Patent ID: 6661112
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: F03B

Abstract:
A control method in a fluid system comprising the steps of: providing fluid flow through a conduit having a fluid shutdown valve; driving a turbine wheel with the fluid flowing in the conduit; driving an electrical power generator with the turbine wheel; delivering electrical power from the generator to a storage battery; detecting turbine wheel RPM; calculating actual peak and average flow rate from the RPM and input conversion factors; determining if one of average actual and peak actual flow rates exceed set point values; producing a shut down signal if average or peak set point values are exceeded; closing the shutdown valve with the shut down signal, thereby establishing a pressure drop across the shutdown valve; enabling a bypass flow; sensing when fluid pressure equilibrium across the shutdown valve is reached, opening the shutdown valve when said equilibrium is achieved thereby restoring said fluid flow through the conduit.