EP1409905A1 - Systeme permettant de tester le fonctionnement d'une vanne de secours - Google Patents

Systeme permettant de tester le fonctionnement d'une vanne de secours

Info

Publication number
EP1409905A1
EP1409905A1 EP01951165A EP01951165A EP1409905A1 EP 1409905 A1 EP1409905 A1 EP 1409905A1 EP 01951165 A EP01951165 A EP 01951165A EP 01951165 A EP01951165 A EP 01951165A EP 1409905 A1 EP1409905 A1 EP 1409905A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
valve
actuator
emergency
emergency valve
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01951165A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Derek Mark Essam
Christopher Gimblett
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rotork UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Drallim Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0002988A external-priority patent/GB0002988D0/en
Application filed by Drallim Industries Ltd filed Critical Drallim Industries Ltd
Publication of EP1409905A1 publication Critical patent/EP1409905A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K37/00—Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
    • F16K37/0075—For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment
    • F16K37/0083—For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment by measuring valve parameters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K37/00—Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
    • F16K37/0075—For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment
    • F16K37/0091—For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment by measuring fluid parameters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to means for testing operation of an emergency shut down or isolation valve.
  • the invention will be described with particular reference to emergency shut down valves which are used, for example, in processing industries such as oil refineries or oil rigs, the valve being provided in an oil pipeline, the arrangement being such that in the event of an emergency, the valve will close.
  • the emergency valve may be an emergency isolation valve which in an emergency shuts down and isolates part of a process or an emergency blow down valve which in an emergency opens to pass air or other fluid to, for example, blow down the process.
  • valves for use in isolating the flow of oil it will be understood that other valves controlling the flow of other fluids comprising a liquid or gas may be tested by means according to the invention.
  • Emergency valves comprise a variety of forms, for example, gate valves, butterfly valves, rotary or ball valves.
  • the emergency valve is operated by an actuator.
  • One method of operation of the actuator uses hydraulic or gas pressure to retain the valve in its normal, eg closed, position.
  • the hydraulic or gas pressure is released and a metal spring or other mechanism closes the valve.
  • the pressure medium controlling the actuator is redirected to close the valve.
  • the application of the hydraulic or gas pressure is normally controlled by one or more electrically controlled solenoid valves, the electrical signal (voltage) being provided by an electrical control line. Any interruption of the electrical signal operates the solenoid valves to release or divert the hydraulic or gas pressure and hence closes the valve.
  • the actuator is an electric motor controlled by an electrical signal on a control line.
  • the emergency valve When testing the operation of an emergency valve, it is common practice for the emergency valve to be operated in a slower controlled manner for reasons of apparent safety.
  • a proportional controller which allows the release of successive small amounts of gas which allows small controlled movements of the actuator.
  • a position detector which detects the position of the valve stem or other part of the valve.
  • the present invention provides apparatus for testing an emergency valve in which a valve member is movable by an actuator between an open and a closed position, said apparatus comprising means for initiating emergency closure of the valve and means for stopping the closure when the valve member is in a position intermediate its open and closed positions whereby to partially stroke the valve.
  • Said stopping means may include means to maintain the valve member in said position intermediate its open and closed positions.
  • said apparatus may include means to measure the pressure of fluid into or out of the actuator of the valve.
  • said apparatus may include means to measure the flow of fluid into or out of the actuator of the valve.
  • Means may be provided to analyse of the pressure or flow of said fluid to thereby provide information as to whether the emergency valve is operating satisfactorily.
  • Means may be provided to measure the flow of fluid through the valve whilst it is partially closed.
  • the present invention provides testing means for partially stroking (ie opening or closing) an emergency valve of the type controlled by an electrical signal on a control line, said means comprising means for connection to said control line, said means including means for providing, on said control line, a relevant electrical signal for a period of time to cause said emergency valve to move to a position intermediate the open and closed position and no further and means to maintain the valve in that intermediate position.
