Pipeline flow control system and method

Claim 2

In a method for controlling the flow of fluid in a pipeline having a normally open flow control valve provided with power operating means to close and open the same, the steps of energizing the power operating means to close the valve when the static pressure in the line near the valve decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the pressure conditions in the line at that side of the valve of lower static pressure, and reopening the valve a predetermined time interval after it is closed when predetermined pressure requirements at said lower pressure side are met.

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the presence of static static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 1 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 5

A method as in claim 1 in which the predetermined pressure requirements includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 6

In a pipeline system comprising piping for conveying fluid flow under pressure, at least one valve connected in the line, power operated means for operating the valve between open and closed conditions and means for energizing said power operated means responsive to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure in the line near the valve at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the operating means to close the valve and means responsive to a predetermined pressure condition in the line at that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operating means to open the valve.

Claim 7

In a pipeline system comprising piping for conveying fluid flow under pressure, at least one valve connected in the line, power operated means for operating the valve between open and closed conditions and means for energizing said power operated means responsive to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure in the line near the valve at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the operating means to close the valve and means responsive to a predetermined pressure condition in the line at that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operating means to open the valve.

Claim 8

A system as in claim 5 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 9

A system as in claim 5 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 10

A system as in claim 5 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 11

A system as in claim 5 together with a fluid pressure sensing line and a fluid pressure operated device connected to said line and having fluid connections with the pipeline on opposite sides of the valve, said device serving to staBlish fluid pressure communication between said sensing line and that side of the valve that is at a lower static pressure, and means for controlling the actuation of the power operating means to close and open the valve, said controlling means being pressure conditions in said sensing line.

Claim 12

A system as in claim 5 together with timing means for ensuring maintenance of the valve in closed condition for a predetermined time interval before opening of the same.

Claim 13

A system as in claim 5 wherein the means for energizing the power operated means includes means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the static pressure in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower, electronic circuit means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an alarm signal when said static pressure is either below the predetermined level or decreasing more rapidly than the predetermined rate, means for sensing the conditions of the valve, timing means responsive to the last named means for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for opening the valve a predetermined time after the valve is closed, and logic gate means connected for receiving inputs from the circuit means and the means for sensing the condition of the valve, said gate means being adapted for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for closing the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when said valve is open and for delivering a signal to the timing means to inhibit the delivery of the control signal for opening the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when the valve is closed.

Claim 14

In a method for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure in a pipeline having at least two flow control valves located at remote points along the line, the steps of monitoring the pressure conditions in the pipeline near each of the valves, closing both of the valves when the monitored pressure in the line decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the pressure at the lower pressure side of each of the closed valves, and reopening a closed valve a predetermined time interval after closing of the same when predetermined pressure requirements are met at the lower pressure side of said valve.

Claim 15

In a method for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure in a pipeline having at least two flow control valves located at remote points along the line, the steps of monitoring the pressure conditions in the pipeline near each of the valves, closing both of the valves when the monitored pressure in the line decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the pressure at the lower pressure side of each of the closed valves, and reopening a closed valve a predetermined time interval after closing of the same when predetermined pressure requirements are met at the lower pressure side of said valve.

Claim 16

A method as in claim 12 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 17

A method as in claim 12 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 18

A method as in claim 12 in which the predetermined pressure requirements includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 19

In a method for controlling the operation of a plurality of valves located at spaced points along two parallel flow lines of a pipeline system, the corresponding ends of the parallel lines being connected to upstream and downstream portions of a main flow line conveying fluid under pressure, each parallel line having at least two valves located at remote points along the same and each main line portion having a main line valve, the flow of fluid being through both the parallel flow lines or through one of said lines, depending upon the condition of the valves controlling flow through the same, each valve being provided with a power operator serving to close or open the same when energized; the method starting with the valves in open position with fluid flow occurring through both parallel lines, comprising closing all of the valves in the system when the static pressure in the system decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the static pressure at that side of each valve of lower static pressure and reopening each valve a predetermined time interval after closing of the same when the sensed pressure meets predetermined requirements whereby in the event a line break occurs between two valves in one of the parallel lines of the system, said two valves remain closed and the other valves are reopened to continue flow through the other parallel line.

