Patent ID: 12196375

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A pipeline transporting oil or other materials may traverse an area where uncontained oil or other materials may be undesirable. A fully piggable differential pressure actuated valve is provided which is configured to automatically close in the event a leak or rupture takes place downstream of the valve. A valve similarly described for automatic activation in the occurrence of a downstream leak is provided in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 10,641,405, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. Further, a method for preventing spills from pipeline failures is provided in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 11,454,353, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.

Flow through a tube or pipe incurs flow resistance upon material flowing through the tube. The resistance depends upon a geometry of the tube, for example, with a constrictive orifice or a step-down in diameter of the tube causing a significant flow resistance in the tube. Pressure of the material flowing through the tube decreases incrementally through a portion of tube in proportion to or as a function of flow resistance. Material flowing through a constrictive orifice experiences a decrease in pressure.

A flow restrictor within the disclosed system may be utilized to decrease an internal pressure within the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor to an internal pressure below ambient pressure outside of the pipeline. The flow restrictor may be a variable flow restrictor. If the pipeline remains intact and substantially airtight, the internal pressure downstream of the flow restrictor may remain below ambient pressure. If the pipeline does not remain intact due to a leak or a rupture through which material may escape from the pipeline, air or water from outside the pipeline may rush into the pipeline and raise the pressure within the pipeline to or near to an ambient pressure. Internal pressure within the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor may be utilized to control a valve between an open condition or open state, wherein the pipeline is determined to be intact and not leaking material, and a closed condition or closed state, wherein the pipeline is determined to be leaking or ruptured and wherein the flow of material is to be ceased or stopped.

A number of configurations utilizing a measure of the internal pressure of a portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor are envisioned. In one embodiment, a pressure differential between a portion of the pipeline upstream of the flow restrictor and the portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor may be utilized to automatically actuate the valve. The valve may be configured to include a primary flapper or a door that may be held in place by the pressure differential between the portion of the pipeline upstream of the flow restrictor and the portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor when the pipeline is intact and material is flowing through the pipeline. This primary flapper held in place by the pressure differential may be in an up position enabling material to flow past the primary flapper corresponding to the system operating in an operational state. The primary flapper may be configured to fall or displace when the internal pressure in the portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor increases, as would occur after a rupture. The primary flapper after falling or displacing from its initial position, may partially or wholly block the flow of the material through the pipeline.

In order for a pipeline to be considered piggable, capable of enabling a device such as a robotic cleaning, separating, inspecting device to move through the pipeline, a pipeline standard diameter may be adopted. The robot may be configured to pass through the pipeline so long as the pipeline maintains the pipeline standard diameter.

The disclosed system may enable pigging of the associated pipeline by including features that maintain the pipeline standard diameter. With regard to the primary flapper, the primary flapper may be configured to imitate a portion of the pipeline wall when the primary flapper is in the initial or up position corresponding to the system being in the operational state. The primary flapper may include an arcuate section conforming to the pipeline standard diameter. The primary flapper may be configured to include a hinge which enables the arcuate section to rotate downward or fall into the interior of the pipeline into a fallen position. The outer perimeter of the primary flapper may be configured to substantially conform to the interior of the pipeline at some angle relative to the hinge so as to partially or wholly block flow of material through the pipeline when in the fallen position. In one embodiment, a perimeter of the primary flapper may include a flexible wiper gasket configured to seal against the mating pipeline surfaces proximate to the primary flapper in the initial or up position, in the fallen position or blocking position, or both.

The flow restrictor includes an ability to partially restrict flow past the flow restrictor. In order to be piggable, the flow restrictor may be configured to alternate between a partially restricted position, wherein the flow restrictor acts as a constrictive orifice blocking a portion of flow through the flow restrictor, and a fully open position, wherein the pipeline standard diameter is protected through the flow restrictor. This variable restriction may be accomplished by a number of flow restrictor embodiments. In one embodiment, a flow restrictor panel including a teardrop shape may be utilized. The flow restrictor panel may be movable, such that different portions of the teardrop shape may transit or span the interior of the pipeline. At one end or one portion of the teardrop shape, a round shape may exist that, when the round shape is exposed to the interior of the pipeline, the flow restrictor does not project any material into the interior of the pipeline. This round shape may include the pipeline standard diameter or may be larger than the pipeline standard diameter. When a flow restriction corresponding to the operational state of the system is desirable, for example, to create an internal pressure downstream of the flow restrictor less than an ambient pressure, the flow restrictor panel may be moved such that a different portion of the teardrop shape is exposed to the interior of the pipeline. This different portion of the teardrop shape may project panel material into the interior of the pipeline and may create a step down in diameter of the pipeline at the flow restrictor, thereby causing the flow restrictor panel to act as a constrictive orifice. Shapes other than a teardrop may be utilized. For example, a series of holes of varying diameters may be formed in the flow restrictor panel. However, the teardrop shape is advantageous in that a variety of flow restriction values or a variety of pressure drops across the flow restrictor may be controlled based upon which portion of the teardrop shape is exposed to the interior of the pipeline. Further, the teardrop shape is advantageous in that it is space efficient. The flow restrictor panel including a plurality of candidate holes to expose to the interior of the pipeline could be quite or prohibitively large.

