Research and evaluation on the control methods and fault detection of flow control valves

Abstract

The subject of this thesis is the study of flow control valves. More specifically, to identify the methods used for flow control and analyze the various functions of flow-control valves in order to suggest the most compatible method of flow control per case. Any failure of any single component in a hydraulic system can lead to loss of productivity and potentially present a threat to the safety of workers, the public and the environment. Operating faults may also lead to serious problems in a process, therefore identification of the means for fault detection and normalizing of the flow in a system will be analyzed here. The right maintenance plan can save plants or vessels, both cost and downtime, thereby improving efficiency and allowing operations to run smoothly. Maintenance methods will be identified, analyzed and evaluated in order to establish when and where they should be applied.