Dome-Loaded Pressure Regulator

Abstract

A dome pressure regulator for regulating gas pressure, having a housing (1), a fixed valve seat (10), a movable valve body (8), a closing spring (9) acting on the valve body (8), and a diaphragm (4) which is connected to the valve body (8) and which is able to be subjected to a control pressure, settable via a gas pressure spring, in the opening direction and to a secondary pressure in the closing direction. The object of the invention is to detect state parameters of the system and to integrate continuous functionality checking and logging of the collected measurement values into the pressure regulator. In order to achieve said object, the invention proposes at least one travel sensor (15), by way of which the stroke of the valve body (8) is measurable, and a sensor-system evaluation unit (17) integrated into the housing.

Claims

1. A dome pressure regulator for regulating gas pressure, said dome pressure regulator comprising: a housing, wherein the housing has a primary-side attachment end connected to an incoming pipeline of a pressure distribution system positioned upstream, and a secondary-side attachment end to which a pressure distribution system is positioned downstream; a fixed valve seat; a movable valve body; a closing spring acting on the valve body; and a diaphragm connected to the valve body and subjected to a control gas pressure, wherein said control gas pressure is set by a gas pressure spring, in the opening direction, and to a secondary pressure in the closing direction, wherein the secondary pressure is transmitted through a control line into a dome chamber situated between the housing and the diaphragm, wherein the pressure at the secondary-side attachment end is set by means of a control gas via a drive, wherein the control gas is conducted into a pressure chamber situated between the diaphragm and a housing cover, wherein the secondary pressure in the dome chamber is thus coupled against the control gas pressure in the pressure chamber, further comprising at least one travel sensor, by which the stroke of the valve body is measurable; and a sensor-system evaluation unit integrated into the housing, further comprising a pressure sensor connected to the sensor-system evaluation unit for sensing the control pressure, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the control gas.

2. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic pressure sensor which is connected to the sensor-system evaluation unit and which serves for detecting the primary pressure and/or the secondary pressure.

3. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor which is connected to the sensor-system evaluation unit and which serves for detecting the ambient temperature around the dome pressure regulator.

4. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one temperature sensor which is connected to the sensor-system evaluation unit and which serves for detecting the temperature of the primary-side and/or secondary-side gas.

5. (canceled)

6. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more pressure sensors and one or more temperature sensors are integrated in or on the housing of the dome pressure regulator.

7. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein measurement data obtained from the evaluation unit are retrievable via an interface arranged on the dome pressure regulator.

8. The dome pressure regulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the interface arranged on the dome pressure regulator is a radio interface.

Description

[0017] An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 schematically shows a 3D view of a dome pressure regulator according to the invention,

[0019] FIG. 2 schematically shows a longitudinal section through the dome pressure regulator in the closed switching state from FIG. 1.

[0020] In the drawings, the housing of the dome pressure regulator is denoted by the reference sign 1. The housing 1 has a primary-side attachment end 1a, which can be connected to an incoming pipeline (not illustrated) of a pressure distribution system positioned upstream, and a secondary-side attachment end 1b, to which a pressure distribution system positioned downstream (likewise not illustrated) or, directly, an end consumer can be connected. Furthermore, the housing 1 is connected to a housing cover 3 by means of screws 2. A diaphragm 4 is mounted in a pressure-tight manner between the housing 1 and the housing cover 3. Said diaphragm 4 is composed of an elastomer.

[0021] Furthermore, a drive 5 is illustrated. In this exemplary embodiment, said drive 5 is operated manually. An electrical or pneumatic drive would also be possible, however. The pressure at the secondary-side attachment end 1b can be set by means of a control gas via the drive 5. Either the gas to be regulated or a separate gas may be used as a control gas. The control gas is for this purpose conducted into a pressure chamber 6 situated between the diaphragm 4 and the housing cover 3. The diaphragm 4, which is subjected to the pressure of the control gas, transmits its stroke to a valve body 8 via a two-part diaphragm plate 7. The valve body 8 is composed of a valve shaft 8a, a valve plate 8b and a valve tappet 8c.

