabling timely intervention and maintenance, minimizing environmental harm and resource wastage, while improving the reliability and efficiency of gas distribution systems.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a distance from a sensor to a component of a gas regulator
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for using data indicating 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. The data may identify the identity of gas regulators at which the lock-up failure events or venting events occurred. Based at least in part on the identified gas regulators, a number of gas regulators having at least one of lock-up failure events or venting events that are connected to a same gas supply line may be identified. If the number of gas regulators having at least one of lock-up failure events or venting events on the identified gas supply line exceeds a threshold number this may indicate the presence of debris in the gas supply. Remedial steps may be taken, and the situation may be monitored and reassessed.