4369results about "Measurement of fluid loss/gain rate" patented technology

Disclosed is a method for detecting a leak in a closed loop heat transfer system comprising monitoring the pressure of the heat transfer composition inside said heat transfer system, wherein a drop in pressure indicates a leak. Also disclosed is a heat transfer system comprising an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expander and a device for measuring internal system pressure. The system pressure measuring device is disposed inside the closed loop heat system. The internal system pressure measuring means may be located either between the evaporator and the condenser, between the expander and the evaporator, between the compressor and the condenser, or between the condenser and the expander.

A wireless sensor system is installed inside pipelines using sensors and wireless transceivers that are small, low-cost, and rugged. The objective is monitoring the pipeline and recommending maintenance and repair at specific locations in the pipeline. Maintenance includes detection of leaks and prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of internal corrosion or other damage, such as third party mechanical damage, using multitude of sensors. After establishing the wireless sensor network the network is activated so the sensor can make measurements periodically or continuously using instructions transmitted via the base station. The sensor data from the various sensors are transmitted inside the pipe and extracted to access points in the pipeline to a remote computer that stores the data within the computer memory. The sensed information can be used for monitoring as well as analysis using a recommendation engine to provide maintenance and repair alerts.

Methods of and systems for performing leak checks of gas-phase reactor systems are disclosed. Exemplary systems include a first exhaust system coupled to a reaction chamber via a first exhaust line, a bypass line coupled to a gas supply unit and to the first exhaust system, a gas detector coupled to the bypass line via a connecting line, a connecting line valve coupled to the connecting line, and a second exhaust system coupled to the connecting line. Methods include using the second exhaust system to exhaust the connecting line to thereby remove residual gas in the connecting line that may otherwise affect the accuracy of the gas detector.

One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Extracorporeal blood treatment systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be catastrophic. There are a number of mechanisms for detecting and preventing leaks and/or air infiltration, but none is perfect. According to the present invention, multiple inputs are combined to provide greater security against leakage and/or air infiltration by providing sensors for external presence of liquid (plasma, replacement fluid, blood, etc.) outside a fluid circuit and infiltration of air or bubbles into the fluid circuit.

A system for monitoring and controlling one or more utility systems includes a utility system main supply line for supplying a utility to at least one of a structure, an area and a building and a controlled shut-off device on the utility system main supply line. The controlled shut-off device is bias toward an open position and is movable toward a closed position upon receipt of an actuation signal wherein the utility is prevented from passing by the controlled shut-off device. A main utility sensor is on the utility system main supply line and a motion sensor that detects occupancy is in the building. A processor communicates with the controlled shut-off device, the main utility sensor and the motion sensor. The processor sends the actuation signal to the controlled shut-off device to move the controlled shut-off device toward the closed position when input from the main utility sensor and the motion sensor indicates occurrence of an abnormal event.

A system including a sensing device including a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure of water in a water system of a structure. The sensing device can be configured to generate pressure measurement data representing the pressure of the water as measured by the pressure sensor. The system also can include one or more processing units including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory storage media storing machine executable instructions configured when run on the one or more processors to perform detecting a non-cyclical pressure event corresponding to a water leak in the water system of the structure during a first time period based on an analysis of information including the pressure measurement data. The information analyzed in the analysis does not include any flow measurement data that represents a total amount of flow of the water in the water system of the structure during the first time period. The pressure sensor can be coupled to the water system of the structure at a single location of the water system of the structure when measuring the pressure of the water in the water system of the structure. Other embodiments are provided.

A line, especially for delivery of liquefied gas at ambient temperature, has two solenoid valves connected in series with an intermediate section of the line between them. In normal operation when both valves are closed, the isolated intermediate section contains liquid which absorbs heat from the atmosphere and/or from a heater, and the resulting increase in pressure is detected by a pressure sensor. If either valve fails to close fully to shut off flow, the intermediate section is not then isolated, so the absence of a signal from the sensor (the valves being set to close fully) indicates that at least one of them has not properly closed, and an alarm is given.

The present invention provides systems and methods that identify a flow anomaly to an operator or other person by: executing a first device of a plurality of water using devices; receiving flow data on a quantity of water used by the first device during a time period required to generate a first water use signature from the first device; comparing a future water use pattern against the first water use signature to identify a flow anomaly with the first device; and providing information regarding the flow anomaly to the person. Identifying anomalies can be useful in numerous ways, including discovering problems that need fixing, reducing waste, and even calculating appropriate irrigation application rates.