  • Both said means may comprise timers, whereby the length of time may be predetermined, but in an alternative arrangement, the length of time of the electrical signal may be determined by measuring a factor which relates to movement of the valve so that the intermediate position in which the valve is to be maintained will be the same or substantially the same and not dependent upon the speed of operation of the valve.
  • the testing means may include at least one variable timing means and a relay means.
  • said control line is adapted to pass through said testing means from an input terminal to an output terminal, said input terminal and output terminal being connected electrically through a normally closed relay and there is provided variable timer means operable to apply power to said normally closed relay to open said relay for a variable time to partially close/open the valve.
  • second timer means may be provided in series with said first mentioned timer means, so that even if one of the timer means fails and continues to apply power to said normally closed relay to keep it open, the other timer means will interrupt the power supply
  • said relay means may be coupled in parallel with a second relay means, said second relay means being controlled in the same way as the first relay means by one or two of said timer means, whereby, if either of said relay means fails in said open position, the other relay means will close to electrically connect said input and output terminals.
  • One of the merits of using the control line to partially stroke the emergency valve is that there is no interference with the mechanism of the emergency valve and, indeed, the size; type of operation, etc, of the valve is irrelevant.
  • a single type of testing means may be provided for partially stroking any type of emergency valve. It is simply necessary to adjust the variable timer means to suit the relevant emergency valve.
  • Means may also be provided to analyse the operation of the valve
  • the valve is a pneumatically actuated valve
  • the pressure or flow of the air applied or released (in the case of a single acting actuator) to the valve may be measured. From such measurements, the operation of the valve may be analysed.
  • valve is a hydraulically actuated valve
  • the flow rate or pressure of the fluid to and from the valve actuator may be measured.
  • the flow rate or pressure measurement may be used to provide an analysis operation of the valve
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an emergency valve in a pipeline with a single hydraulic or pneumatic acting actuator connected to a first testing means for partially stroking the emergency valve in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the system being in a normal condition with the emergency valve open,
  • Figure 1 A is a view similar to Figure 1 except that the solenoid valves 13 and 15 are arranged in reverse order,
  • Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1. and Figure 2 A is similar to Figure 1A with the system having been operated to initiate a partial stroke,
  • Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1, and Figure 3 A is similar to Figure 1A with the reset prevention timer initiated,
  • Figure 4 is similar to Figure 1. and Figure 4A is similar to Figure 1A with the means to maintain the emergency valve in the intermediate position operated.
  • Figure 5 is similar to Figure 1 and Figure 5 A is similar to Figure 1 A with the reset prevention timer continuing to time out.
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of an emergency valve in a pipeline with a single pneumatic acting actuator connected to a testing means for partially stroking the emergency valve in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 6A is a view similar to Figure 6 except that the solenoid valves and are arranged in reverse order.
  • Figure 7 is a graph of the pneumatic flow being released in the pneumatically operated actuator during emergency closure of the emergency valve
  • Figure 8 is similar to Figure 7 but shows a point at which a software trigger may be set to initiate the actuator/valve to stop in its intermediate position
  • Figure 9 is a superimpo jition of the graph shown in Figures 7 and 8, together with a similar graph of the same actuator/valve operated to its partial stroke position. The combined graph showing that under test the actuator/valve is closely following its full closure path
  • Figure 10 shows a plurality of signals for the partial close test, one of which shows a problem in operation of the valve
  • Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of an emergency valve in a pipeline with a single hydraulic or pneumatic acting actuator connected to a testing means for partially stroking the emergency valve in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 11 A is a view similar to Figure 11 except that the solenoid valves are arranged in reverse order, and
  • Figure 12 is a graph similar to Figure 7 of the pneumatic flow being released in the pneumatically operated actuator during emergency closure of the emergency valve of Figure 1 1.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a first embodiment of an emergency valve 20 in a pipeline 1 1.
  • the emergency valve being arranged so as to close off the pipeline 1 1 to prevent the flow of fluid through the pipeline in an emergency.