The flow restrictor panel may include a shape cut-out or formed through the panel to enable a variable amount of material to flow past the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor panel may further include a portion of the panel including solid material without a through-hole. When this portion of the panel including the solid material is exposed within the pipeline, the flow of material through the pipeline may be ceased or stopped. By cooperative use of the primary flapper and the variable flow restrictor, the flow of material through the pipeline may be ceased through redundant control. A malfunction of either the primary flapper or the flow restrictor panel may be compensated for by operation of the remaining one of the primary flapper or the flow restrictor panel.

Differential pressure may be utilized to hold the primary flapper in the initial or up position. When no material is flowing through the pipeline, the flow restrictor does not create lower-than-ambient internal pressure in the portion of the pipeline downstream of the flow restrictor. A latch device may be utilized to hold the primary flapper in the up position. Such a condition may occur when the device is first set up, when material stops flowing through the pipeline for any reason, when the pipeline is partially or fully emptied, or when flow ceases to enable a pigging device to travel through the pipeline.

The system may include a computerized controller configured to engage the latch device and disengage the latch device at appropriate times. For example, a human interface device may enable a user to input a shut-down process wherein material will subsequently be ceased from flowing through the pipeline. The user alternatively may initiate a pigging operation state. In another example, a plurality of pressure sensors may be located along the pipeline. The pressure sensors may be used to diagnose a condition where the material remains contained and where flow of the material is slowing or has ceased. In these examples, permitting the primary flapper to fall would not be advantageous, as no leak is present in the pipeline, and the primary flapper may desirably remain in the up position despite the pressure differential across the flow restrictor lessening or becoming zero. In one embodiment, wherein the pipeline is operational, the latch device may be maintained in a disengaged state, and wherein the pipeline is stopped or wherein a pigging device is being utilized, the latch device may be maintained in an engaged state.

The flow restrictor panel may be contained within a flow restrictor housing to permit the flow restrictor panel to move relative to the pipeline while maintaining an airtight or sealed pipeline. The flow restrictor housing may include an internal cavity large enough for the flow restrictor panel to move between a plurality of positions enabling variable flow resistance in the pipeline as material flows past the flow restrictor panel. In one embodiment, the flow restrictor panel may be moved between positions by a rack and pinion system, wherein the flow restrictor panel may include a line or series of tooth-shaped features, and an electric motor may be utilized to turn a round gear enmeshed with the tooth-shaped features to cause the flow restrictor panel to translate. In one embodiment, the electric motor may be encapsulated within the flow restrictor housing. In other embodiments, the flow restrictor panel may be moved through use of hydraulics, pneumatics, magnetics, or other means.

In one embodiment, a downstream pump may aid in creating the low pressure downstream of the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor and the downstream pump may be utilized to particularly protect a sensitive area, such as a wetland or body of water through which the pipeline is routed.

The primary flapper of the disclosed system may act as a differential pressure actuated valve providing protection from leaks, ceasing or stopping the flow without the need for sensors, signaling or external power. Based solely on the pressure differential across the flow restrictor, the primary flapper may be maintained in an up position, permitting material to flow past the primary flapper, until the pressure differential degrades, indicating a leak downstream of the primary flapper, thereby causing the primary flapper to fall and block the flow of the material past the primary flapper and towards the leak.

