Abstract: A recovery unit configured to re-inject lost or fugitive emissions back into a pipeline. These configuration may include a pressure vessel that can hold gas (or other fluid) that might vent to atmosphere from, for example, a valve or like flow control. A pump may couple with the pressure vessel. In use, this pump can draw fluid out of the pressure vessel and pressurize it to inject back into the pipeline, typically downstream of the valve. The pump may utilize upstream pressure as a power source.

Abstract: A valve trim that is configured to abate noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a cage with a flow path that has interior and exterior openings. The cage may also have a bore to receive a closure member or “plug.” This plug can travel longitudinally to change parameters of flow through the control valve. In one implementation, the exhausts of flow paths with adjacent inlets are offset or spaced from another. In one implementation, the exterior openings vertically offset. However, other designs may adopt combinations of radial, helical, or angular offsets as well. This feature can prevent mixing of flow from jets that are in the same inlet plane. This feature, in turn, can reduce jet-to-jet interactions that may abate noise. Use of additive manufacturing may be useful (or even necessary) to create these parts within certain design envelopes because these techniques can create the unique flow geometry within a unitary or monolithic body.

Abstract: A valve positioner that is configured to detect fugitive emissions on a valve. The configuration may include a sensor that resides in proximity to the device. The sensor may connect to a control unit, preferably with operating hardware that can process signals. This arrangement may secure to structure of the valve. In one implementation, the sensor can connect to connections that exist on a circuit board. This feature permits upgrades to devices, including those in assembly or those in the field, with minimal impact to design or performance.

Abstract: An indication system includes the following features. A mechanism is within an enclosure. An indicator is mounted to an outer surface of the enclosure. A magnet couples the indicator to a component of the mechanism indicative of a state of the mechanism. The indicator displays a reading indicative of the state of the mechanism responsive to the magnet coupling.

Abstract: An amplifier is configured for use in a control valve. These configurations provide a pneumatic signal to an actuator that regulates flow through the device. The amplifier may include a variable orifice, or bleed valve, that moves in response to changes in actuating media around steady state. This bleed valve prevents bleed of actuating media at steady state. This feature reduces energy consumption or emissions from the control valve.

Abstract: A closure member is configured for use in a valve. These configurations may have a coating or conformal layer that may cover most, if not all, of the underlying material. This layer may include pre-propagated cracks that form due to thermal cycling prior to use in service. These pre-propagated cracks act as stress relief to accommodate for possible thermal stress that occurs due to different rates of thermal expansion between the underlying closure member and the coating. In one implementation, the layer may include a crack profile, which is engineered to direct formation of the pre-propagated cracks as well as to arrest crack development to a certain depth to maintain at least some integral layer of material over the underlying plug 118. This feature can extend service life of the plug, particularly in highly-erosive process fluids, like particle-entrained fluids commonly found in hydrocracking or refining operations.

Abstract: A closure member is configured for use in a valve. These configurations may include a plug with grooves or “flutes” that extend along its length. Inserts in the flutes may comprise materials, like ceramics, that are different than the material that forms the core or base portion of the plug. These inserts are useful to slow erosion of the device, particularly in the flutes, which form an outwardly-facing surface that is subject to high velocity flow in the valve. This feature can extend service life of the plug, particularly in highly-erosive process fluids, like particle-entrained fluids commonly found in hydrocracking or refining operations.

Abstract: A bellows is configured for use on a valve. These configurations may include a corrugated section that is hollow to receive a valve stem therethrough. At its ends, the corrugated section can terminate at adapters. In one implementation, additive manufacturing can construct the bellows as a unitary or monolithic unit, avoiding welds or fasteners that can complicate manufacture of the parts. This techniques can create interfaces between the corrugated section and the adapters that comprises the same material as the adjacent parts.

Abstract: A valve trim that is configured to abate noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a cage with a flow path that has interior and exterior openings. The cage may also have a bore to receive a closure member or “plug.” This plug can travel longitudinally to change parameters of flow through the control valve. In one implementation, the interior and exterior openings are vertically offset or spaced from another along the axis of the bore. In one implementation, the exterior openings are in a section of the cage that is not normally exposed to flow. This feature can increase density of noise-abating features within given dimensions for the cage (or the valve trim itself). Use of additive manufacturing may be useful (or even necessary) to create these parts within certain design envelopes because these techniques can create the unique flow geometry within a unitary or monolithic body.

Abstract: A controller is configured to perform in-situ testing on a control valve. These configurations can generate a signal that changes position of a closure member in the valve during operation of a process. These changes exercise components of the valve for a short period of time. This testing may result in data that can indicate whether the device is operating properly or may be in need of maintenance or repair.