  • the valve 20 is operated by a single acting actuator 10 and is held open by gas or hydraulic fluid applied at pressure to one side of a piston in a piston/cylinder unit 12. the gas or hydraulic pressure fluid being applied to the piston 12 via a solenoid (or other electrically controlled) valve 13 (ie solenoid 13 A.
  • valve 13B the solenoid valve 13 in the first position ( Figure 1 and 2) applying the pressure from a fluid pressure supply 51 to the piston/cylinder unit 12 and in a second position ( Figures 3 - 5) isolating the piston/cylinder unit 12 from the gas or hydraulic pressure supply 51 and connecting it to exhaust via vent 13.
  • the valve In the second position of the solenoid valve 13. with the piston/cylinder unit 12 connected to exhaust and in the absence of gas or hydraulic pressure to hold the valve 20 in the open position, the valve is immediately closed by means of a metal spring 14 or other means.
  • the operation may be slower and may take a number of seconds from open to close but in many such valves the operation is rapid and the time from being fully open to fully closed may be as little as one second.
  • the solenoid valve 13 is held in the position in which pressure is applied to the piston/cylinder unit 12 when an electrical voltage is applied on an electrical controJJine 16 and when the voltage on the electrical control line 16 falls to zero, then the solenoid valve moves to the position in which the piston/cylinder unit 12 is isolated from gas or hydraulic pressure from the supply 51 and connected to exhaust.
  • the system is therefore failsafe in that failure of the electrical supply to the solenoid valve, will cause the valve 20 to be closed by the metal spring 14 or other means.
  • the solenoid valve 13 In non fail safe modes the solenoid valve 13 is held in the position in which pressure is applied to the piston/cylinder unit 12 when an electrical voltage is applied on electrical control line 16 and when the voltage on the electrical control line 16 rises, then the solenoid valve moves to the position in which the piston/cylinder unit 12 is isolated from gas or hydraulic pressure from the supply 51.
  • solenoid 15 A, valve 15B In the line between the solenoid valve 13 and the piston cylinder unit 12 there is provided a further solenoid valve 15 (ie solenoid 15 A, valve 15B) which in normal operation is held in the position in which pressure passes from the solenoid valve 13 to the piston cylinder unit 12 and in a second position closes the line between the solenoid valve 13 and the piston/cylinder unit 12.
  • FIG. 3 and 4 it will be seen that an electrical control line 16, connected to an electrical voltage (which line 16 would normally be connected directly to the solenoid 13 A of valve 13) is connected to a testing control means 17 in accordance with the invention.
  • Figures 1A, 2 A 3 A and 4 A show an arrangement similar to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 but with the solenoid valves 13 and 15 reversed in order.
  • electrical power from the electrical control line 16 passes through the testing control means 17 which controls the application of that electrical power along line 41 and 16B to the solenoids 13 A, 15 A.
  • the testing procedure may be initiated from a superimposed signal on control line 16, by a signal on to contact 42 or by means of alternative devices such as 31.
  • Timer TM1 controls switches 24 and 25 as a relay.
  • timer TM3 controls switch 26 and timer TM2 controls switch 27.
  • switches 28, 29 is applied along line 41 to solenoid 13A.
  • Circuitry 50 the operation of which will be described later, is provided to control the application of the electrical power from the control line 16 to line 16B and thence to solenoid 15 A.
  • the switches are in the positions shown in Figure 1.
  • the input voltage from line 16 passes along line 40 through the parallel switches 28, 29 to line 41 and thence to the solenoid 13A.
  • the voltage on line 40 is applied to input terminals of switches 24 and 25, input switch 25 isolating that voltage, but switch 24 connecting that voltage to the input terminal of the key operated or push button spring return switch 31. That switch 31 is normally open.
  • the voltage on line 40 is otherwise used to power the timers TMl, TM2, TM3 and the relays RLl and RL2.
