SK129599A3 - Underground pressure regulating module - Google Patents

Abstract

An underground pressure regulating module including a slam-shut valve and a pressure regulating valve. The regulating valve includes two diaphragm arrangements (21, 40) to allow a variable pressure output to be obtained. The diaphragm (40) is controlled by a fluid line inlet (42). The fluid to the inlet is provided by a control located above ground which is also a logging device to determine utilisation parameters.

Description

Underground pressure control module

Technical field

The invention relates to a fluid pressure regulator which is designed to be placed underground, for example in a fuel gas pipe system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the known underground pressure regulators (see FIG. 1), the entire gas pressure control system is housed in a single housing 10 with all the main control devices included in a single cartridge 12 that can be easily replaced. Access to the module is via the manhole cover 11.

In practice, such an underground buried system typically comprises an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a flap-type non-return valve, but these valves are omitted for reasons of clarity and clarity. The inlet is provided with a flange 13 (for example, with a diameter of 150 mm) for connection to the inlet conduit, and the outlet is equipped with a flange 15 (for example with a diameter of 200 mm) for connection to the outlet pipe.

The filter 16 has a cylindrical shape with small eyes (e.g. 200 microns), allowing the filtered gas to pass through and flow through the open shut-off valve 17 to the control valve 18. This control valve 18 regulates the gas outlet pressure and includes a rod 19, a spring 20 and a membrane column 21 that comprises four mutually parallel membranes forming a sensitive regulatory mechanism. The cartridge 12 also includes a safety valve 22 which receives internal pulses from the shutter-trigger 23. The pre-assembled cartridges are very easy to replace, thereby reducing downtime.

Typically, the control module can handle an inlet pressure of up to two bars and an outlet pressure that is set to between 22 and 47 millibars with a flow capacity of up to about 4000 m ³ / h.

The vent column 30 provides a comparative atmospheric pressure for the replaceable cartridge 12 and forms a cover for the outlet line of the relief valve 22 and for the other line (shown schematically as line 31). The instrument box 33 includes a graphical recorder for inlet and outlet pressures, a differential pressure sensor, and various test points (for example, to test whether the shut-off valve is open or closed).

In order to increase the operational efficiency of the piping system, it is also possible to use a clock-controlled starter 28 so that during the night when demand is low, the set regulator pressure can be switched. The clock in the cabinet may indicate this switch. The pressure is switched by changing the spring pressure of the spring 20.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to develop a much more thorough control system utilizing an underground module that can be used, for example, without the need for extensive excavation work.

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In accordance with the present invention, an underground fluid pressure regulator has been developed comprising a module for insertion into an underground chamber in use, the module comprising a safety shut-off device and a pressure control valve for providing variable flow pressure, said valve comprising a first diaphragm valve. an arrangement comprising at least one membrane and a second membrane arrangement operable on the first membrane arrangement to vary the flow pressure at the outlet of the controller.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, a method for regulating the pressure in a control system at w

a fluid pressure control comprising an underground control module arranged in the underground chamber.

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The method comprises monitoring fluid withdrawal over a given period of time in a recorder, providing a plurality of set parameters over a predetermined period to increase collection and control requirements of the underground control module through the first and second membrane arrangements, the second membrane operable on the first diaphragm. to change the output flow pressure from the control module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of an underground control module;

Fig. 2 shows graphs of fluid usage requirements;

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified controller arrangement within a module capable of varying fluid pressures to meet usage requirements; and FIG. 4 illustrates a recording device and other control device located above the ground to operate the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 2 shows pressure plots for gas supply. The requirement is to supply customers with a constant pressure gas stream of at least 20 millibars (see graph (a)). In practice, it is possible to reduce the respective outlet pressure of the regulator from 40 millibars to say 30 millibars during the night using the above-described clock device (see graph (b)) and still satisfy customer requirements.

The object of the present invention allows the modified underground module to have a continuously variable pressure setting depending on a predetermined consumption by consumers at respective locations in the gas supply network. The sampling profile (see graph (c)) allows the available output (see graph (a)) to be maintained to meet the sampling requirements while allowing lower pressure to be selected, thereby reducing volume requirements and the likelihood of leakage and so on.

Although the changes according to graph (c) are shown to be relatively static over a given short period of time (e.g., one hour), in practice a large number of different changes and variations can be adapted to the requirements.

