Gas flow control valve

Abstract

A gas flow control valve comprising coupling means for coupling to a measurement tube, wherein the coupling means are compatible with existing means for coupling valves to the measurement tube, means for directing gas from a well head through the gas flow control valve and out of an exit port, means for finely tuning the flow rate of gas passing through the flow control valve comprising, means for longitudinally translating a valve needle via rotation of a rotating assembly, wherein the valve needle comprises a tapered portion and a shoulder, wherein the tapered portion of the valve needle comprises a truncated cone which increases in diameter in the direction of gas flow, and means for visually indicating the longitudinal position of the gas flow control valve.

1 . A gas flow control valve comprising:
 coupling means for coupling to a measurement tube;   wherein the coupling means are compatible with existing means for coupling valves to the measurement tube;   means for directing gas from a well head through the gas flow control valve and out of an exit port;   means for finely tuning flow rate of gas passing through the flow control valve comprising:
 means for longitudinally translating a valve needle via rotation of a rotating assembly; 
 wherein the valve needle comprises a tapered portion and a shoulder, wherein the tapered portion of the valve needle comprises a truncated cone which increases in diameter in the direction of gas flow; and 
 means for visually indicating longitudinal position of the gas flow control valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the gas flow control valve comprises a valve body central axis, wherein the exit port comprises an exit port central axis, and wherein the exit port central axis is angled between 20 and 85 degrees relative to the valve body central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 2 , wherein the gas flow control valve comprises a valve body central axis, wherein the exit port comprises an exit port central axis, and wherein the exit port central axis is angled between 40 and 50 degrees relative to the valve body central axis. 
     
     
         4 . A method of replacing a gas flow control valve, the method comprising:
 unthreading a gate valve from a threaded portion of a landfill well head;   removing the gate valve from the landfill well head;   positioning a replacement flow control valve in position to be threaded onto the threaded portion of the landfill well head, the replacement flow control valve comprising:
 a union configured for threaded engagement with the threaded portion of the landfill well head; 
 a valve body coupled to the union, the valve body having a central bore and an exit port angled between 20 and 85 degrees relative to the valve body central bore; 
 a threaded member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the threaded member affixed to a distal portion of the valve body; and 
 a rotating assembly configured to rotate about a valve body central axis of the valve body and to translate along the valve body central axis, wherein a proximal portion of the rotating assembly comprises measurement indicia configured to indicate longitudinal position of the rotating assembly relative to the threaded member and a distal portion of the rotating assembly comprises a tapered valve needle positioned such that the valve needle increases in diameter in the direction of gas flow; 
   threading the union of the flow control valve onto the threaded portion of the landfill well head.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the valve needle further comprises a shoulder protruding outwards from a center of the valve needle, wherein the shoulder is configured to seal with a valve seat of the valve body when the replacement flow control valve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shoulder comprises a proximal face, wherein the proximal face comprises a sealing recess configured to accept a sealing member configured to seal against the valve seat.