  • the control circuitry 50 After a first predetermined period of time which is adjustable the control circuitry 50 operates to pass the electrical voltage from control line 16 to line 16B to operate solenoid 15 A.
  • This first predetermined period of time should be set to be less than the time taken for the valve 20 to fully close and indeed might be set for a period of time equivalent to the valve 20 moving a proportion of its full stroke.
  • the control circuit 50 includes timer means or a software trigger (to be described later) which is manually variable to maintain the signal on line 16B to maintain the solenoid valve 15 closed and thereby maintain the piston of the piston cylinder unit 12 stationery in that intermediate position.
  • control circuitry 50 operates to pass the electrical voltage from control line 16 to line 16B to operate solenoid 15 A this blocks the supply to the valve 20.
  • the timers in the testing control system 17 via the relays act to remove the signal from solenoid valve 13 lowering the pressure blocked by solenoid valve 15 and the valve 20 begins to move Figure 3 A. After a predetermined length of time the timer's time out changing the state of the relays allowing solenoid valve 13 to reset figure 4 A, this causes the valve 20 to stop in its intermediate position.
  • the piston Whilst the piston is stationery in that intermediate position, it is possible to carry out tests to determine features of the emergency actuator/valve 20. For example, accumulation of dirt or sludge or other material in the valve itself in the pipeline adjacent the valve, or on the gate of the valve, will have an effect, for example, on the flow rate or pressure differential across the valve and this may be used to determine whether the emergency valve 20 requires servicing, cleaning or the like.
  • frequent operation of the apparatus to partially close the emergency valve 20 in this way can be used to plot the change of effectiveness of the actuator to close the valve , or the state of the valve or pipeline adjacent the valve over the course of time.
  • the timers TMl, TM3 and the switches 24, 25, 26 will revert to the position shown in Figure 1 in the case of the alternative arrangement to Figure 1 A.
  • TMl, TM3 revert to the position shown in Figure 1
  • the movement of the switch 25 and/or 26 will interrupt the power supply to the control terminals 32, 33 of the relays RLl, RL2 and so the relays will move the switches 28, 29 back to the position shown in Figure 1.
  • This will reconnect the voltage from the line 40 to the line 41 to cause the solenoid valve 13 to reconnect the pressure supply to the solenoid 15.
  • control circuit 50 de- energises solenoid valve 15 allowing full pressure to be applied to solenoid valve 13.
  • the timer TM2 is arranged to have a longer time (longer than the second predetermined time plus the time provided by circuit 50) before switching 27 back to its normal position than the timers TMl, TM3.
  • the reason for this is that it would otherwise be possible, once the timers TMl, TM3 have returned the switches 24, 25, 26 to the position shown in Figure 1 , for an operator to operate switch 31 again before the valve 20 has returned to the fully open position and in that circumstance by successive operation of the switch 31, one could cause the valve 20 to move to a fully closed position.
  • Timer TM2 and switch 27 isolate the switch 31 until a period of time which is sufficient for the valve 20 to open fully.
  • timer TM2 is set so as to maintain switch 27 open from the time the switch 31 is first closed through to a period of time which will allow the valve 20 to open in all circumstances.
  • control means set out above is that it can be simply inserted into the electrical control line 16. This is particularly useful where, for example, the valve is remote, for example, is provided on the seabed and allows ready application of the testing means to other types of emergency control valve, for example, emergency control valves with double acting actuators, or with electrical actuators.
  • timers TMl, TM2, TM3 are of variable timing. Particularly timers in circuit 50 and TMl, TM3 need to be adjusted for the operation of an individual valve 20. Thus for example when first installing the system, the timers can be turned down so as to operate for the minimum period, and the system operated to see how far the valve 20 strokes, and the time of can be increased slowly until the valve 20 strokes to the desired extent, for example, through 25% of its stroke.
  • FIG. 6 a apparatus comprising a second embodiment of the invention Where appropriate the same reference numerals as used in Figure 1 are used.