Claim 20

In a method for controlling the operation of a plurality of valves located at spaced points along two parallel flow lines of a pipeline system, the corresponding ends of the parallel lines being connected to upstream and downstream portions of a main flow line conveying fluid under pressure, each parallel line having at least two valves located at remote points along the same and each main line portion having a main line valve, the flow of fluid being through both the parallel flow lines or through one of said lines, depending upon the condition of the valves controlling flow through the same, each valve being provided with a power operator serving to close or open the same when energized; the method starting with the valves in open position with fluid flow occurring through both parallel lines, comprising closing all of the valves in the system when the static pressure in the system decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the static pressure at that side of each valve of lower static pressure and reopening each valve a predetermined time interval after closing of the same when the sensed pressure meets predetermined requirements whereby in the event a line break occurs between two valves in one of the parallel lines of the system, said two valves remain closed and the other valves are reopened to continue flow through the other parallel line.

Claim 21

A method as in claim 16 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 22

A method as in claim 16 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 23

A method as in claim 16 in which the predetermined pressure requirements include the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 24

In a pipeline system having piping for conveying fluid under pressure, at least two valves connected in the line for controlling the flow of the fluid, power operated means for operating each valve between open and closed conditions, and means for energizing said power operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure in the line at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the operating means to close the valve and means responsive to a predetermined pressure condition in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operating means to open the valve.

Claim 25

In a pipeline system having piping for conveying fluid under pressure, at least two valves connected in the line for controlling the flow of the fluid, power operated means for operating each valve between open and closed conditions, and means for energizing said power operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure in the line at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the operating means to close the valve and means responsive to a predetermined pressure condition in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operating means to open the valve.

Claim 26

A system as in claim 20 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 27

A system as in claim 21 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 28

A system as in claim 20 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 29

A system as in claim 20 together with a fluid pressure sensing line and a fluid pressure operated device connected to said line and having fluid connections with the pipeline on opposite sides of the valve, said device serving to establish fluid pressure communication between said sensing line and that side of the valve that is at a lower static pressure, and means for controlling the actuation of the power operating means to close and open the valve, said controlling means being pressure conditions in said sensing line.

Claim 30

A system as in claim 20 together with timing means for ensuring maintenance of the valve in closed condition for a predetermined time interval before opening of the same.

Claim 31

A system as in claim 20 wherein the means for energizing the power operated means includes means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the static pressure in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower, electronic circuit means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an alarm signal when said static pressure is either below the predetermined level or decreasing more rapidly than the predetermined rate, means for sensing the condition of the valve, timing means responsive to the last named means for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for opening the valve a predetermined time after the valve is closed, and logic gate means connected for receiving inputs from the circuit means and the means for sensing the condition of the valve, said gate means being adapted for delivering a Control signal to the power operated means for closing the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when said valve is open and for delivering a signal to the timing means to inhibit the delivery of the control signal for opening the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when the valve is closed.

Claim 32

In a pipeline system, a main flow line for conveying fluid under pressure, said line having upstream and downstream portions, a plurality of parallel lines connected at their ends to the upstream and downstream portions of the main flow line, a main line valve connected in each main line portion for controlling the flow therein, at least two valves located at remote points along each of the parallel lines for controlling the flow of fluid therein, power operator means at each valve for closing or opening the valve when energized, and means for energizing the power operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure near the valve at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the power operated means to close the valve and means response to a predetermined pressure condition in the line at that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operator means to open the valve.

Claim 33

In a pipeline system, a main flow line for conveying fluid under pressure, said line having upstream and downstream portions, a plurality of parallel lines connected at their ends to the upstream and downstream portions of the main flow line, a main line valve connected in each main line portion for controlling the flow therein, at least two valves located at remote points along each of the parallel lines for controlling the flow of fluid therein, power operator means at each valve for closing or opening the valve when energized, and means for energizing the power operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure near the valve at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the power operated means to close the valve and means response to a predetermined pressure condition in the line at that side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing said operator means to open the valve.

Claim 34

A system as in claim 27 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 35

A system as in claim 27 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 36

A system as in claim 27 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 37

A system as in claim 27 together with a fluid pressure sensing line and a fluid pressure operated device connected to said line and having fluid connections with the pipeline on opposite sides of the valve, said device serving to establish fluid pressure communication between said sensing line and that side of the valve that is at a lower static pressure, and means for controlling the actuation of the power operating means to close and open the valve, said controlling means being pressure conditions in said sensing line.

Claim 38

A system as in claim 27 together with timing means for ensuring maintenance of the valve in closed condition for a predetermined time interval before opening of the same.

Claim 39

A system as in claim 27 wherein the means for energizing the power operated means includes means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the static pressure in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower, electronic circuit means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an alarm signal when said static pressure is either below the predetermined level or decreasing more rapidly than the predetermined rate, means for sensing the condition of the valve, timing means responsive to the last named means for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for opening the valve a predetermined time after the valve is closed, and logic gate means connected for receiving inputs from the circuit means and the means for sensing the condition of the valve, said gate means being adapted for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for closing the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when said valve is open and for delivering a signal to the timing means to inhibit the delivery of the control signal for opening the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when the valve is closed.

