Development of DC-ARM Reflexive Smart Valve
Abstract
The development of a smart valve, which automatically detects and isolates a rupture in a shipboard fluid system, is discussed. The hardware design is based on commercial components Consisting of pressure sensors embedded in the inlet and outlet of the valve and a microprocessor and a communication transceiver embedded in the valve actuator. The smart valve software detects and isolates a rupture using the embedded pressure data even if communication beyond the smart valve is severed. Concept smart valves installed in a shipboard fire main isolated test ruptures in times ranging from 15 to 90 s. With software modifications the existing fire main smart valve can isolate ruptures within 30 s. Development of hydraulic circuit breaker software and improvements in differential pressure signal processing are needed to further reduce the rupture isolation times and to improve the sensitivity of the leak detection. Initial proof-of-concept tests indicate that these developments can be made using the smart valve architecture. With these improve- ments, the smart valve concept can be extended to other shipboard fluid systems such as chilled water and fuel systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA390851
Entities
People
- Eric Runnerstrom
- John Farley
- Melissa Bradley
- Ryan Downs
- Tom Lestina
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory