EP3271791A1 - Soupape numérique de mélange de fluides - Google Patents

Soupape numérique de mélange de fluides

Info

Publication number
EP3271791A1
EP3271791A1 EP16711227.5A EP16711227A EP3271791A1 EP 3271791 A1 EP3271791 A1 EP 3271791A1 EP 16711227 A EP16711227 A EP 16711227A EP 3271791 A1 EP3271791 A1 EP 3271791A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flow
fluid
digital
actuator
digital valve
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Withdrawn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
EP16711227.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Derrick Ernest Hilton
Colin HADEN
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.)
Linde GmbH
Original Assignee
Linde GmbH
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
Application filed by Linde GmbH filed Critical Linde GmbH
Publication of EP3271791A1 publication Critical patent/EP3271791A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D16/00—Control of fluid pressure
    • G05D16/20—Control of fluid pressure characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D16/2086—Control of fluid pressure characterised by the use of electric means without direct action of electric energy on the controlling means
    • 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
    • F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
    • F16K1/30—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces specially adapted for pressure containers
    • F16K1/301—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces specially adapted for pressure containers only shut-off valves, i.e. valves without additional means
    • F16K1/302—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces specially adapted for pressure containers only shut-off valves, i.e. valves without additional means with valve member and actuator on the same side of the seat
    • 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
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
    • F16K31/04—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a motor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D11/00—Control of flow ratio
    • G05D11/02—Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material
    • G05D11/13—Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D11/135—Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material characterised by the use of electric means by sensing at least one property of the mixture
    • G05D11/138—Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material characterised by the use of electric means by sensing at least one property of the mixture by sensing the concentration of the mixture, e.g. measuring pH value

