A microfluidic device includes an input source characterized by a source pressure, an input channel in fluid communication with the input source, and an output channel. The microfluidic device also includes a normally closed valve having a closed state and an open state. The normally closed valve is disposed between the input channel and the output channel. The microfluidic device further includes one or more release chambers coupled to a pressure source. Activation of the pressure source deforms the one or more release chambers, placing the normally closed valve in the open state.

A microfluidic system includes a substrate, a set of input ports coupled to the substrate, and a set of output ports coupled to the substrate. The microfluidic system also includes a microfluidic processing system coupled to the substrate and including a plurality of processing sites. The microfluidic processing system is coupled to the set of input ports and the set of output ports. The microfluidic system further includes one or more microfluidic logic devices coupled to the substrate and operable to control at least a portion of the microfluidic processing system.

In some examples, a pressure regulating valve comprising a pressure chamber, a compressor configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a vent valve configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The controller may determine a pressure based on the signal generated by the pressure sensor, and compare a pressure setpoint and the pressure. The controller may be configured to alter the pressure in the pressure chamber based on the comparison between the pressure setpoint and the pressure. For example, the controller may control the compressor to increase the pressure in the pressure chamber and/or control the vent vale to decrease the pressure in the pressure chamber. The altered pressure of the pressure chamber may generate movement of a restricting element within the pressure regulating valve.

A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline is provided. The system includes a first portion of the pipeline including an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material and a flow restriction downstream of the first portion of the pipeline. The system further includes a second portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restriction, receiving the flow of fluid material from the first portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline. The flow restriction is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the second portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the first portion. The system further includes a third portion of the pipeline downstream of the environmentally sensitive area and including the downstream portion of the pipeline.

A pressure regulator (10) including: a housing (12, 14) including a flow passage (44, 46, 48); a plunger (38) configured to move within the housing, wherein the plunger is hollow and has a plunger passage (46) included in the flow passage; a valve seat (52) in the housing and disposed in the flow passage immediately upstream of an inlet (44) to the plunger passage; a shuttle (42) within the housing configured to move between an upstream-most position at which the shuttle abuts the valve seat to close the flow passage and a downstream position displaced from the valve seat which opens the flow passage; a sealed chamber (26) within the housing and between the plunger and the shuttle, wherein the sealed chamber is configured to be operated at pressures other than at atmospheric pressure; and a port (66) in the housing and open to the sealed chamber, wherein the port is configured to be connected to a source (68) of a pressurized fluid.

The present invention relates to an axial valve with a modular concept for the regulation of fluid flow and prevention of fluid reverse flow consisting of a single-piece and two-piece outer valve body (1; 99) that can be installed within the pipeline, the outer valve body (1; 99) of which contains a coaxially situated inlet and outlet fluid flow opening; a central valve body (2) which is connected to the outer valve body (1;99) by means of a plurality of ribs (1.1), wherein a channels (7) are situated between the outer valve body (1; 99) and the central valve body (2), and said channels allow for an undisturbed flow of the flow fluid when said axial valve is open; an actuator (4a; 4-b; 4c; 4-SC; 4-SH; 4-SFMO) located axially within the central valve body (2; 100), the actuator of which contains an actuator piston (5-a; 5-b; 5-c; 90; 112; 106-SH) and an actuator piston rod (5.1-a; 5.1-b; 5.1-c; 86.1-a; 106.1-SH) to which a regulating piston (6-a; 80) is connected, and with an axial movement of which the flow of the fluid in a pipeline or a disc (104) for the prevention of fluid reverse flow is controlled. The axial valve further comprises a sealing system of the actuator piston rod (5.1-a; 5.1-b; 5.1-c; 86.1-a; 106-.1-SH) and a sealing control mechanism for the same; and a sensor mechanism for signalling a position of the regulating piston (6-a; 80) and the disc (104) of the check valve. The actuator, according to the present invention, may either be a hydraulic actuator (4a; 4-SH) or a mechanical actuator (4-b) or a pneumo-hydraulic actuator (4-c) or a pneumatic actuator (4-c; 4-SH; 4-SFMO), and the sensor mechanism may be either an internal sensor mechanism housed within any of the said actuators or an external sensor mechanism located outside of any of the said actuators, wherein any of the said actuators and said sensor mechanisms are modular and mutually complementary in such a way that they can be combined. The axial valve is a flow control valve or a check valve.

In some examples, a pressure regulating valve comprising a pressure chamber, a compressor configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a vent valve configured to establish fluid communication with the pressure chamber, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The controller may determine a pressure based on the signal generated by the pressure sensor, and compare a pressure setpoint and the pressure. The controller may be configured to alter the pressure in the pressure chamber based on the comparison between the pressure setpoint and the pressure. For example, the controller may control the compressor to increase the pressure in the pressure chamber and/or control the vent vale to decrease the pressure in the pressure chamber. The altered pressure of the pressure chamber may generate movement of a restricting element within the pressure regulating valve.

A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline includes an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material, a crossing portion of the pipeline receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline, the downstream portion, a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion, and a fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the valve blocking the flow of fluid material.

A flow arrangement for a control valve can include a plurality of flow-control components that are movable relative to each other and that define at least part of a flow path from a pressure source to a dome of a pressure relief valve. The flow-control components can be movable relative to each other in response to system pressure to selectively increase or decrease the flow capacity of the flow path. In some cases, flow capacity can be increased or decreased during initial loading of the dome, at low pressures, or at higher pressures.

A pressure-limiting valve includes a housing and a pressure adjustment device provided therein. The pressure-limiting valve further includes a valve seat arranged in the housing and configured to be closed by a spring-loaded closing element of the pressure adjustment device. The housing is composed of cast iron having spherical graphite. The housing is surface-hardened at least in a region of the valve seat.