The primary flapper provides this leak mitigation functionality without the use of sensors or computerized control. By additionally utilizing sensors and signaling to monitor conditions in the pipeline, additional functionality such as precise control of the flow restrictor panel may be added to the system. This added capability enables passing pigs that are used for cleaning, separating materials, or inspecting pipelines without interference. This added capacity enables locking the primary flapper in the up position while relative negative pressure is not available as a result of fully opening the flow restrictor panel or as a result of variable operation of the downstream pump. This added capacity enables adjustment of the primary flapper sensitivity, for example, compensating primary flapper operation for variable flow rates of the material within the pipeline. For example, if flow past the flow restrictor is temporarily reduced, for example, corresponding to less material being pumped through the pipeline per unit time, the pressure differential across the flow restrictor resulting from the flow resistance of the orifice will decrease, and the primary flapper may be controlled to not fall due to the reduced pressure differential. Such control may be achieved by locking the latch device, changing a setting of the variable flow restrictor to increase the pressure differential, reducing a force applied by the flapper control cylinder upon the flapper, or a combination of these actions.

Throughout the disclosure, the primary flapper is described as being in an up position or a fallen position. It will be appreciated that, while gravity may aid the primary flapper and the secondary flapper in being activated from initial positions and blocking their respective flows of relatively high-pressure material, a vertical orientation of the system is not necessary for proper operation of the disclosed valve. For example, if the primary flapper were initially aligned to a side or a bottom of the pipeline, the flapper control cylinder may be calibrated to provide additional force upon the flapper to compensate for the effect of gravity. In one embodiment, the up position may be described as a first position, and the fallen position may be described as a second position.

Throughout the disclosure, the relatively low-pressure material is described as being at a pressure less than an ambient pressure outside of the pipeline. This ambient pressure may, when the pipeline exists surrounded by air, an ambient air pressure. The pipeline may exist under water. In such an instance, the ambient pressure outside of the pipeline may describe the water pressure at the depth of the pipeline. In some instances, a pipeline may traverse a range of depths of water, for example, with the pipeline entering the water at the shore and following a contour of a bottom of the water. In order to prevent a leak from the pipeline, the relatively low-pressure material may be controlled to be lower than a lowest ambient pressure outside of the pipeline.

FIG.1Aschematically illustrates a system10including a fully piggable differential pressure actuated valve with a variable flow restrictor in side view. The system10is illustrated including a pipeline20, a low-pressure chamber30, a flow restrictor housing40, a low-pressure tube50, and a flapper control cylinder60. The pipeline20is illustrated including an upstream portion22and a downstream portion24. During an operational state of the system10, a flow restrictor panel within the flow restrictor housing40interacts with material flowing through the pipeline20to create a pressure drop in the material across the flow restrictor panel or a pressure differential across the flow restrictor panel. The flow restrictor housing40is sealed and connected to the pipeline20, such that material may not leak from the flow restrictor housing40. An electric motor42is illustrated connected to the flow restrictor housing40configured for moving the flow restrictor panel within the flow restrictor housing40. The motor42may be encapsulated within the flow restrictor housing40.

The low-pressure tube50connects with the pipeline20in the downstream portion24of the pipeline20. The low-pressure tube50provides relatively low pressure material from the downstream portion24as compared with relatively high pressure material within the upstream portion22. Throughout the disclosure, high-pressure material within the system10may be described as relatively high-pressure material present within the upstream portion22as compared to relatively low-pressure material within the downstream portion24when the system10is in an operational state. Similarly, throughout the disclosure, low-pressure material within the system10may be described as relatively low-pressure material as may be present within the downstream portion24as compared with the relatively high-pressure material within the upstream portion22when the system10is in an operational state. Throughout the disclosure, upstream refers to a portion of the pipeline20through which material flows towards the flow restrictor panel. Throughout the disclosure, downstream refers to a portion of the pipeline20through which material flows away from the flow restrictor panel after having passed the flow restrictor panel.

The flapper control cylinder60may be utilized to provide a calibrated force upon a primary flapper within the low-pressure chamber30. Tap line70provides high pressure material from the upstream portion22to the flapper control cylinder60. The high-pressure material may flow through the flapper control cylinder60and exit through exit line72into the downstream portion24. The operation of the flapper control cylinder60may be calibrated through manually or automatically controlled valves. The system10is illustrated including a first manual valve74and a second manual valve76. The system10is further illustrated including a pressure sensor99. The position of the sensor99is exemplary, and a plurality of sensors99may be present in the system10in order to monitor and diagnose internal pressure at locations within the system10.

FIGS.1B and1Cschematically illustrate the system10ofFIG.1Ain side view in cross-section. The system10is illustrated including the pipeline20, the low-pressure chamber30, the flow restrictor housing40, the low-pressure tube50, and the flapper control cylinder60. The pipeline20is illustrated including the upstream portion22and the downstream portion24.