  • the apparatus includes means for measuring the pressure or flow of the pneumatic fluid applied or released from the actuator and uses that measurement of pressure or flow to control operation of the solenoids 15 in place of the timer circuits in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5.
  • FIG. 6 The arrangement of Figure 6 and the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 6 A includes an emergency valve 20 operated by an actuator 10 comprising a piston/cylinder unit as shown in Figure 1, pneumatic pressure being released in the case of a single acting actuated valve or applied in the case of a double acting actuated valve (not shown here) to the actuator 10 via the solenoid valves 15, 13, from a supply 51.
  • the solenoids 15 A, 13A of solenoid control valves 15, 13 are electrically controlled by lines 113, 105 respectively, the line 105 is connected to a testing system 100 which includes a pressure sensor 101 configured either to measure pressure directly or to measure differential pressure and hence measure flow, which sensor 101 is connected by a line 102 to the pressure line 103 interconnecting the solenoid valve 15 and the actuator 10.
  • the pressure sensor 101 measures the pressure of the gas or air on the side of the piston opposite the spring within the actuator 10.
  • the signal line 16 of Figure 1 is also connected to the testing system 100.
  • the testing system 100 may include an electrical output line (not shown) which provides an electrical/electronic signal indicating the pressure sensed by the sensor 101 which may be passed to a suitable computer.
  • the signal line 16 is also connected to the line 113.
  • solenoid valve 15 is engergised blocking the supply to the actuator 10. Solenoid valve 13 is then de- energised allowing the actuator 10 and valve 20 to begin moving. Thereafter solenoid valve 13 is re-energised blocking any further discharge of fluid/gas from the actuator 10, this action stops the movement of the emergency valve 20 in its intermediate position. After a predetermined time solenoid valve 15 is de-energised allowing full pressure from supply 51, at the same time solenoid valve 13 is re-energised allowing full pressure from supply 51 to the actuator 10, this has the action of restoring the emergency valve and actuator to their normal position.
  • an electrical output indicating the measurement of pressure sensed by the sensor 101 can be used for a number of purposes as will be described hereafter.
  • FIG. 7 the vertical scale of which is the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 101 during emergency operation of the valve 20 (which in the case of differential pressure measurement is a measure of pneumatic flow).
  • the horizontal scale is time.
  • Figures 7 - 10 show the release of air flowing from the actuator/valve assembly the trace portion 120 can be ignored as this is a time period in which the output of the pressure sensor 101 is sensing no flow ( in the case of the differential method) or no change in pressure (in the case of direct pressure readings).
  • the solenoid valve 13 When the emergency valve is to be closed the solenoid valve 13 is operated so as to connect pressure line 103 to exhaust and under the operation of the spring or by means of applied pressure for double acting actuated valves, the piston in the actuator moves so as to close valve 20 and the air in the system is exhausted. This is shown by the trace 122 where the pressure is reduced or flow is reducing from the peak at 125 to a lower value at 126. In practice the lower value 126 is not zero since the valve 20 will be closed before the pressure in the cylinder of the actuator 10 has reduced to zero. After the valve 20 has closed residual air pressure decays as is shown by the trace 123 to a value 124.
  • FIG. 8 is a copy of Figure 7 which shows a point 127.
  • the closure of the solenoid valve 15 was controlled by timers, in the present arrangement it may alternatively be provided by a measurement of the pressure. In other words, one may select a position along the trace 122 at which to close the solenoid valve 15. In the case of Figure 8, the position chosen is at 127.
  • the testing system 100 reads the pressure or flow output from the sensor 101 and when the pressure or flow has reduced from the peak 125 down to the point 127 then a signal is passed along line 105 to operate the solenoid valve 15 to close it.
  • This is the so-called software trigger.
  • the software trigger may be automatically adjusted to compensate for variables such as pressure or temperature changes in and surrounding the actuator/valve assembly, thereby arresting the movement of the valve/actuator at the preferred partial or intermediate closing distance.