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of digital valves.
  • the invention is concerned with reducing the energy usage of such a device.
  • digital valves on gas cylinders.
  • the term digital valve encompasses at least manual valves with electronic sensors,
  • valves with or without sensors, and valves comprising locating and communication devices.
  • Such cylinders are used to supply gas for a range of
  • the various types of digital valve have in common the need for the devices (sensors, actuators, locating devices, and/or communication devices) to be powered electrically.
  • the present invention is concerned with digital valves powered by a store of charge on the device, such as a battery or capacitor.
  • Digital valves on cylinders require small batteries in order to keep the weight of the assembly (valve and cylinder) to a minimum, and the cylinders may be retained for a long time, in some cases in cold environments. There is therefore a technical pressure to conserve the charge of a battery.
  • Figure 1 depicts a schematic representation of a fluid mixing system in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 depicts a schematic representation of a gas
  • Figure 3 depicts a preferred digital valve for use in the system of Figure 1.
  • Figures 1 and 2 depict a first embodiment of apparatus for mixing fluids in accordance with the invention.
  • the apparatus comprises: a plurality of digital valves 110a, 110b, 110c, each mounted on respective cylinders 100a, 100b, 100c; a fluid analysis unit 200; a controller 300; and a mixer 400.
  • the cylinders 100a, 100b, 100c may store, for example, pressurised gases.
  • Each digital valve 110 may be installed on its respective cylinder 100 to thereby control the flow of fluid into and out of the cylinder 100.
  • the term digital valve assembly includes the digital valve 110 and may optionally also be considered to include the cylinder 100 when the digital valve 110 is mounted thereon.
  • the mixer 400 has a plurality of inputs 401, 402, each for receiving a flow of fluid from a plurality of digital valves 100.
  • the mixer 400 is arranged to mix the flow of fluid from each digital valve 100b, 100c connected thereto in order to produce a mixed output flow, provided via output 403.
  • the mixer 400 may comprise a chamber such as a plenum.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 is arranged to monitor the composition of a flow of fluid therethrough.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may monitor the concentrations of one or more components of the flow.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 is arranged downstream of the mixer 400 and
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may receive a flow from a digital valve 110a directly, not via a mixer 400.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may receive a plurality of separate flows from different sources and monitor these separately.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may be provided with a target concentration and be configured to calculate an error between the actual concentrations and the target
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may wirelessly receive the target concentration.
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may wirelessly transmit a correction signal to one or more of the digital valves 110 when an error is identified between the actual concentration and the target concentration.
  • the correction signal may represent a target value of a parameter of the digital valve 110, or may represent a change of a parameter of the digital valve 110 (either option could be considered a correction signal) .
  • the fluid analysis unit 200 may be provided with a target flow rate and use this to determine whether to increase the provision of one component of a mixture or decrease the provision of another component or both in order to achieve a target flow rate and target concentration.
  • a controller 300 may be provided to transmit to the fluid analysis unit 200, preferably wirelessly, target data representing the target mixture concentration for the output flow.
  • the controller 300 may be a tablet computer or smart phone.
  • the target data may be entered into the controller 300 by a user via a user interface, or may be selected from one or more options stored on the controller 300, or
  • controller 300 accesses data from an external data source using the controller 300.
  • the controller 300 may be configured to transmit to the digital valves 110, preferably wirelessly, target data representing the target flow rate and/or target pressure for the corresponding cylinder 100 (or correction data representing adjustment of the flow rate and/or
  • the controller 300 only transmits to the fluid analysis unit 200, and it is the fluid analysis unit 200 that instructs the digital valves 110.
  • Each digital valve 110 is arranged to receive a correction signal, preferably wirelessly, from the fluid analysis unit 200.
  • Each digital valve 110 comprises an actuator 120 for
  • the actuator 120 may be an electromagnetic actuator such as a solenoid or motor.
  • the actuators 120 of the digital valves 110 preferably comprise an adjustable regulator for adjusting the pressure of the fluid leaving the cylinder 100.
  • the actuators 120 of the digital valves 110 preferably comprise a flow controller for adjusting the flow rate.
  • the flow controller may allow the mass flow of the fluid through the digital valve 110.
  • the flow controller may for example comprise a mass flow sensor.
  • Figure 3 shows an example of a suitable digital valve 110, which preferably comprises: a flow channel 116 from an inlet 112 to an outlet 113; a processor 111; a store of charge 115 (for example, a battery or capacitor) ; means for attachment to an external power supply; and an actuator 120.
  • the actuator 120 is used to adjust the pressure regulation function of a regulator 117.
  • the actuator 120 comprises a motor that can drive a linear gear that increases or
  • the actuator 120 may also comprise a flow controller (for example, a mass flow controller) for controlling the rate of flow of fluid along flow path 116.
  • a flow controller for example, a mass flow controller
  • the digital valve 110 is mounted on a cylinder 100 such that the inlet 112 is in communication with the cylinder 100.
  • the outlet 113 may be attached to external piping or tubing.
  • Each digital valve 110 is arranged to adjust the flow therethrough using the actuator 120 based on the received correction signal.
  • the actuator 120 comprises a regulator
  • the digital valve 110 is arranged to adjust the pressure of the flow therethrough using the actuator 120 based on the received correction signal
  • the actuator comprises a flow controller
  • the digital valve 110 is arranged to adjust the rate of the flow
  • the digital valve 110 periodically determines whether it is required to provide a command to control the actuator 120 to adjust the flow (irrespective of whether the actuator 120 is configured to adjust the rate and/or pressure of the flow) .
  • the adjustment of the actuator 120 comes at a cost in terms of the depletion of stored charge. It is therefore preferable, when the digital valve is powered by its store of charge, for the digital valve 110 to limit the use of the actuator 120 to provide a flow adjustment not more frequently than a maximum adjustment frequency (this corresponds to imposing a minimum period between subsequent uses of the actuator 120) .
  • the correction signal from the fluid analysis unit 200 could demand flow changes at a greater frequency than the maximum adjustment frequency of the digital valve 110. In which case, the digital valve will use the actuator 120 to adjust the flow at the maximum adjustment frequency.
  • the correction signal from the fluid analysis unit 200 could demand flow changes at a lesser frequency than the maximum adjustment frequency of the digital valve 110. In which case, the digital valve will use the actuator 120 to adjust the flow at the lesser frequency.
  • the digital valve 110 may be connectable to an external power supply 122. In which case, there is no longer a benefit in enforcing a maximum
  • Such a digital valve 110 may therefore be programmed to operate in a self-powered mode or an externally-powered mode.
  • Such a digital valve 110 will operate in the self-powered mode when powered by its store of charge, and will operate in the externally-powered mode when powered by an external power supply 122.
  • the digital valve 110 will limit the use of the actuator 120 to provide a flow adjustment not more frequently than a maximum adjustment frequency.
  • the digital valve 110 In externally-powered mode, the digital valve 110 will not limit the frequency of use of the actuator 120. The maximum frequency of use of the actuator 120 will therefore be set as the maximum achievable by the electronics (e.g., the clock speed of the digital valve 110) .
  • the digital valve 110 is arranged to sense whether it is attached to an external power supply 122 and to thereby automatically select the self-powered mode or the externally-powered mode.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Flow Control (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un appareil à soupapes de mélange de fluides comprenant une pluralité de soupapes numériques. Chaque soupape comporte un actionneur permettant de régler la pression et/ou le débit d'écoulement de fluide d'un fluide contenu dans un cylindre, un mélangeur servant à mélanger l'écoulement de fluide de chaque soupape pour produire un écoulement de sortie, une unité d'analyse de fluide conçue pour surveiller la composition de l'écoulement de sortie, et un dispositif de commande conçu pour fournir une concentration de mélange cible de l'écoulement de sortie. Le dispositif de commande transmet des données cibles à l'unité d'analyse de fluide, l'unité d'analyse de fluide reçoit les données cibles, de façon à déterminer toute erreur dans la composition surveillée, et envoie un signal de correction à une ou plusieurs des soupapes afin de régler l'écoulement. Chacune des soupapes peut recevoir un signal de correction et régler l'écoulement à l'aide de l'actionneur.
EP16711227.5A 2015-03-17 2016-03-17 Soupape numérique de mélange de fluides Withdrawn EP3271791A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201504443A GB201504443D0 (en) 2015-03-17 2015-03-17 A digital valve for mixing fluids
PCT/EP2016/055800 WO2016146742A1 (fr) 2015-03-17 2016-03-17 Soupape numérique de mélange de fluides

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3271791A1 true EP3271791A1 (fr) 2018-01-24

Family

ID=53016223

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP16711227.5A Withdrawn EP3271791A1 (fr) 2015-03-17 2016-03-17 Soupape numérique de mélange de fluides

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3271791A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB201504443D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2016146742A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11906067B2 (en) 2022-01-21 2024-02-20 Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Active valve shimming

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991015719A1 (fr) * 1990-04-11 1991-10-17 Transfresh Corporation Systemes de controle-commande et procedes de controle et de commande d'atmospheres dans des conteneurs de denrees perissables respirantes
EP2667276B1 (fr) * 2012-05-24 2017-11-08 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Procédé et appareil permettant de fournir un mélange gazeux

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2016146742A1 (fr) 2016-09-22
GB201504443D0 (en) 2015-04-29

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