Claim 40

In a method for controlling the operation of valves in a pipeline system having two parallel flow lines provided wiTh line valves located at remote points along each line and crossover valves connected between the lines, said valves being movable between open and closed conditions for directing the flow of fluid through one or both of the lines, each valve being provided with a power operator for moving the valve between its open and closed conditions; the method, starting with the valves in their open position with fluid flow occurring through both parallel lines, comprising closing all of the valves when the static pressure in the system decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the static pressure at the side of each closed valve where the pressure is lower, and reopening each valve a predetermined time after the closing of the same when the sensed pressure meets predetermined requirements whereby in the event of a break in one of the lines, the valves adjacent to the break remain closed and the other valves are reopened to continue flow through the remainder of the system.

Claim 41

In a method for controlling the operation of valves in a pipeline system having two parallel flow lines provided wiTh line valves located at remote points along each line and crossover valves connected between the lines, said valves being movable between open and closed conditions for directing the flow of fluid through one or both of the lines, each valve being provided with a power operator for moving the valve between its open and closed conditions; the method, starting with the valves in their open position with fluid flow occurring through both parallel lines, comprising closing all of the valves when the static pressure in the system decreases more rapidly than a predetermined rate, sensing the static pressure at the side of each closed valve where the pressure is lower, and reopening each valve a predetermined time after the closing of the same when the sensed pressure meets predetermined requirements whereby in the event of a break in one of the lines, the valves adjacent to the break remain closed and the other valves are reopened to continue flow through the remainder of the system.

Claim 42

A system as in claim 34 in which the predetermined pressure requirements includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 43

A system as in claim 34 in which the predetermined pressure requirements includes the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 44

A system as in claim 34 in which the predetermined pressure requirements includes the presence of a tatic pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined maximum value.

Claim 45

In a pipeline system having at least two parallel flow lines for conveying fluid under pressure, line valves located at spaced points along each of the lines and crossover valves connected between the lines for directing the flow through one or both of the parallel lines, power operated means at each valve for operating said valve between open and closed conditions, and means for energizing said powered operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the power operated means to close the valves, and means responsive to the predetermined pressure condition in the line at the side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing the power operated means to open the valve.

Claim 46

In a pipeline system having at least two parallel flow lines for conveying fluid under pressure, line valves located at spaced points along each of the lines and crossover valves connected between the lines for directing the flow through one or both of the parallel lines, power operated means at each valve for operating said valve between open and closed conditions, and means for energizing said powered operated means in response to line pressure conditions, said last means including means responsive to a drop in static pressure at a rate greater than a predetermined rate to energize the power operated means to close the valves, and means responsive to the predetermined pressure condition in the line at the side of the valve where the pressure is lower for energizing the power operated means to open the valve.

Claim 47

A system as in claim 38 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the presence of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than a predetermined minimum.

Claim 48

A system as in claim 38 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 49

A system as in claim 38 in which the predetermined pressure condition includes the pressure of a static pressure at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined minimum and the absence of a rate of pressure drop at said lower pressure side that is greater than the predetermined maximum value.

Claim 50

A system as in claim 38 together with a fluid pressure sensing line and a fluid pressure operated device connected to said line and having fluid connections with the pipeline on opposite sides of the valve, said device serving to establish fluid pressure communicated between said sensing line and that side of the valve that is at a lower static pressure, and means for controlling the actuation of the power operating means to close and open the valve, said controlling means being pressure conditions in said sensing line.

Claim 51

A system as in claim 38 together with timing means for ensuring maintenance of the valve in closed condition for a predetermined time interval before opening of the same.

Claim 52

A system as in claim 38 wherein the means for eneRgizing the power operated means includes means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the static pressure in the line on that side of the valve where the pressure is lower, electronic circuit means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an alarm signal when said static pressure is either below the predetermined level or decreasing more rapidly than the predetermined rate, means for sensing the condition of the valve, timing means responsive to the last named means for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for opening the valve a predetermined time after the valve is closed, and logic gate means connected for receiving inputs from the circuit means and the means for sensing the condition of the valve, said gate means being adapted for delivering a control signal to the power operated means for closing the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when said valve is open and for delivering a signal to the timing means to inhibit the delivery of the control signal for opening the valve in response to an alarm signal occurring when the valve is closed.