Brian J O'Rourke

US Patent:

20130068313, Mar 21, 2013

Filed:

Sep 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/238155

Inventors:

Fred Albert George - Easton CT, US
Brian J. O'Rourke - Watertown CT, US
Lee D. Scott - New Fairfield CT, US

Assignee:

Accutrol, LLC - Monroe CT

International Classification:

F16K 31/02

US Classification:

137 14, 1374875

Abstract:

A flow valve with an integral pressure-independent fluid flow controller for controlling the flow of fluid and corresponding methods for controlling fluid flow are provided. The flow valve comprises a valve body, one or more valve blades arranged on the valve body for controlling fluid flow in a duct section, an actuator for modulating the one or more valve blades, a flow sensor or sensors for sensing fluid flow, a tuning calculation module adapted for determining or monitoring a pressure drop across the valve body and for calculating tuning constants based on the pressure drop, and a controller for controlling the actuator based on a difference between a fluid flow setpoint and the sensed fluid flow in accordance with the tuning constants. The pressure drop may be determined from an algorithm based on blade position and sensed fluid flow, or may be directly measured.