Abstract: A flow control that is configured to monitor energy use. These configurations may include a controller that delivers a signal to pressurize a pneumatic actuator. This controller may have software that can calculate energy use based on pressure of the signal and, for example, changes in position of a valve. This feature can provide real-time data that operators can use to identify potential problems on their process lines. In one implementation, the operators can flag devices that exhibit energy use that trends away from baseline levels. These devices may have inherent issues that can manifest into larger, more catastrophic problems, potentially causing quality problems with end product or requiring the operating to shut-down the process line altogether.

Abstract: A superstructure is configured for use on a flow control, like a control valve. These configurations may have internal plumbing to carry fluid between parts of the valve. In one implementation, the plumbing connects a controller with an actuator to allow a pneumatic signal from the controller to pressurize the actuator. The internal plumbing forgoes the need for external pipes or tubes. This feature can simplify the assembly, as well as reduce the overall package size of the valve to avoid potential fit or interference issues at its location on a process line.

Abstract: A sensor configured to measure rate of flow of fugitive emissions on a flow control. The configurations may include devices that are sensitive to low flow or low pressure. These devices may include piezo-electric films or foams. These materials may deflect in response to flow of fluid along the outer surface of the reciprocating shaft. In one implementation, the embodiments can generate average leak rate over time and measure against regulation or specifications to ensure appropriate operation (e.g., leak suppression) of the flow control. Storing this data can provide a database of information that allows operators to benchmark performance of the flow control, for example, to correlate leaks to a certain date or time. This feature may, in turn, permit the operators to also correlate the device-specific performance to overall plant or network operations.

Abstract: A tool configured for use to assemble and install trim into a steam conditioning valve. These configurations can include a device that mounts in place of a bonnet and an actuator that technicians remove from the valve. The device can cantilever the trim assembly, essentially providing a platform on which technicians can slide the trim assembly into the valve body (or out of the valve body) to complete install or repair of the device. As an added benefit, technicians can also use the device to assemble the trim in proximity to the subject valve.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes the following features. A housing defines an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. A seat can be defined by the housing. The seat defines a throat flow area. A plunger is configured to rest upon the seat. The plunger blocks the flow passage when in a closed position. The plunger is configured to actuate between a fully open position and the closed position. The plunger and the seat can at least partially defining a curtain flow area. A bias directs the plunger towards the seat. A ratio of the throat flow area to the curtain flow area is sized for sonic or supersonic flow velocities during critical flow conditions and subsonic velocities during subcritical flow conditions.

Abstract: An evacuation unit is configured to remove entrapped fluid from a flow control. These configurations may incorporate devices that can passively discharge fluid in response to loss of system pressure. These devices may use gravity or spring-assist as mechanisms to move fluid out of spaces in the device. This feature mitigates risks that the entrapped fluid freezes and expands, which can cause damage to metal components and lead to extensive downtime of process lines. As an added benefit, the features can reduce product costs or complexity because the proposed designs avoid the need for additional, peripheral “accessories,” like pumps or heating elements, resident at the location of the flow control.

Abstract: Systems and devices for controlling flow of a fluid through a valve are provided. A valve plug can include a hub. The hub can include a hub body having a longitudinal axis extending through the hub body and a bore extending along the longitudinal axis extending through the hub body. The hub can also include at least one elliptically-shaped protrusion integrally formed within the hub body. The valve plug can also include a dome having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and at least one side wall extending between the first surface and the second surface around a circumference of the dome. The valve plug can also include at least one arm extending between the hub body and the second surface of the dome. The valve plug can be coupled to a drive shaft and a controller in a variety of non-limiting valve types.

Abstract: An aeroderivative gas turbine provided with a casing, a compressor including a rotor mounted on a generator shaft supported for rotation in the casing, a high pressure turbine arranged in the casing and with a rotor mounted on the generator shaft for co-rotation with the compressor rotor, a combustor, a power turbine arranged in the casing and including a rotor mounted on a turbine shaft to drive a load, wherein a thermal insulation coating is present to reduce heat dispersion through the casing.

Abstract: A valve housing is configured to maintain temperature of a valve. These configurations may incorporate paths or channels in structure of the valve that carry working fluid. Heating fluid, like steam or hot water, may flow through these paths to heat this structure. This feature can maintain or raise temperature of the working fluid to meet specifications, standards, or process parameters. In one implementation, the paths may have complex routes or geometry with curves, bends, or other feature that can maximize surface area that is available to distribute heat to the device. This geometry may require manufacturing techniques, like additive manufacturing, that can generate unitary or monolithic structures, particularly those structures that includes voids in the material to form the integral paths for the heating fluid.

Abstract: A valve bonnet defines a packing box having an inner surface Roughness Average (Ra) of 0.15 or less, for example, between 0.10 and 0.15. Multiple Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) packing rings are in a packing stack. A packer is bolted to the bonnet and extends into the packing box. The packer is configured to apply a packing pressure on the packing, for example, between 100 megapascals (MPa) and 200 MPa. Such arrangements can allow for high pressure valves, for example valves that can retain up to 10,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure or up to 15,000 PSI.