The invention pertains to a method of control of gas emissions from a gas valve.
Pneumatic and electro-pneumatic gas valve controllers are known in the industry.
A combination pneumatic and electro-pneumatic gas valve positioning system comprising a pneumatic positioner and an electro-pneumatic positioner configured in parallel wherein the pneumatic positioner operates when the electro-pneumatic positioner is not operating.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention. These drawings, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the embodiments, i.e., examples, given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
While this apparatus disclosed herein is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and these examples are not intended to limit its broad aspect. The above general description and the following detailed description are merely illustrative and additional modes, advantages and particulars will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope,
Pneumatic valve positioning devices utilized in oil and gas production and transportation are a major source of fugitive methane gas emissions. It is estimated that operation of pneumatic positioning devices are responsible for approximately 40 percent of the methane losses in oil and gas production.
In one application, pneumatic devices are utilized as the control or positioning mechanism (pneumatic positioners) for gas values, including but not limited to valves incorporated into gas pipe lines. A stream of gas may be diverted to the pneumatic control device and the pressure of the gas is utilized to move the valve or to maintain the valve in a fixed position. In one example, a natural gas pipeline is tapped and regulated to be utilized as a control or signaling device and power supply. The pipeline contains a gas under pressure. The pneumatic positioner experiences continuing gas pressure. This may result in gas being continuously emitted from the device. The quantity of the gas emissions may increase when the pressure at the control device is altered to move the valve position. Emissions of the gas (e.g., methane or natural gas) are also termed “bleeding”.
As indicated, gas emission will be experienced with a change in the valve position. This may be the result of bleeding or venting of a quantity of gas from the pneumatic positioner.
In one embodiment, the invention discloses the installation and operation of an electro-pneumatic positioner or valve controller to control a gas valve where the existing pneumatic positioner becomes a backup controller. The pneumatic positioner is kept in place and serves as a backup controller in the event of a disruption of electrical power. The selected electro-pneumatic positioner may be selected for its low bleed or gas emissions rate.
In one example of the invention, an electro-pneumatic controller 111 is utilized in conjunction with one or more solenoids 105, 109. Gas pressure is supplied to the electro-pneumatic positioner by operation of a first solenoid 105. The second solenoid 109 prevents the transmission of the gas to the backup pneumatic controller 110 and facilitates the operation of the electrical positioner in controlling the position of the gas valve 102. In this example, a loss of power in the system or within the loop will cause the first solenoid 105 to close access of gas to the electro-pneumatic positioner 111 and shift the gas to the backup pneumatic controller 110. The second solenoid 109 switches and blocks the transmission of gas from the backup pneumatic controller to the electro-pneumatic positioner.
Also illustrated in
In another example, the electro-pneumatic valve control devices may be independent of the pneumatic positioner and can decrease the quantity of fugitive gas emissions. The electro-pneumatic control device may independently move the valve stem or stem connector. In one example, a pneumatic control device remains as a backup to the electro-pneumatic device. This permits the continued control of the valve in the event of electrical power disruption, e.g. failure, (for example 24 volt DC) or loss of the electrical control signal (for example 4-20 mA). The pneumatic controller and the electro-pneumatic controller may have separate attachment components to the valve stem.
Another gas line 232 connected to the 3 way valve is in communication with the existing pneumatic control and the pneumatic positioner.
Also illustrated is the existing 24 VDC power supply 220. Also illustrated is a 24 VDC Loop Power 221. There is a 4-20 mA Position Input 222 in electrical communication 223 with the electro-pneumatic positioner. The relay 204 is in electrical communication 214 with the existing 24 VDC power supply 220
A prior art example of an electro-pneumatic control device is illustrated in the combination of
Turning to
Also illustrated in
In regard to the electro-pneumatic controls, components include a 4-20 milliampere input signal 401, a converter 402, supply line 403 and output to actuator 404 (in communication with a relay 405).