[0022] In the closed switching state illustrated in FIG. 2, the valve body 8 blocks the flow of gas through the dome pressure regulator in that it presses the valve plate 8b against a valve seat 10 by means of a closing spring 9. If the control gas pressure is then increased to such an extent that the force of the closing spring 9 is overcome, the valve body 8 is moved away from the valve seat 10 and the dome pressure regulator opens. The secondary pressure at the secondary-side attachment end 1b can then be set to the target value via a further increase in the control pressure. The stroke of the valve body 8 is limited by the form of the diaphragm plate 7.

[0023] The secondary pressure is transmitted through a control line 11 into a dome chamber 12 situated between the housing 1 and the diaphragm 4 or diaphragm plate 7. The secondary pressure in the dome chamber 12 is thus coupled against the control pressure in the pressure chamber 6. If variations then occur in the system, for example as a result of a change in the primary pressure or in the temperature, and the secondary pressure rises or drops, the dome pressure regulator closes or opens further, with the result that the target pressure is established on the secondary side again. If the variations in the system become too great or the boundary conditions are changed permanently and significantly, the secondary pressure has to be set anew via the drive 5.

[0024] According to the invention, in this exemplary embodiment, various sensors are additionally installed at the dome pressure regulator, via which various system parameters can be detected. A primary-side combined pressure/temperature sensor 13 detects the primary pressure and the temperature of the gas at this position. Significant changes or else temporary variations in the measurement values here suggest a change in the pressure system positioned upstream of the dome pressure regulator. Furthermore, a secondary-side combined pressure/temperature sensor 14 detects the secondary pressure and the temperature of the gas at this position. Significant changes in the secondary-side measurement values here with simultaneously constant primary-side measurement values suggest a malfunction of the dome pressure regulator.

[0025] Furthermore, a travel sensor 15 which detects the stroke of the valve tappet 8c is provided. It is possible via this additional travel sensor 15 for the flow through the dome pressure regulator to be determined relatively accurately. If unusual values occur for the flow values, the cause is chiefly attributable to the pressure system positioned downstream or to the end consumer.

[0026] Finally, a combined pressure/temperature sensor 16 for detecting the control pressure is also provided. By means of the measurement values here, the correct function of the control pressure regulator including the drive 5 can be fully monitored.

[0027] In order for the measurement data to be registered, the sensors 13, 14, 15 and 16 are connected to a sensor-system evaluation unit 17.

[0028] According to the embodiment, the sensor-system evaluation unit 17 may log entire measurement series or else just capture set limit value exceedances or other events which are of particular interest. In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor-system evaluation unit 17 already has a display 17a for representing the measurement logs integrated. Instead of the display, another interface for reading out and evaluating the measured data would also be possible. The interface could also be realized for example in the form of a simple hardware interface to which the operating and maintenance personnel are able to connect a mobile device via a connection cable. A further possibility would be a radio interface (for example NFC, Bluetooth, etc.) or an optical interface (for example IR), via which measurement values are able to be read out.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0029] 1 Housing

[0030] 1a Primary-side fitting end

[0031] 1b Secondary-side fitting end

[0032] 2 Screw

[0033] 3 Housing cover

[0034] 4 Diaphragm

[0035] 5 Drive

[0036] 6 Pressure chamber

[0037] 7 Diaphragm plate

[0038] 8 Valve body

[0039] 8a Valve shaft

[0040] 8b Valve plate

[0041] 8c Valve tappet

[0042] 9 Closing spring

[0043] 10 Valve seat

[0044] 11 Control line

[0045] 12 Dome chamber

[0046] 13 Pressure/temperature sensor (on primary side)

[0047] 14 Pressure/temperature sensor (on secondary side)

[0048] 15 Travel sensor

[0049] 16 Pressure/temperature sensor (control pressure)

[0050] 17 Sensor-system evaluation unit

[0051] 17a Display