  • Figure 9 shows a superimposition of the signal of Figures 7 and 8 with the output signal in a case where the solenoid valve 15 is closed when the pressure trace reaches the point 127.
  • the signal from the pressure sensor 101 is not recorded beyond the point 127 and thereby falls to zero.
  • the solenoid 15 By operating the solenoid 15 in accordance with the predetermined chosen point 127 it is not necessary to use all of the timers as set out in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 4 although the timers may be retained as a back up. In other words, the timers may be set to operate in normal circumstances at a point in time beyond the point 127.
  • Trace 132 is a trace of an actual operation of the valve 20 at a later time it can be seen that this is outside (ie below) the trace 131. It is therefore possible to determine that there is a problem with the valve or actuator particularly when the valve has partially closed (the trace 132 in the initial sequence of closure of the valve is satisfactory and only becomes unsatisfactory as the valve closes). Thus whilst the emergency shutdown valve 20 may be operating whilst the trace 132 is taken, it is possible to predict that there is a problem which may get worse over time and may cause the valve not to operate correctly.
  • Automatic monitoring systems may be added to produce a valve test failure report.
  • Figures 6 - 10 can be applied to single acting hydraulic or pneumatic emergency shut down valves, in which case we measure fluid pressure, and to double acting hydraulic or pneumatic emergency shut down valves.
  • Figure 11 is similar to Figure 6 except as detailed as follows.
  • the same reference numerals are used as Figure 6 for the same or corresponding components.
  • the pressure sensor 101 senses pressure between the valves 13. 15 and a flow sensor 201 is provided to sense flow between the valve 15 and the actuator 10.
  • An optional position sensor 202 is provided on the shaft between the actuator 10 and the valve 20. The outputs of the sensors 101. 201. and 202 are passed by respective electrical lines to the testing system 100.
  • the testing system 100 includes a simple button which is manually operated to start the test (although remote operation is also envisaged) and has three lamps which indicate whether the emergency valve has failed the test, or a fault has been found (which whilst not failing the test indicates that maintenance is required) or that it passed the test.
  • the testing system may include a microprocessor and analyse the data itself or may pass the data from the sensors to a remote computer system where the analysis is carried out.
  • the apparatus On initiation, the apparatus will go into a diagnostic mode by running an internal diagnostic check of the electronics. It will then: -
  • Test Solenoid valve 15 by applying power to the solenoid 15A thereby blocking the pneumatic signal to the actuator 10. Power is then momentarily removed from the solenoid valve 13 and then restored to check whether the pressure falls between solenoid valves 13 and 15, and that there is no flow between solenoid valve 15 and the actuator. If no flow is detected this will indicate that solenoid valve 15 is healthy and the sequence will continue; should flow be detected this would indicate that solenoid valve 15 is faulty, and the sequence will be aborted and a solenoid valve 15 failure indicated to the user by means of illuminating the relevant lamps 203-205.
  • solenoid valve 15 will be operated to prevent the emergency valve 20 from closing and the sequence will be aborted and a solenoid valve 13 failure indicated to the user by means of illuminating the relevant lamps 203-205.
  • the apparatus removes the electrical signal from solenoid valve 13 to allow the emergency valve 20 to close fully.
  • a reading is taken by the flow sensor of exhausting air from actuator 10, and this reading is used as a datum against which future measurements are analysed (see top trace Figure 12)
  • Solenoid valve 13 is then re-energised to allow the actuator 10 to return to normal.
  • the apparatus is then controlled by interrupting the electrical supply to cause partial movement in 10% steps (i.e. 10,20 30 depending on the movement required). This is carried out by de-energising solenoid valve 13 to allow the emergency valve 20 to begin moving. At a predetermined point solenoid valve 15 will energise, arresting the movement of the emergency valve 20.
