A method for monitoring health of a valve is presented. The method includes receiving an acoustic emission signal from a sensing device operatively coupled to the valve, selecting a region of interest signal in the acoustic emission signal, determining a plurality of current parameters based on the region of interest signal, and monitoring the health of the valve based on at least the plurality of current parameters, wherein the region of interest signal comprises acoustic emission data generated from initiation of an opening of the valve until the valve is partially opened.

A mechanical shutdown valve for preventing an over pressure condition is described. A valve body has an inlet, an outlet, and a channel extending from the inlet to the outlet. A valve seat and a diaphragm are positioned in the valve body. The diaphragm controls a fluid flow through the valve body. A mesh is coupled to the diaphragm such that the mesh and the diaphragm separate an upstream portion of the channel from a downstream portion of the channel. The mesh extends from the diaphragm to an inner surface of the valve body and limits fluid flow between the diaphragm and the valve body. A spring biases the diaphragm towards the open position. A characteristic of the spring determines a differential pressure threshold between the upstream portion of the channel and a downstream portion of the channel at which the diaphragm engages the valve seat.

An inflation control system for an inflatable may comprise a compressed fluid source, a valve module, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The valve module is connected to the compressed fluid source and configured to control a flow of gas to the inflatable. The temperature sensor measures an ambient temperature and outputs the ambient temperature measurement. The controller is operably coupled to the valve module and configured to receive the ambient temperature measurement and determine an open-valve time based on the ambient temperature measurement, the open-valve time being a duration of time the valve module is in an open position.

A mechanical shutdown valve for preventing an over pressure condition is described. A valve body has an inlet, an outlet, and a channel extending from the inlet to the outlet. A valve seat and a diaphragm are positioned in the valve body. The diaphragm controls a fluid flow through the valve body. A mesh is coupled to the diaphragm such that the mesh and the diaphragm separate an upstream portion of the channel from a downstream portion of the channel. The mesh extends from the diaphragm to an inner surface of the valve body and limits fluid flow between the diaphragm and the valve body. A spring biases the diaphragm towards the open position. A characteristic of the spring determines a differential pressure threshold between the upstream portion of the channel and a downstream portion of the channel at which the diaphragm engages the valve seat.

A flow control device is configured to control fluid flow in an HVAC system. The flow control device includes a valve, an actuator configured to open and close the valve, and one or more sensors. The flow control device further includes a fault detection and correction agent configured to receive data from the one or more sensors, analyze the data according to a set of rules, and detect whether one or more faults have occurred. In response to detecting a fault, the fault detection and correction agent is configured to either operate the actuator to open or close the valve or initiate a corrective action to be taken by another device in the HVAC system.

A method of automated preventive and predictive maintenance for downhole valves in a well system is described. The method includes receiving, at a plurality of first times, first diagnostics data of the plurality of downhole valves, where each downhole valve is at a respective first valve position at a respective first time, and the diagnostics data represents a valve condition of each downhole valve at a respective valve position and at a respective time. The method also includes receiving, at a plurality of second times, second diagnostics data of the plurality of downhole valves, where each downhole valve has been moved from the respective first valve position at the respective first time to a respective second valve position at a respective second time. The first diagnostics data and the second diagnostics data are compared. Based on results of comparing, a valve maintenance operation is selected for each downhole valve.

This invention provides two methods for detecting mechanical or electrical faults in a solenoid valve. In the first method, a force sensor is placed in the valve in such a way as to detect changes in the impact force of the plunger against the solenoid valve body or coil housing (depending upon the direction of movement of the plunger upon application of the electric current/magnetic field). A second method is provided which makes use of an accelerometer placed in such a way as to detect changes in the response of the plunger to the application of the magnetic field.

Disclosed is a method for determining the degree of wear of a valve, the degree of wear of the valve being dependent on the degree of wear of an operating element that is made of an expandable material and performs a mechanical movement each time the temperature changes, the change in temperature resulting in wear, the operating element made of an expandable material being mechanically connected to a piston; the movements of the operating element (3) made of an expandable material are calculated by initially sensing the change in temperature on the operating element (3), whereupon the changes in temperature are recalculated as movements on the basis of the temperature/expansion curve applicable to the operating element (3) made of an expandable material.

An electric waste gate valve control device controls a waste gate valve provided in a waste gate passage that bypasses a portion between an upstream and a downstream of a turbine driven by exhaust of an engine and opening/closing the waste gate passage by an electric actuator. The electric waste gate valve control device includes, a position sensor that detects a position of the waste gate valve; an actuator controller that controls the electric actuator such that an opening degree of the waste gate valve becomes a target opening degree; and a fully closed position learning unit that performs fully closed position learning to acquire the position of the waste gate valve at a time when the electric actuator is driven to bring the waste gate valve into a fully closed state.

A system for detecting safe operating conditions and maintained integrity in a Pressure Safety Valve (PSV) the valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, a valve disc controlling fluid flow between the inlet and outlet, a stem connected to the valve disc, a spring washer, and a spring in communication with the valve disc and the spring washer, a vibration sensor which detects vibration in the valve disc, an inlet pressure sensor which detects the static pressure in the inlet, a position sensor which detects the position of the valve disc transferred through the stem, a compression load cell sensor which detects the dynamic force applied on the valve spring washer by the spring, an outlet pressure sensor which detects the pressure in the outlet, a separate shock sensor adapted to determine if the PSV has popped and then activate a microcontroller.