Systems, apparatus, and program code, and methods for monitoring the health and other conditions of the valve, are provided. An exemplary system for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes a logic module configured to perform the operations of receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface. An exemplary method for monitoring the condition of the gate valve includes receiving sensor data providing an acoustic emission, vibration, and/or stream level signature and determining the level of lubricity, level of friction, level of surface degradation, and leakage rate at a gate-valve seat interface.

A device having a flow channel for a fluid has a nonreturn valve arranged in the flow channel, the nonreturn valve allowing the fluid to flow through the flow channel in a first direction and preventing it from flowing through the flow channel in a direction counter to the first direction. The device furthermore has a flow detector for detecting the flow of the fluid through the flow channel, wherein the flow detector detects a change in the nonreturn valve. This detected change serves as an indicator for the flow of the fluid. The device enables simplified flow detection, in that a nonreturn valve that is present is used as an indicator.

Embodiments of a method and a system, which is configured to implement the method, to process data from one or more valve assemblies found e.g., on a process line. These embodiments can generate a listing that identifies how network/system bandwidth is allocated for the collection of data from the valve assemblies. The embodiments can also process the data to re-arrange the valve assemblies in the listing to better allocate the network/system bandwidth to certain ones of the valve assemblies that require more data to properly assess the operation of the valve assembly. In this way, further diagnostics using the data can identify any changes in operation of the valve assemblies that might be detrimental to the valve assembly and/or the process line in general.

Valve seal assemblies, valve testing machines including the same, and associated methods. A valve seal assembly includes a seal plate structure and a force transfer member. The seal plate structure includes a base seal plate, and additionally may include an expansion adapter seal plate. The seal plate structure may include a socket receiver, and the force transfer member may include a socket head that is received within the socket receiver. The force transfer member may define a force transfer member fluid channel, and the base seal plate may define at least a portion of a seal plate fluid channel that is at aligned with the force transfer member fluid channel. A method of utilizing a valve testing machine includes configuring a seal plate structure for use to test a valve and forming a fluid-tight seal between the sealing flange and the valve seal surface.

A method for monitoring a system with mechanically movable parts, preferably a valve system, wherein the system is preferably part of a technical plant, in particular a production plant, and wherein the system has at least one mechanically movable part, in particular a valve, where the method comprises a) acquiring indicators, which can be used for a technical characterization of a movement procedure of the mechanically movable part, via technical devices configured for the acquisition of the indicators and b) transferring the acquired indicators to an evaluation unit arranged outside the system to determine a technical status of the system.

A method for actively calculating a capability of an electronically controlled valve is provided. The method including the steps of: a) operating the electronically controlled valve in accordance with a task; b) testing the electronically controlled valve in order to determine a range of movement of the electronically controlled valve in accordance with an initial gain, wherein the testing of the electronically controlled valve occurs after the valve has been operated in accordance with the task; c) determining a new gain required for providing a predetermined range of movement of the electronically controlled valve; and d) repeating steps a-c at least once, wherein the new gain is used to operate the valve in accordance with the task.

A method for inspecting a component made using an additive manufacturing process, the component having an internal conduit, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes the steps of: attaching a fluid-blocking header to the component, the fluid-blocking header having an internal conformal surface configured to mate with an external conformal surface of the component; introducing a plugging media into the internal conduit; activating the fluid-blocking header to freeze the plugging media in a vicinity of the fluid-blocking header; pressurizing the internal conduit of the component; and analyzing a fluid flow characteristic at an outlet of the component to assess an occurrence of a blockage within the internal conduit.

A valve diaphragm includes a flange portion and a diaphragm portion. It is proposed that it includes a data carrier contained in a housing and that the housing is arranged on an edge of the flange portion so as to be at least partially visible when seen from outside onto the edge.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a valve comprising: determining a nonlinear characteristic curve function indicating a required relationship between a valve opening position and flow of a fluid; storing the function in an ECU; and using the function to set the valve opening position with a control signal indicating a target flow. The function is calculated automatically using a parameter value, with an analytic function, or by interpolation with specified supporting values by a user. The function comprises an inverse function based on a characteristic curve for a heat exchanger and a target function. The curve for the heat exchanger indicates a relationship between a heating power or a cooling power and the flow of a fluid. The target function indicates a relationship between the heating power or the cooling power of the heat exchanger based on the valve opening position. The characteristic curve for the heat exchanger depends on the same parameter value as the characteristic curve function.

The device includes a main valve, first and second auxiliary valves, a valve body and a filter. The main, which has first and second auxiliary valves are mounted on the valve body, which has an air inlet, a cylinder port and an air discharging port. The air inlet is in communication with the main valve through a first air passage, the cylinder port is sequentially in communication with the first and second auxiliary valves, and the main valve through a second air passage. The air discharging port is sequentially in communication with the first and second auxiliary valves and the main valve through a third air passage. The main and the second auxiliary valves are solenoid valves, and the first auxiliary valve is a hand-operated valve. An air outlet of the filter is in communication with the air inlet. The filter is used for filtering out impurities in gas.