Patent ID: 8261776
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling noise associated with a valve used for venting a pressure vessel during a venting process, the method including: providing a vent line for venting pressurized fluid from a pressure vessel; providing a vent line control valve to regulate the flow of fluid within the vent line; providing at least one sound pressure transducer downstream of the vent line control valve; positioning the at least one sound pressure transducer within the vent line; using the at least one sound pressure transducer to sense a sound pressure level inside of the vent line; providing a valve controller operatively coupled to the vent line control valve and including a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sound pressure transducer; providing data indicative of the sensed sound pressure level to the processor; using the processor to predict an externally radiated sound pressure level based on the sensed sound pressure level inside of the vent line; and using the predicted externally radiated sound pressure level as an input to the valve controller in order to control valve travel of the vent line control valve to vent pressurized fluid from the pressure vessel while maintaining noise levels at or below a predetermined maximum noise level.