CN-113266692-B - Wear indication device for a flow control valve

Abstract

A flow control apparatus includes a valve body including an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A flow vane is coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide the fluid flow through the valve body. The flow vane has a first surface, a second surface, and corrugations formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. A control element is disposed in the flow path and is movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position.

Inventors

• PAUL T.ALMAN
• KINSER ANDREW JOHN
• Gloomy in RS section

Assignees

• 费希尔控制产品国际有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210218

Priority Date

20200214

Claims (13)

1. 1. A flow control apparatus comprising: A valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet; a flow vane coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide a flow of fluid through the valve body, the flow vane having a first surface, a second surface, and a corrugation formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface; A control element disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position, and A sensor coupled to the flow blade to measure wear on the flow blade.
2. 2. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow vane is disposed between the control element and the outlet.
3. 3. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the corrugations include ridges disposed in parallel with respect to a flow direction.
4. 4. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the corrugations comprise ridges disposed perpendicularly with respect to a flow direction.
5. 5. The flow control device of claim 1, wherein the corrugations include peaks that are raised.
6. 6. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the corrugations include depressions.
7. 7. The flow control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow vane is integrally formed with the valve body.
8. 8. The flow control device of claim 1, further comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to the valve body and configured to measure a thickness of the flow vane.
9. 9. A flow control apparatus comprising: A valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet; a flow vane coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide a flow of fluid through the valve body, the flow vane having a first surface, a second surface, and a corrugation formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface; A control element disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position, and A sensor coupled to the control element to measure a distance between the control element and the first end of the flow vane.
10. 10. A valve body, comprising: An inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet; a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet; an outlet passage connecting the valve port and the outlet; A flow vane coupled to the valve body and disposed in the outlet passage, the flow vane having a corrugation disposed at a first end of the flow vane, and A sensor coupled to the flow blade to measure a thickness of the flow blade.
11. 11. The valve body of claim 10, further comprising an array of sensors coupled to the valve body and configured to measure a thickness of the flow vane, wherein each sensor is disposed along a length of the flow vane.
12. 12. A method of determining wear due to cavitation, the method comprising: Providing a flow control apparatus having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet, a control element disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position, and a flow vane coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide a flow of fluid through the valve body, the flow vane having a first surface, a second surface, and corrugations formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface; measuring the size of the flow blade at a location along the length of the flow blade; Comparing first and second measurements of the dimension of the flow blade taken at the location; based on comparing the first and second measurements of the dimension, wear on the flow blade is determined.
13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein measuring thickness comprises measuring thickness of the flow blade at the location using an ultrasonic transducer.

Description

Wear indication device for a flow control valve Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to flow control valves, and more particularly, to flow vanes of flow control valves. Background In some control valves, the fluctuating pressure waves caused by the fluid flowing through the control valve create undesirable noise. For example, hydrodynamic noise may be caused by cavitation, which is the formation and rupture of a vapor cavity of a flowing stream subjected to rapid pressure changes. When the vapor chamber in the fluid is subjected to higher pressures, the vapor chamber bursts and can generate intense shock waves, which can damage the interior portion of the valve or create audible noise. Damage from cavitation can occur gradually and if found early, valve components can be replaced to avoid leakage and/or valve failure. Disclosure of Invention According to a first exemplary aspect, a flow control apparatus may include a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A flow vane may be coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide fluid flow through the valve body. The flow vane may have a first surface, a second surface, and corrugations formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. A control element may be disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position. According to a second exemplary aspect, a valve body may include an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A valve port may be disposed between the inlet and the outlet. An outlet passage may connect the valve port and the outlet. A flow vane may be coupled to the valve body and disposed in the outlet passage. The flow vane may have a corrugation disposed at a first end of the flow vane. According to a third exemplary aspect, a method of determining wear due to cavitation may include providing a flow control device having a valve body with an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet and the outlet. A control element may be disposed in the flow path and movable in the valve body between an open position and a closed position. A flow vane may be coupled to the valve body and disposed in the flow path to divide fluid flow through the valve body. The flow vane may have a first surface, a second surface, and corrugations formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The method may include measuring a dimension of the flow blade at a location along a length of the flow blade and comparing first and second measurements of the dimension of the flow blade taken at the location. Finally, the method may include determining wear of the flow blade based on comparing the first measurement and the second measurement of the dimension. Further in accordance with any one or more of the first, second or third aspects, the flow control apparatus, the valve body, or the method of determining the presence of wear may comprise one or more of the following preferred forms. In a preferred form, the flow vane may be disposed between the control element and the outlet. In a preferred form, the corrugations may comprise ridges arranged parallel to the flow direction. In a preferred form, the corrugations may comprise ridges arranged perpendicularly with respect to the flow direction. In a preferred form, the corrugations may include raised peaks. In a preferred form, the corrugations may include depressions (indentation). In a preferred form, the flow vane may be integrally formed with the valve body. In a preferred form, the flow vane may be removably coupled to the valve body. In a preferred form, an ultrasonic transducer may be coupled to the valve body and configured to measure the thickness of the flow vane. In a preferred form, a sensor may be coupled to the control element to measure the distance between the control element and the first end of the flow vane. In a preferred form, the corrugations may include a plurality of raised bosses (bumps). In a preferred form, the corrugations may be formed on the first and second surfaces of the flow vane. In a preferred form, the flow vane may be integrally formed with the valve body. In a preferred form, the flow vane may be removably coupled to the valve body. In a preferred form, an array of sensors may be coupled to the valve body and configured to measure the thickness of the flow vane. In a preferred form, each sensor may be arranged along the length of the flow vane. In a preferred form, a sensor may be coupled to the flow blade to measure the thickness of the flow blade. In a preferred form, a sensor may be coupled to the flow blade to measure wear on the flow blade. In a preferred form, measuring the thickness may comprise measuring the thickness of the flow blade at the location using an ultrasonic transducer. Drawings FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a first example flow control valve having