A flow restrictor panel44is illustrated within the flow restrictor housing40configured to interact with material flowing through the pipeline20to create a pressure drop in the material across or past the flow restrictor panel44or a pressure differential across the flow restrictor panel44. The electric motor42ofFIG.1Aprovides torque to a pinion gear positioned to engage with tooth-shaped features46along a bottom edge of the flow restrictor panel44.

The low-pressure tube50connects with the pipeline20in the downstream portion24of the pipeline20. The low-pressure tube50provides relatively low-pressure material from the downstream portion24as compared with relatively high-pressure material within the upstream portion22to create a low-pressure condition within the low-pressure chamber30. The low-pressure condition within the low-pressure chamber30provides a pressure differential upon a primary flapper80as compared to high-pressure material below the primary flapper80. This pressure differential results in a net upward force upon the primary flapper80. As long as this pressure differential is in place and pushes upwards upon the primary flapper80, the primary flapper80may remain in the up position illustrated inFIG.1B.

The primary flapper80is illustrated including hinge82configured to enable the primary flapper80to pivot into a down position illustrated inFIG.1Ccorresponding to a fault state in the system10. The primary flapper80is further illustrated including a cam84configured to interact with secondary flapper32within the low-pressure chamber30. The primary flapper80is further illustrated including a flexible wiper gasket86disposed around a perimeter of the primary flapper80. The primary flapper80is further illustrated including a latch-force receiver88disposed upon a top side of the primary flapper80.

The flapper control cylinder60is illustrated including a piston62receiving high-pressure material through the tap line70. The piston62acts upon a probe64to provide force upon the latch-force receiver88upon the primary flapper80. The force applied to the latch-force receiver88may be calibrated through operation of valves74,76. An O-ring66prevents material within the flapper control cylinder60from entering the low-pressure chamber30. An orifice68including a small hole in a bottom of the piston62may allow a small amount of the high-pressure material to leak past the piston62. This “controlled leak” allows precise control of the valve's sensitivity, allowing adjustment to cause closure at various levels of leakage in the pipeline downstream of the restrictor. Material flowing through orifice68may exit flapper control cylinder60through exit line72.

InFIG.1B, the primary flapper80is illustrated in the up position. This up position may be maintained by the pressure differential across the primary flapper80. The up position may additionally or alternatively be maintained by latch device90engaging with the latch-force receiver88upon the primary flapper80. When the primary flapper80is in the up position, as is illustrated inFIG.1B, the cam84maintains the secondary flapper32in an open position prevents the secondary flapper32from lowering into a closed position. The secondary flapper32includes a hinge34and is configured to block material entering the low-pressure chamber30from entering and flowing through the low-pressure tube50through opening54when the secondary flapper is in the closed position, as is illustrated inFIG.1C.

As is illustrated inFIG.1B, the primary flapper80in the up position seals the high-pressure material in the upstream portion22from flowing into the low-pressure chamber30. The flexible wiper gasket is configured to aid in sealing the primary flapper80to neighboring surfaces of the pipeline20.

The inner diameter26of the pipeline20is illustrated. In some embodiments, in order to be piggable, the pipeline20may be maintained to include the inner diameter26fully open and free of structural obstacles throughout the pipeline20. In some embodiments, the primary flapper80and the flow restrictor panel44may each be selectively disposed to maintain the inner diameter of26throughout the system10.

As is illustrated inFIG.1C, the primary flapper80is configured to lower into the down position and seal against an inside surface of the pipeline20. The flexible wiper gasket86is configured to aid in sealing the primary flapper80to the inside surface of the pipeline20.

As is illustrated inFIG.1B, when the primary flapper80is in the up position, material may flow past the primary flapper80. As is illustrated inFIG.1C, when the primary flapper80is in the down position and when the secondary flapper32is in the closed position, material is blocked from flowing past the primary flapper80and the secondary flapper32.

The piston62within the flapper control cylinder60provides a constant, calibrated force upon the primary flapper80. This calibrated force is set to distinguish or discriminate between normal variations in the pressure differential across the primary flapper80and a significant loss in or lessening of the pressure differential across the primary flapper80indicative of a rupture or leak in the pipeline20downstream of the system10. A control system or a user manually adjusting valve74and/or valve76may adjust the calibrated force.

FIG.2Aschematically illustrates in top view of the system10ofFIG.1A. The system10is illustrated including the pipeline20, the low-pressure chamber30, the flow restrictor housing40, the low-pressure tube50, and the flapper control cylinder60. The pipeline20is illustrated including the upstream portion22and the downstream portion24. The tap line70is illustrated including the valve74. The exit line72is illustrated including the valve76.

