METHOD OF CAVITATION/FLASHING DETECTION IN OR NEAR A PROCESS CONTROL VALVE

摘要

A system and apparatus for detecting and monitoring cavitation inside a flow control device, such as a control valve, includes an acoustic emission sensor coupled to the flow control device in a manner to acquire acoustic signals caused by cavitation. A processor receives acoustic information from the acoustic emission sensor. The processor selectively identifies cavitation events from the acoustic information that meet certain predefined criteria. Cavitation levels are monitored based on at least one of a rate of cavitation events and intensity of individual cavitation events. The cavitation levels may be used to identify the presence of cavitation in the flow control device, to track accumulated cavitation in the flow control device, and/or to identify significant changes in the cavitation levels over time. This information may be used to reduce cavitation, estimate repair and maintenance, and/or monitor performance of the flow control device.

主权项

1. An apparatus for sensing cavitation in fluid flowing through a flow control device, the apparatus comprising:
an acoustic emission sensor configured to be disposed along a controlled fluid flow path extending through a body of the flow control device at a first selected location, wherein the acoustic emission sensor is arranged to detect acoustic signals produced by cavitation within the fluid flow path and to provide acoustic information based on the detected acoustic signals; and a processor operatively coupled with the acoustic emission sensor and arranged to receive the acoustic information from the acoustic emission sensor, wherein the processor is arranged to process the acoustic information and monitor cavitation levels in the fluid flow path at least partly based on a rate of cavitation events and an intensity of individual cavitation events extracted from the acoustic information.