System and method for fluid regulation
View Patent ↗Systems and processes for fluid regulation may provide diagnostic information that is useful for evaluating the condition and/or needed repairs/maintenance for fluid regulation systems. In particular implementations, a system and process for fluid regulation may include the ability to receive a representation of an input signal to an electric-to-pressure converter for facilitating positioning of a fluid regulator component, the electric-to-pressure converter adapted to be part of a fluid regulation system including a fluid regulator and a fluid regulator controller, and to determine at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal.
1. A method for fluid regulation, the method comprising:
receiving a representation of an input signal to an electric-to-pressure converter operable to facilitate positioning of a fluid regulator component, the electric-to-pressure converter adapted to be part of a fluid regulation system comprising a fluid regulator and a fluid regulator controller;
determining at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal, wherein determining at least one fluid regulation system condition comprises determining whether the converter input signal is outside an acceptable range and determining the amount of time that the converter input signal is outside of the acceptable range; and
diagnosing a mechanical condition based on the fluid regulation system condition.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein diagnosing the mechanical condition includes diagnosing the mechanical condition based on whether the fluid regulation system condition is outside an acceptable variance.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal comprises determining at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and at least one of a fluid regulator parameter or a fluid regulator controller parameter.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid regulation system condition comprises a condition of one of a supply pressure, the electric-to-pressure converter, and a fluid regulator.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining a supply pressure condition comprises examining the converter input signal level to determine a material variance therefrom.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining a supply pressure condition further comprises examining a fluid regulator component position and an output pressure of the electric-to-pressure converter.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the converter input signal is outside an acceptable range comprises compensating for normal operating variations of the converter input signal.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a message representative of the fluid regulation system condition.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating a message representative of the fluid regulation system condition comprises generating an alert message if the fluid regulation system condition is unacceptable.
10. A system for fluid regulation, the system comprising:
an electric-to-pressure converter operable to receive an input signal for positioning a fluid regulator component and to generate an appropriate pressure in response thereto; and
a processor coupled to the electric-to-pressure converter, the processor operable to:
receive a representation of the converter input signal;
determine at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal, wherein determining at least one fluid regulation system condition comprises determining whether the converter input signal is outside an acceptable range and determining the amount of time that the converter input signal is outside of the acceptable range; and
diagnose a mechanical condition based on the fluid regulation system.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is operable to diagnose the mechanical condition based on whether the fluid regulation system condition is outside an acceptable variance.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fluid regulation system condition comprises a condition of one of a supply pressure, the electric-to-pressure converter, and a fluid regulator.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein determining a supply pressure condition comprises examining a fluid regulator component position and an output pressure of the electric-to-pressure converter.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further operable to generate a message representative of the fluid regulation system condition.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal comprises determining at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and at least one of a fluid regulator parameter or a fluid regulator controller parameter.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the system further comprises a fluid regulator comprising a stem and a position sensor for sensing a position of the stem; and
the processor is operable to determine the fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and the stem position.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the stem further comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the fluid regulation system environment; and
the processor is operable to determine the fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and the environment temperature.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the system further comprises a pressure sensor for sensing the output pressure of the electric-to-pressure converter; and
the processor is operable to determine the fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and the converter output pressure.
19. A system for fluid regulation, the system comprising:
a fluid regulator comprising a stem;
a fluid regulator controller coupled to the fluid regulator controller comprising:
an electric-to-pressure converter, the converter operable to receive an input signal for positioning the stem and generate an appropriate pressure in response thereto, and
a processor coupled to the electric-to-pressure converter;
a position sensor for sensing a position of the stem;
a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the fluid regulation system environment; and
a pressure sensor operable to sense the output pressure of the electric-to-pressure converter;
wherein the processor is operable to:
receive a representation of the converter input signal, the stem position, the environment temperature, and the converter output pressure;
determine at least one fluid regulation system condition based on the converter input signal and one or more of the stem position, the environment temperature, and the converter output pressure, wherein determining at least one fluid regulation system condition comprises determining whether the converter input signal is outside an acceptable range and determining the amount of time that the converter input signal is outside of the acceptable range; and
diagnose a mechanical condition based on whether fluid regulation system condition.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the processor is operable to diagnose the mechanical condition based on whether the fluid regulation system condition is outside an acceptable variance.