Setup of valve controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041578-B2
Application number	US-201615758198-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Sep 11, 2015
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A valve controller for controlling a valve and a valve comprising the valve controller are disclosed. The valve has an actuator and a flow controlling unit. The valve controller is configured to execute a setup process and comprises a first pilot valve that can energize the actuator by allowing a first pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and de-energizing the actuator by allowing the fluid to leave the actuator. The valve controller further has an input device by which the setup process can be initiated, and a memory unit for storing setup parameter values. The setup process comprises: determining parameter values indicative of the functionality of at least one of the valve controller, the actuator and the flow controlling unit, and storing the parameter values as setup parameter values in the memory unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve controller for controlling a valve, the valve controller being configured to execute a setup process and comprising:
a first pilot valve configured to control the position of a first disc cooperating with a first valve seat to form part of a flow controlling unit of the valve by means of energizing an actuator that is mechanically coupled to the first disc by allowing a first pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and by means of de-energizing the actuator by allowing the first pressurized fluid to leave the actuator,
a second pilot valve configured to control the position of the first disc by means of energizing the actuator by allowing a second pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and by means of de-energizing the actuator by allowing the second pressurized fluid to leave the actuator, wherein the first pilot valve and the second pilot valve are configured to move the first disc in opposite directions when the actuator is individually energized by the first pilot valve and the second pilot valve,
a third pilot valve configured to control the position of a second disc cooperating with a second valve seat forming part of the flow controlling unit by way of energizing the actuator that is mechanically coupled to the second disc by allowing a third pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and by way of de-energizing the actuator by allowing the third pressurized fluid to leave the actuator,
the first, second and third pilot valves being different from one another,
a first sensor for providing a sensor reading indicative of the position of the first disc,
a second sensor that provides a sensor reading indicating an open or closed state of the second valve seat and the cooperating second disc,
an input device for initiating the setup process, and
a memory unit for storing setup parameter values,
the setup process being configured to perform the following steps when the setup process is initiated by way of the input device:
determining parameter values indicative of the functionality of at least one of the valve controller, the actuator and the flow controlling unit, the step of determining parameter values comprising the sub-steps:
obtaining a first sensor reading from the first sensor when the actuator is de-energized by the first pilot valve, wherein the first sensor reading comprises a first parameter value,
obtaining a second sensor reading from the first sensor when the actuator is energized by the first pilot valve, wherein the second sensor reading comprises a second parameter value, and
obtaining a third sensor reading from the first sensor when the actuator is energized by the second pilot valve, wherein the third sensor reading comprises a third parameter value;
obtaining a fourth sensor reading from the second sensor when the actuator is de-energized by the third pilot valve, wherein the fourth sensor reading comprises a fourth parameter value, and

storing the first, second, third and fourth parameter values as setup parameter values in the memory unit.

2. The valve controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first parameter value indicates that the valve is at rest, the second parameter value indicates that the valve is activated by the first pilot valve and the third parameter value indicates that the valve is activated by the second pilot valve.

3. The valve controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first pilot valve is configured to control the position of the second disc by means of energizing the actuator by allowing the first pressurized fluid to enter the actuator, and the step of determining parameter values comprises:
obtaining a fifth sensor reading from the second sensor when the actuator is energized by the first pilot valve, wherein the fifth sensor reading comprises a fifth parameter value.

4. The valve controller according to claim 3 , wherein the step of determining parameter values comprises:
obtaining a sixth sensor reading from the second sensor when the actuator is energized by the third pilot valve, wherein the sixth sensor reading comprises a sixth parameter value.

5. The valve controller according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is configured to initiate the setup process upon a single command by an operator.

6. The valve controller according to claim 1 further comprising:
an indicator for indicating an error condition of the valve controller to an operator,
the setup process being configured to perform the further steps:
determining if an error condition is fulfilled based on the functionality of at least one of the valve controller, the actuator and the flow controlling unit, and
indicating, if it is determined that the error condition is fulfilled, the error condition by the indicator.

7. The valve controller according to claim 6 , wherein an error condition is fulfilled if the first pilot valve is activated before the initiation of the setup process.

8. The valve controller according to claim 6 , wherein the valve controller comprises a manual override for manually activating the first pilot valve, and an error condition is fulfilled if the manual override is activated at the initiation of the setup process.

9. The valve controller according to claim 6 , wherein an error condition is fulfilled if the first sensor does not indicate a change in position of the first disc when the actuator is energized by the first pilot valve.

10. The valve controller according to claim 6 , wherein an error condition is fulfilled if one or more sensor readings of the first sensor indicate a change in position of the first disc before the start of the setup process.

11. The valve controller according to claim 6 , wherein an error condition is fulfilled if one or more sensor readings by the first sensor indicate, when the actuator is energized by the first pilot valve, a change in position of the first disc that is less than a predetermined change in position.

12. A valve comprising an actuator, a flow controlling unit and a valve controller according to claim 1 , wherein the flow controlling unit comprises a first valve seat and a cooperating first disc that is mechanically coupled to the actuator.

13. A method for controlling a valve that comprises a valve controller, an actuator and a flow controlling unit, the flow controlling unit comprising a first valve seat and a cooperating first disc that is mechanically coupled to the actuator, the flow controlling unit also comprising a second disc mechanically coupled to the actuator and cooperating with a second valve seat, the valve controller comprising:
a first pilot valve for energizing the actuator by allowing a first pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and for de-energizing the actuator by allowing the first pressurized fluid to leave the actuator, thereby controlling the position of the first disc,
a second pilot valve for energizing the actuator by allowing a second pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and for de-energizing the actuator by allowing the second pressurized fluid to leave the actuator, thereby controlling the position of the first disc, wherein the first pilot valve and the second pilot valve are configured to move the first disc in opposite directions when the actuator is individually energized by the first pilot valve and the second pilot valve,
a third pilot valve configured to control the position of the second disc cooperating by way of energizing the actuator that is mechanically coupled to the second disc by allowing a third pressurized fluid to enter the actuator and by way of de-energizing the actuator by allowing the third pressurized fluid to leave the actuator,
the first, second and

Assignees

• Alfa Laval Corp Ab

Inventors

• Priisholm Thomas
• Madsen Karsten Schack
• Lund Henriksen Axel

Classifications

• F16K37/0033 Primary

  using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays · CPC title

• F16K1/446

  with additional cleaning or venting means between the two seats · CPC title

• F15B15/1409

  with two or more independently movable working pistons · CPC title

• F15B2211/6336

  representing a state of the output member, e.g. position, speed or acceleration · CPC title

• F16K37/0075

  For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment · CPC title