Fluid Control Valve Diagnostics Using Displacement Count Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control devices lack the ability to provide information on the movement of fluid control valves, making it difficult to evaluate deterioration and predict maintenance needs before issues arise.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic device that includes a valve body related value reception part, a displacement sensing part, and a displacement count storage part to monitor and store displacement data, allowing for evaluation of valve movement and triggering maintenance alerts when thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a fluid control valve is used to control fluid flow, then fluid flow control is achieved, but information on valve movement is not obtainable making deterioration evaluation impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the control unit receive valve body related values (position, velocity, acceleration) from the fluid control valve during operation, and use this feedback information to evaluate valve body deterioration through displacement counting and threshold comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control unit that acts as a mediator between the fluid control valve and the evaluation system. This control unit collects valve body related values, processes displacement information, and generates evaluation results, enabling deterioration assessment without directly modifying the valve structure
2Reliability
If maintenance is performed based on fixed lifetime determination, then replacement is scheduled, but actual valve deterioration cannot be detected before problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and counting valve body displacements during normal operation, accumulating displacement data before actual deterioration occurs. The control unit compares cumulative displacement against predetermined thresholds to predict deterioration before functional problems arise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lifetime-based maintenance system with an intelligent monitoring system that uses valve body related values (position, velocity, acceleration) to evaluate actual usage and deterioration, substituting fixed schedules with condition-based assessment
3Measurement precision
If small movements due to noise are sensed as displacement, then false deterioration evaluation occurs, but filtering these movements reduces measurement sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by counting only significant valve body displacements that exceed a predetermined threshold, rather than counting all movements. This selective counting approach filters out noise-induced small movements while capturing meaningful displacement events that indicate actual valve body deterioration
Data Source
AI summary
In order to make it possible to obtain information on the movement of a fluid control valve when a fluid control device operates normal, a diagnostic device for a fluid control valve that displaces a valve body to control fluid is adapted to include: a valve body related value reception part that receives a valve body related value inputted/outputted in association with the displacement of the valve body; a displacement sensing part that senses the displacement of the valve body on the basis of the valve body related value; and a displacement count storage part that stores a displacement count sensed by the displacement sensing part.