The use of ultrasonic transducers installed in utility meters is provided for the detection of fluid leaks in a conduit. Such transducers are normally used to transmit acoustic waves in order to measure the velocity of fluid flow, but it is disclosed that such transducers are also capable of detecting leak noises in addition to such transmitted acoustic waves.

A surveillance device monitors the integrity of a fluid connection between first and second fluid containing systems based on at least one time-dependent measurement signal from a pressure sensor in the first fluid containing system. The first fluid containing system comprises a first pulse generator, and the second fluid containing system comprises a second pulse generator. The pressure sensor is arranged to detect first pulses originating from the first pulse generator and second pulses originating from the second pulse generator. The integrity of the fluid connection is determined based on the presence of second pulses in the measurement signal. The second pulses may be detected by analysing the measurement signal in the time domain and/or by using timing information indicative of the timing of the second pulses in said at least one measurement signal. The analysis may be based on a parameter value that represents a distribution of signal values within a time window of the measurement signal. The parameter value may be calculated as a statistical dispersion measure of the signal values, or may result from a matching of the signal values within the time window to a predicted temporal signal profile of a second pulse. The fluid connection may be established between a human blood system and an extracorporeal blood flow circuit.

Air leaks in a vacuum bag are detected using a leak detection film covering the inside face of the bag. The film includes a gas permeable binder carrying oxygen sensitive material that changes in physical appearance at the location of an air leak. The film may be adhered to the inside face of the bag or may form a separate membrane that is placed over a layup being molded in the bag. The film may be illuminated with light having a wavelength selected to cause the film to luminesce.

A leak tester which detects leakage of a gas from a measured object, the leak tester including a source of a pressurized gas which supplies the pressurized gas, a differential pressure detecting section which detects a pressure difference between the pressure of a gas in the measured object and the pressure of a pressurized gas supplied by the source of the pressurized gas, and a pressure adjusting section which makes the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied by the source of the pressurized gas constant.

A leak detector for detecting and locating leaks in a water supply pipe of plastics, the leak detector comprising a first sensor at a first position arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along a pipe, a second sensor arranged to detect a leak signal travelling along the pipe at a second position spaced from the first position, and a processing device adapted to receive the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor. The processing device may be adapted to determine the velocity of the signals from characteristics of the leak signals. The processing device is adapted to use the velocity and distance between the first sensor and the second sensor to determine the location of a leak. The characteristics may be the relationship between the phase and frequency of the leak signals.

Water leak detection and prevention systems and methods in which water is only delivered to the water pipes in the building when a faucet or appliance demands water and water is delivered through a normally closed shut off water valve. During the period that the main water is shut off, the water pressure in the water pipes is continuously monitored to detect a water leak in the building. Detection of a leak causes an alarm to be sounded and a continued closure of the shut off valve.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling water consumption in a water-based system are disclosed using one or more sensors for generating signals indicative of the operation thereof. One or more interface modules are provided as breaker circuits for receiving the generated signals, and a fluid control device is operable for limiting the water consumption. A motherboard receives the interface modules and provides communication therebetween for information processing. Signals from the various sensors are supplied to a controller, which provides signals to status indicators, and also operates to provide alarm signals via network interfaces to remote locations and to operate an alarm. In an alternate embodiment, a water monitoring system is designed to shut off the water supply to the water device and to shut off either the electrical supply or the gas supply to the heating unit of the water device in response to sensing a malfunction through one or more of a number of different sensed parameters. These parameters include a water leak detector located beneath the water device, a water level float sensor, a temperature sensor to sense excess temperature, and a pressure sensor located in line.

An air conditioner and method of detecting a refrigerant leakage in the air conditioner in which the entire refrigerant pipe of the air conditioner is sectioned based on expansion valves into a plurality of sections, the sections are checked one by one to quickly detect a refrigerant leakage from the sections and an exact position of a broken or loosened area of the refrigerant pipe causing such a refrigerant leakage is found. In the method of detecting a refrigerant leakage in the air conditioner, comprising a compressor, an expansion valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger connected to one another by a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant pipe is sectioned into a high pressure section extending from the outlet port of the compressor to the inlet port of the expansion valve, and a low pressure section extending from the outlet port of the expansion valve to the inlet port of the compressor. A pressure sensor is provided on the refrigerant pipe within the low pressure section. A control unit detects a refrigerant leakage in the low pressure section by comparing a variation in refrigerant pressure sensed by the pressure sensor with a preset variation in the refrigerant pressure in accordance with a normal operation without the refrigerant pipe having a refrigerant leakage, during a refrigerant leakage detection mode.