FIG.2Bschematically illustrates in top view of the low-pressure chamber30of the system ofFIG.2Ain top view in cross-section. The low-pressure chamber30is illustrated disposed upon the pipeline20. The low-pressure chamber30is illustrated including the low-pressure tub50including opening54. The low-pressure chamber30is illustrated including the secondary flapper32configured to pivot about the hinge34and selectively block the opening54. The primary flapper80is illustrated configured to pivot about the hinge82and further is illustrated including the latch-force receiver88configured to receive force from the probe64and be selectively latched in place by the latch device90. The latch device90may be an electronically operable solenoid. In another embodiment, the latch device90may be hydraulically, pneumatically, magnetically, manually, or otherwise operated to selectively latch and retain in place the latch-force receiver88. The latch device90may be operated as part of a pigging program or routine, may be activated based upon as sensor detecting presence or approach of a pigging device, may be operated as part of an initialization program or routine, and/or may be manually actuated by a user.

FIG.3Aschematically illustrates in front view of the system10ofFIG.1A, wherein the restrictor panel44is in a partially restricted position corresponding to the system10being in the operational state. The pipeline20, the low-pressure chamber30, and the flapper control cylinder60are illustrated. The restrictor panel44is illustrated including a teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48. The teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48includes a first end49including a circular shape which, when aligned to the pipeline20provides little or no additional flow resistance as compared to a similar portion of the pipeline20. The teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48further includes a second end47that tapers down to a smaller width than the first end49, such that, when the second end47is aligned with the pipeline20, the teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48presents an orifice or a stepped-down cross section as compared to the diameter of the pipeline20. In the embodiment ofFIG.3A, the restrictor panel44is illustrated exposing a portion of the teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48between the first end49and the second end47. A flow resistance provided by the restrictor panel44upon material flowing through the pipeline20may be adjusted or calibrated based upon desired operation of the system10. For example, if the flow resistance provided by the restrictor panel44is too low, the pressure differential between the upstream portion22ofFIG.1Aand the downstream portion24ofFIG.1Awill be too low and the primary flapper80may unintentionally fall. If the flow resistance provided by the restrictor panel44is too high, the flow rate of the material flowing through the pipeline20may be reduced too much, reducing the operational flow of the pipeline20to an unreasonably low rate. In the embodiment ofFIG.3A, two segments of the restrictor panel44are visible within an inner diameter of the pipeline20, partially restricting flow of material therethrough. The position of the restrictor panel44inFIG.3Amay be described as a partial position or a position providing limited or controlled flow resistance in the pipeline20.

The restrictor panel44is illustrated including the tooth-shaped features46. A pinion gear41is illustrated engaged with the tooth-shaped features46, such that the motor42ofFIG.1attached to the pinion gear41may selectively move the restrictor panel44back and forth within the flow restrictor housing40. The motor42may be directly attached to pinion gear41, or a gear reducer may be disposed between the motor42and the pinion gear41.

FIG.3Bschematically illustrates in front view of the system10ofFIG.1A, wherein the restrictor panel44within the flow restrictor housing40is in a fully closed position corresponding to the system10being in the fault state. The teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48may be provided upon the restrictor panel44such that a remaining portion of the restrictor panel44not including the teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48may fully block a flow of material through the pipeline20. In the embodiment ofFIG.3B, the restrictor panel44fully blocks the pipeline20. Upon the system10ofFIG.1Abeing triggered corresponding to a leak or rupture in the pipeline20, the restrictor panel44may be moved into the position illustrated inFIG.3Bto cease or stop the flow of material through the pipeline20. In some embodiments, the restrictor panel44being disposed to cease the flow of material may be redundant to the primary flapper80ceasing flow through the pipeline20.

FIG.3Cschematically illustrates in front view of the system10ofFIG.1A, wherein the restrictor panel44within the flow restrictor housing40is in a fully open position corresponding to the system10being in a pigging operation state. The restrictor panel44is illustrated such that the teardrop-shaped through-hole opening48is disposed with the first end49being coincident to or aligned with the pipeline20, such that no portion of the restrictor panel44is visible within the pipeline20. Any pigging device that is sized to pass through the pipeline20is similarly sized to pass the restrictor panel in the configuration illustrated inFIG.3C.

