US 11,719,361 B2
Remote seals for self-regulating valves
Sultan Maseer Alshammari, Dammam (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/171,609.
Prior Publication US 2022/0252182 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 41/10 (2006.01); F16K 31/126 (2006.01); F16K 31/365 (2006.01); F16K 31/38 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 41/103 (2013.01) [F16K 31/126 (2013.01); F16K 31/365 (2013.01); F16K 31/38 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve system, comprising:
a valve comprising:
a valve body that comprises an inlet configured to couple to a tubular conduit operable to circulate a flow of a process fluid, and an outlet configured to couple to the tubular conduit,
an actuator that comprises an interior volume divided by a valve diaphragm into a first volume portion that at least partially encloses a working fluid and a second volume portion, and
a plug coupled to the valve diaphragm and operable to move toward an open position to allow the flow of the process fluid through the valve body or toward a closed position to disallow the flow of the process fluid through the valve body based on movement of the valve diaphragm relative to a pressure of the working fluid;
a seal isolator coupled to the tubular conduit, the seal isolator comprising an isolator diaphragm having a first side exposed to the flow of the process fluid and a second side fluidly coupled to the first volume portion through the working fluid, the isolator diaphragm configured to transmit a pressure of the flow of the process fluid to the pressure of the working fluid;
a valve positioner configured to convert a signal reflective of the pressure of the flow of the process fluid to a pressure force signal provided to the actuator;
a controller in fluid communication with the second side of the isolator diaphragm and the first volume portion of the actuator though the valve positioner, the controller configured to generate the signal reflective of the pressure of the flow of the process fluid and provide the signal to the valve positioner; and
a plurality of working fluid regulators that is fluidly coupled to a working fluid supply, the controller, and the valve positioner, the plurality of working fluid regulators comprising:
a first working fluid regulator fluidly coupled between the valve positioner and the working fluid supply and configured to provide a cleaned flow of the working fluid to the valve positioner, and
a second working fluid regulator fluidly coupled between the controller and the working fluid supply and configured to provide a cleaned flow of the working fluid to the controller.