A minor water leak prevention apparatus for a water inlet valve, in which a float is mounted on a regulation bar and received in a water container. The water container is mounted on a siphon tube. The siphon tube is formed with an air aperture. A counterweight buoyance switch is mounted on the water container. The counterweight buoyance switch has a counterweight water compartment having a lower end forming a water drain hole. The counterweight water compartment has an upper end to which a closure pressing plate is mounted. The closure pressing plate is opposite to the air aperture. The counterweight buoyance switch controls opening/closing of the air aperture. This arrangement allows water ingress through a water inlet valve to be stopped when minor water leakage occurs in a water tank.

The valve according to the invention provides a means for removing gases during the startup of liquid handling facilities and/or the filling of liquid storage facilities. In addition, the valve also provides for degassing of such facilities when gases build up therein. Further, the valve also provides for vacuum relief when an internal vacuum is produced in such facilities do to removal of liquid. The internal parts of the valve include a highly buoyant float, a pivotal linkage member, a valve guiding member, and a poppet valve. The poppet valve includes a passage there through that allows for degassing of the liquid handling facility or liquid storage facility.

The valve according to the invention provides a means for removing gases during the startup of liquid handling facilities and/or the filling of liquid storage facilities. In addition, the valve also provides for degassing of such facilities when gases build up therein. Further, the valve also provides for vacuum relief when an internal vacuum is produced in such facilities do to removal of liquid. The internal parts of the valve include a highly buoyant float, a pivotal linkage member, a valve guiding member, and a poppet valve. The poppet valve includes a passage there through that allows for degassing of the liquid handling facility or liquid storage facility.

A flow control system is provided for a horizontal well production system having a casing, a tube having an intake opening and disposed within the casing, and a gap formed between the casing and the tube. The flow control system includes a valve having an orifice, coupled to the tube and disposed proximate to the intake opening. The flow control system further includes an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to open the valve in response to a presence of a liquid in the gap, proximate to the intake opening, to permit flow of the liquid into the tube via the intake opening, and to close the valve in response to a presence of a gas in the gap, proximate to the intake opening, to prevent flow of the gas into the tube via the intake opening.

A flow control system is provided for a horizontal well production system having a casing, a tube having an intake opening and disposed within the casing, and a gap formed between the casing and the tube. The flow control system includes a valve having an orifice, coupled to the tube and disposed proximate to the intake opening. The flow control system further includes an actuator coupled to the valve and configured to open the valve in response to a presence of a liquid in the gap, proximate to the intake opening, to permit flow of the liquid into the tube via the intake opening, and to close the valve in response to a presence of a gas in the gap, proximate to the intake opening, to prevent flow of the gas into the tube via the intake opening.

A water hammer-proof air valve that has a valve body and a bonnet, that are fixedly connected, a valve opening is provided on the valve body, and a high-speed intake and exhaust device is provided in an inner cavity of the valve body. A bonnet opening is provided on the bonnet, an output end of the high-speed intake and exhaust device penetrates the bonnet opening and is communicated with a high-speed exhaust throttling device for limiting an exhaust amount of gas of the high-speed intake and exhaust device, an output end of the high-speed exhaust throttling device is communicated with an outside air, and a trace exhaust device for discharging the gas separated out from the pipeline to the outside through the high-speed exhaust throttling device after the high-speed intake and exhaust device closes the valve is further provided in the high-speed intake and exhaust device.