FIG.4schematically illustrates in front view of the system10ofFIG.1Ain cross-section. The system10is illustrated including the pipeline20, the low-pressure chamber30, and the primary flapper80. The pipeline20is illustrated including a minimum piggable cross-section28. In one embodiment, the minimum piggable cross-section28may be set to include an entire internal cross-section of the pipeline20. In another embodiment, the minimum piggable cross-section28may be set by dimensions of a pigging device to be utilized within the pipeline20, a minimum dimension set for the pipeline20, or may be arbitrarily set. The primary flapper80is illustrated including the hinge82and the flexible wiper seal86. The primary flapper80is illustrated in the up position, wherein the primary flapper80includes a shape and position similar or substantially identical to a section of the pipeline20. The flexible wiper seal86is illustrated disposed between the primary flapper80and the pipeline20, preventing high-pressure material within the pipeline20from leaking into the low-pressure chamber30. In some embodiments, a portion of the flexible wiper seal86may exist or be disposed within the pipeline20at a smaller radius than material of the pipeline20. This configuration may be permissible where the minimum piggable cross-section is narrower than the pipeline20. In another embodiment, the flexible wiper seal86may be configured to be disposed at a radius equal to or greater than a radius of the material of the pipeline20. In some embodiments, the pipeline20and/or a wall the low-pressure chamber30may extend outwardly away from a center of the pipeline20to provide extra room for the primary flapper80and/or the flexible wiper seal86in order to maintain structural features outside of the minimum piggable cross-section28.

The cam84is illustrated extending upwardly from the primary flapper80. The cam84prevents the secondary flapper32from falling down and blocking the opening54with the primary flapper80in the up position. The secondary flapper32is illustrated in a fully up position. In operation, the secondary flapper32may rest upon the cam84.

FIG.5schematically illustrates computerized control of the system10ofFIG.1A. A control system100is illustrated including a computerized control device110, a pigging operation controller120, a human input device130, and a cellular device140. The control system100is further illustrated including and providing computerized control over the motor42and the latch device90. The control system100is further illustrated receiving data from the sensor99. The computerized control device110includes a processor, read-only memory (ROM), and durable memory provided for storage of programmable code. The computerized control device110is configured to execute the programmable code in combination with an operating system to provide computerized control of the system10. The computerized control device110may receive data from the pigging operation controller120in order to control the system10in accordance with a pigging operation state. The computerized control device110may receive data from the human input device130and/or the cellular device140to control the system10in accordance with any of the states and/or calibratable features described herein.

FIG.6is a flowchart describing a method200to control the system10ofFIGS.1A,1B, and1C. The method200is illustrated describing steps which may be operable within the system10, while the method200may be operated in other similar systems. The method200starts at step202. At step204, the system10, sensors99located thereto, and control mechanisms are monitored, and a system state is determined. At step206, the system state is utilized to provide control over the system10. If the system10is determined to be in normal operation or in an operational state, the method200advances to the step208, where the restrictor panel44is controlled to a partial position or a position configured for providing limited or controlled flow restriction in the pipeline20. The method200then advances to step210, wherein the latch device90is controlled to unlock the primary flapper80. After execution of the steps208and210, the primary flapper80is maintained in the up position by the pressure differential created by the orifice provided by the partial position of the restrictor panel44, the latch device90is disengaged and does not hold the primary flapper80in place, and the system10is prepared to react to a leak or rupture in the pipeline20.

When, in step206, it is determined that the system10is to be configured for a pigging operation or in a pigging operation state, the method200advances to the step212, wherein the restrictor panel44is moved to a fully open position. At step214, the primary flapper80is locked in an up position. In some embodiments, the step214may occur prior to the step212, for example, to lock the primary flapper80in the up position prior to the restrictor panel44being moved into the fully open position to avoid the pressure differential being decreased prior to the latch device90being engaged. After executing the steps212and214, the system10is prepared to enable a pigging device to travel through the system10.

When, in step206, it is determined that the system10is to be configured for a detected fault or in a fault state, the method200advances to the step216, wherein the restrictor panel44is moved to a closed position. At step218, a fault alert is generated, for example, alerting a user that a leak in the pipeline20has been detected. A fault alert may include an indication to the user that the primary flapper80is to be reset prior to the pipeline20returning to an operational state. At step220, a determination is made whether the system is to continue operation. If operation is to continue, the method200returns to the step204. If operation is not to continue, the method200advances to the step222where the method200ends. The method200provides one exemplary method to control operation of the system10ofFIG.1A. A number of additional and/or alternative method steps are envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples provided herein.

While the best modes for carrying out the disclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of the appended claims.