In order to achieve the desired function, the replaceable module cartridge 112 is modified in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Membrane column 21 now comprises three membranes 21a, 21b and 21c connected in parallel through channel 26. A second independent membrane 40 is provided, the channel 41 of which is blinded to channel 26.

The inlet 42 allows the fluid to act on the diaphragm 40 at a pressure that is independent of the pressure exerted on the other diaphragms in the diaphragm column 21. Applying the fluid pressure to the diaphragm 40 causes a change in the operating pressure of the regulator via the diaphragm column 21. providing an infinite amount of change of the selected pressure to the controller.

Advantageously, the inlet manifold 33 may utilize a manifold that was previously used for clock control and which is no longer needed, thereby reducing the required changes and this

Λ the pipe can be simply diverted into the module charge. If pressure conditions require, a pressure limiting valve may be included in this module line.

In practice, in order to provide an appropriate degree of information for the operation of such a system, an additional additional housing, namely the control box 50, is mounted on the vent tube 30 under the existing instrument box 33, the control box 50 being fed via the conduit 51 from the instrument box 33.

The heart of the control arrangement is the write controller 53, which may include a microprocessor, memory, clock, and display. Modem 54 allows to retrieve the written information remotely and to transmit the regulatory information to the write controller 53 from a remote location. Depending on the operational and safety requirements, a low pressure shut-off and opening valve 56 and a supply pressure control valve 57 may be included.

The regulator and recorder monitor pressure and demand, thereby obtaining gas supply through a small tube at inlet 60. They also utilize the gas to operate the individual components that they acquire via an inlet pressure control valve 57. Output 61 passes to the instrument housing 33. Control output 63 provides pressure control for the underground regulator by means of a flexible conduit 64 which is a control conduit which is also connected to the low pressure shut-off and opening valve 56.

In the event of a failure, when the shut-off and opening valves 56 detect a low outlet, this will reduce the control pressure at the outlet and allow the outlet to increase the predetermined value of the underground controller. The line 65 provides a gas exit path during adjustment changes.

The write controller 53 monitors and records the sampling and pressure information to determine the profile for the station, which is unloaded every 24 hours based on an immediate signal over the telephone line to modem 54. This information is used by a separate computer (not shown) to calculating the expected demand requirements and selecting the current setting at different pressures for use within the next 24 hours (with a reserve for handling at partially increased load), while utilization is relieved by a telephone line leading to a controller that uses its internal clock to increasing and decreasing the pressure according to the preceding instructions during the day to effect variable pressure control for the diaphragm 40 in the removable cartridge 12 so as to achieve, for example, the results shown in graph (c) of FIG. Fig. Second

The recording device may also emit alarms and other signals that are sent to a remote location via a modem. Although it is possible to use telephone lines, it is also possible to use radio or other transmission techniques.

The cartridge is easily interchangeable with the cartridge of FIG. 1 and does not require any excavation work as it is inserted into an existing chamber and is closed using the same partition or closure.

Claims (10)

PATENT CLAIMS An underground fluid pressure regulator comprising a module for insertion into an underground chamber in use, the module comprising a safety shut-off device and a pressure control valve for providing variable flow pressure, said valve comprising a first diaphragm arrangement comprising at least one diaphragm, and a second diaphragm arrangement operable on the first diaphragm arrangement to vary the flow pressure at the outlet of the controller. The controller of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a control inlet flow line for receiving control fluid from the overhead control device. Controller according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device comprises means for detecting offtake parameters for further pressure control. Controller according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the control device is arranged in a venting column. Controller according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a safety pressure control device for reducing the control pressure of the fluid in the event of a failure. A controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided with means for sending and receiving information about the sampling parameters to and from the remote station in order to allow the variable pressure to be set for the module. 7. A method of regulating a pressure in a fluid pressure regulating system comprising an underground control module arranged in an underground chamber, said method comprising monitoring fluid withdrawal over a given period of time in a recorder, providing a plurality of adjusting parameters over time a period of time to increase the demand for the collection and control of the underground control module, through the first and second membrane devices, wherein the second membrane is operable on the first membrane to change the outlet flow pressure from the control module. 8. The method of claim 6, comprising remote access to the recorded information, calculating set parameters based thereon, and transmitting information about said parameters back to the control system to enable appropriate control. 9. An underground fluid pressure regulator substantially described herein with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 of the attached drawings. 10. A method of regulating the fluid pressure of a control system as substantially described herein.