  • solenoid valve 15 is engergised, blocking the supply to the actuator 10. Solenoid valve 13 is then de- energised allowing the actuator 10 and valve 20 to begin moving. Thereafter solenoid valve 13 is re-energised blocking any further discharge of fluid/gas from the actuator 10, this action stops the movement of the emergency valve 20 in its intermediate position. After a predetermined time solenoid valve 15 is de-energised allowing full pressure from supply 51, at the same time solenoid valve 13 is re-energised allowing full pressure from supply 51 to the actuator 10, this has the action of restoring the emergency valve and actuator to their normal position.
  • the apparatus Once the apparatus has been through the set-up mode, it enters the test mode. In the test mode the apparatus will: -
  • Solenoid valve 13 De-energise solenoid valve 13 and energise solenoid valve 15 to allow the actuator 10 to move to the partial stroke position. Solenoid valve 13 is re-energized immediately after solenoid valve 15, thereby avoiding the prospect of a spurious trip should solenoid valve 15 have failed to engage.
  • the system is failsafe in that failure of the electrical supply to the solenoid valve 13, will cause the valve 20 to be closed by the metal spring 14 or other means.
  • the unit 100 sense a failure in the electrical supply it will continue to monitor the flow /pressure sensors in order to store a full closure trace of the emergency valve for analysis purposes against previously held data.
  • a comparison algorithm within the system 100 or the computer checks the traces.
  • the original set-up trace is compared to the test data. Should an anomaly be detected, the system will illuminate the relevant lamps 203-205 to display to the operator the condition of the emergency valve 20 assembly.
  • the information can be downloaded from the apparatus unit for further analysis.
  • the information is analysed on a computer housing the necessary software. Algorithms analyse the data to give best-fit results against previously held data.
  • Figure 12 shows a graph of airflow taken during a full stroke test. Prior to the test the actuator had been fully stroked repeatedly in order to obtain a minimum value of breakout force. The dased line on the graph shows the superimposition of a graph taken from a partial stroke of 30%. A number of deductions can be made from the graph and from the nature of the mechanical operation of the actuator.
  • Temperate and pressure may be monitored and their effects compensated for or minimised (e.g. a regulated pressure supply) and compensation derived from (and applied to) portion A-C can also be applied to C-D.
  • a regulated pressure supply e.g. a regulated pressure supply
  • compensation derived from (and applied to) portion A-C can also be applied to C-D.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Magnetically Actuated Valves (AREA)
  • Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil permettant de tester une vanne de secours (20), dans laquelle un élément de vanne (11) peut être déplacé au moyen d'un actionneur (10), entre une position ouverte et une position fermée. Cet appareil comprend des systèmes (40, 13) qui permettent d'amorcer la fermeture de secours de la vanne et des systèmes (50, 15) qui permettent de stopper la fermeture lorsque l'élément de vanne se trouve dans une position intermédiaire, entre sa position ouverte et sa position fermée, afin de pousser partiellement la vanne.
EP01951165A 2000-02-10 2001-01-23 Systeme permettant de tester le fonctionnement d'une vanne de secours Withdrawn EP1409905A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0002988 2000-02-10
GB0002988A GB0002988D0 (en) 2000-02-10 2000-02-10 Means for testing operation of an emergency valve
GB0006058A GB0006058D0 (en) 2000-02-10 2000-03-14 Means for testing operation of an ermergency valve
GB0006058 2000-03-14
PCT/GB2001/000257 WO2001059346A1 (fr) 2000-02-10 2001-01-23 Systeme permettant de tester le fonctionnement d'une vanne de secours

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1409905A1 true EP1409905A1 (fr) 2004-04-21

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01951165A Withdrawn EP1409905A1 (fr) 2000-02-10 2001-01-23 Systeme permettant de tester le fonctionnement d'une vanne de secours

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1409905A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001059346A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102182864A (zh) * 2011-04-22 2011-09-14 合肥通用机械研究院 阀门行程测试系统

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