It will be appreciated that the electrical components illustrated in
In another embodiment of the invention, a relay (e.g., Acromag current to voltage converter 602 ) is utilized to convert the system from electro-pneumatic to pneumatic control upon loss of the 4-20 mA signal and to function as a current to voltage converter. (See
The electro-pneumatic positioner 503 of the present invention may be an ABB TZID-C Hart Communicating Positioner that independently controls the position of the value. Information on the ABB positioner is available at www.ABB.com or ABB, Inc., Warminster, Pa. It will be appreciated that the electro-pneumatic controls connected to the valve stem are separate from the controls of the pneumatic positioner. It will be appreciated that the pneumatic positioner may be maintained in operational position to control the valve actuator in the event of disruption of the electrical power.
In one example, the electrical power source may be 24 volt DC. In one example, the electrical control signal is 4-20 mA. Other examples of control signals include fieldbus and Profibus. The electro-pneumatic control device may include a pressure transmitter controller (603 in
Other standards for electrical transmission for industrial instrumentation and communication are included within the scope of the invention, including but not limited to digital forms of communication.
One object of the invention is to eliminate most fugitive gas emissions associated with the use of existing and installed Fisher or other major suppliers of pneumatic valve controls, while still allowing for the retention of this existing pneumatic control as backup. The electro-pneumatic substantially reduce the emission of gas. In one embodiment of the present invention, the existing pneumatic system remains in place as a backup to an installed electro-pneumatic positioner.
Another object is to utilize Hart communicating system (compatible with the Hart Protocol) and including a low bleed (low emission) valve positioner. For example, the apparatus may utilize a 0.015 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) rated bleeding device in contrast to the common Fisher pneumatic control device with a rated bleed of 0.5 scfm.
The Hart Communications Protocol is a leading communication technology used with smart process instrumentation. Hart is field proven, easy to use and provides highly capable two-way digital communication simultaneously with the 4-20 mA analog signaling used by traditional instrumentation equipment.
The invention can include a PID controller/transmitter that is field selectable within one unit and associated components to achieve the electro-pneumatic system. A PID controller is a feedback loop component wherein the controller takes a measured value from a process or other apparatus and compares it with a reference set-point value.
Installation of the electro-pneumatic positioner Will significantly reduce the fugitive emissions from the value positioner components. In addition, electrical positioner will be automatically shutdown and the backup pneumatic system is activated in the event safeguards are activated. These safe guards include (i) loss, i.e., disruption, of 24 VDC loop power, (ii) disruption of 24 VDC system power, or (iii) disruption of 4-20 mA control signal. The gas valve remains controlled at all times.
In one example, emissions were reduced by installation of the electronic positioner. An estimated bleed loss per day was achieved based upon 100% bleed of 21.6 scfd (0.015 scfm) using an ABB TZIDC positioner. In one example, the electro-pneumatic positioner connects directly to the valve actuator in contrast to the connecting to the existing pneumatic positioner.
In contrast to the 21.6 scfd loss discussed above, a 3582 Fisher Pneumatic Positioner has an estimated bleed loss (emission of gas) of 336 scfd per day.
As indicated above, most gas valve positioning apparatus utilize pneumatic controlled devices. The devices are powered by gas, e.g., methane or natural gas, diverted from the main gas line. This results in undesired emissions of the gas into the atmosphere.
In order to decrease these fugitive emissions of gas, electro-pneumatic positioners may be installed. However, to maintain the ability to control the gas valve in the event of electrical power failure, e.g., loss of control signal, loss of loop power, or loss of power, the existing pneumatic control system is retained. As explained above, valves controlled by solenoids may switch the gas supply from the electro-pneumatic positioner to the pneumatic positioner.
In addition to the ABB TZID-C Hart Communicating Positioner, other suitable components include but are not limited to a Siemans PS2, a Siemans PS2 modified by DynaFlo, and components from Valve Accessories.
In another embodiment of the invention, a relay (e.g., Acromag current to voltage converter) is utilized to convert the system from electro-pneumatic to pneumatic control upon loss of the 4-20 mA signal and to function as a current to voltage converter. (See
While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
This application claim the benefit of and priority to provisional application No. 60/876,238, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Emission Management” file Dec. 21, 2006, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60876238 | Dec 2006 | US |