There is provided a liquid level control device (20) for location in a vessel to control the liquid level in the vessel. The liquid level control device (20) comprises: a first chamber (22) including: an opening (26) to allow movement of liquid between the first chamber (22) and the vessel; a vent (28) to allow egress of air from the first chamber (22); and an inlet (30) connectable to a liquid source (34); a first flow controller including a first float (36) arranged in the first chamber (22) such that the flow of liquid into the first chamber (22) raises the first float (36) and displaces air in the first chamber (22) via the vent (28), the first flow controller including a first closure member (40) movable to selectively close and open the inlet (30), the first float (36) further arranged in the first chamber (22) such that, in use, when the first float (36) is at a first position when the liquid level in the first chamber (22) is at or below a first predetermined level, the first float (36) positions the first closure member (40) to open the inlet (30) to allow liquid into the first chamber (22) via the inlet (30), and when the first float (36) is at a second position when the liquid level in the first chamber (22) is at or above a second predetermined level, the first float (36) positions the first closure member (40) to close the inlet (30) to block liquid from entering into the first chamber (22) via the inlet (30); and a second flow controller including a second float (42) and further including a second closure member (46) movable to selectively close and open the vent (28), the second float (42) arranged such that, in use, when the second float (42) is in a first position, the second float (42) positions the second closure member (46) to close the vent (28) to block air from flowing from the first chamber (22) via the vent (28) to escape to atmosphere, and when the second float (42) is in a second position, the second float (42) positions the second closure member (46) to open the vent (28) to allow air to flow from the first chamber (22) via the vent (28) to escape to atmosphere, wherein the first and second floats (42) are arranged such that, in use, when the first float (36) is in its second position and the second float (42) is in its first position, air is trapped in the first chamber

There is provided a liquid level control device (20) for location in a vessel to control the liquid level in the vessel. The liquid level control device (20) comprises: a first chamber (22) including: an opening (26) to allow movement of liquid between the first chamber (22) and the vessel; a vent (28) to allow egress of air from the first chamber (22); and an inlet (30) connectable to a liquid source (34); a first flow controller including a first float (36) arranged in the first chamber (22) such that the flow of liquid into the first chamber (22) raises the first float (36) and displaces air in the first chamber (22) via the vent (28), the first flow controller including a first closure member (40) movable to selectively close and open the inlet (30), the first float (36) further arranged in the first chamber (22) such that, in use, when the first float (36) is at a first position when the liquid level in the first chamber (22) is at or below a first predetermined level, the first float (36) positions the first closure member (40) to open the inlet (30) to allow liquid into the first chamber (22) via the inlet (30), and when the first float (36) is at a second position when the liquid level in the first chamber (22) is at or above a second predetermined level, the first float (36) positions the first closure member (40) to close the inlet (30) to block liquid from entering into the first chamber (22) via the inlet (30); and a second flow controller including a second float (42) and further including a second closure member (46) movable to selectively close and open the vent (28), the second float (42) arranged such that, in use, when the second float (42) is in a first position, the second float (42) positions the second closure member (46) to close the vent (28) to block air from flowing from the first chamber (22) via the vent (28) to escape to atmosphere, and when the second float (42) is in a second position, the second float (42) positions the second closure member (46) to open the vent (28) to allow air to flow from the first chamber (22) via the vent (28) to escape to atmosphere, wherein the first and second floats (42) are arranged such that, in use, when the first float (36) is in its second position and the second float (42) is in its first position, air is trapped in the first chamber

An opening/closing device according to the present invention includes a gate, a fall prevention unit, a support release unit, a first float, a floating prevention unit, a second float, and a floating prevention release unit. The gate receives a flow of fluid, and is able to fall down toward a downstream direction of the flow. The fall prevention unit supports the gate, thereby preventing the gate from falling down. The support release unit releases the support for the gate by the fall prevention unit. The first float is arranged on an upstream side of the gate, is arranged on one of the left side and the right side of the gate viewed from upstream, and is less in the specific gravity than the fluid. The floating prevention unit prevents the first float from floating.

Methods, apparatuses, and storage mediums are provided for detecting water shortage for a humidifier. The method includes: obtaining a water level parameter of a water tank; determining a water level state of the water tank according to the water level parameter. When the water level state of the water tank is a water shortage state, energizing a valve connected to a water box so that water can be added to the water tank through the valve. A number of times of energizing the valve is recorded. When the number of times of energizing the valve exceeds a first preset number of times as well as when the water level state of the water tank determined every time after energization of the valve is the water shortage state, confirming that the water box is short of water.