The invention relates generally to a system and method for testing fuel evaporative systems, and more particularly to a stand-alone tank tester system (and method) for testing vehicle fuel tank integrity. Furthermore, a self-contained calibration tank with switchable leak sizes for calibrating the tank tester to multiple leak sizes is provided. Constant flow and vacuum methods for testing fuel tank integrity are also provided.

A real time method and dynamic logic-based system for enhancing the operation of a pipeline network is disclosed. The system and method perform monitoring of the operation of a pipeline network, generate alarms in response to differing levels of destabilized pipeline operations, manage the generation of alarms based upon known operating events and operating conditions, diagnose potential source of the detected destabilized events and manage the operation of the pipeline.

Fluid leaks can be detected and controlled in a pressurized piping system. Apparatus for this includes control logic; in communication with the logic, a flow detector and/or a pressure detector, and a control valve. One or more of the following is or are provided also: the flow and pressure detectors are both present, and both as single units; the control logic, the flow and/or pressure detector(s) and the control valve are in close proximity to one another; and the control valve has a baseline condition of being shut off. A remote control device can remotely interact with the control logic. Pressure decay and/or flow properties can be employed. The fluid can be water as, for example, in a residential, commercial or institutional system.

Output-only modal testing of an object. Vibrations are excited in said object and measured by a number of vibration sensitive detectors. From the data of the measurements, a spectral density matrix function is determined. From this density matrix, auto spectral densities for the individual modes are identified performing a decomposition based on the Singular Value Decomposition technique. From the auto spectral densities of the individual modes, natural frequencies and damping ratios for the modes can be estimated, and from the singular vectors of the Singular Value Decomposition, the modes shapes can be estimated.

A rotating control drilling device includes an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element positioned around a drillstring and forming a chamber therebetween and a leak detection device. The leak detection device includes a piston in communication with the chamber, a magnet disc disposed on an end of the piston, and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a magnetic sensing ring around the rotating control drilling device. Upon reaching a selected critical pressure in the chamber, a spring is configured to compress as the magnet disc is positioned proximate to the plurality of magnetic sensors. Furthermore, a method to detect leaks in a rotating control device includes positioning a leak detection device in communication with a chamber located between upper and lower sealing elements and signaling with the leak detection device when a pressure of the chamber exceeds a selected critical pressure.

A method of tank leak diagnosis in a tank ventilation device including a fuel tank which is connected at least indirectly through a storage and tank ventilation valve with a suction pipe of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, with the storage having an aeration conduit with a check valve, includes performing a tank leak diagnosis by a negative pressure after turning off of the internal combustion engine; and producing the negative pressure in the fuel tank immediately before the turning off of the internal combustion engine.

A method of detecting the location of a failure (e.g., a sudden leak) in a fluid pipeline network, which can be suitably used for estimation of the location of a failure in a water pipeline network, includes the steps of periodically measuring a flow rate or fluid pressure with sensors arranged at a plurality of measuring points along a pipeline in a water pipeline network; comparing a latest measured amount and a previous measured amount at each measuring point to determine if an amount of change at an arbitrary point has exceeded a predetermined value; and calculating a position at which an amount of change becomes maximum, the position being calculated from the magnitudes of the amounts of changes in respective measured values at the time of the detection. The pipeline network may be a water supply and distribution pipeline network which includes a trunk pipeline and branch pipelines.

A fluid identification device of long life for identification of a target fluid. The device uses at least two liquid type detection parts each of which is equipped with both of a temperature detector and a heating element, selects electrical conduction to any one of the heating elements, and identifies the target fluid based on a fluid temperature detection signal of the temperature detector in the fluid detection part not including the heating element whose electrical conduction has been selected and an output of the fluid type detection circuit.

When an underground pipe carrying a fluid, such as a buried water-pipe, develops a leak the leak must first be located before it can be repaired. One common location method makes use of the fact that the leaking fluid often creates a noise, typically a hissing sound, which is transmitted through the ground, and although rapidly attenuated can be heard with suitable highly sensitive ground microphones and is therefore useful to field crews as a means of locating leaks. Unfortunately, the sound levels can be grossly distorted by underground heterogenities, and can easily be confused or even swamped by other sound sources above ground, and in general ground microphones used like this do not seem to be effective. The invention deals with the problems entailed in this technique by a method-and apparatus -which involves using semi-automated equipment to listen (either simultaneously or sequentially) to the leak sound source (1) from a multiplicity of different positions (as 3) spaced all around the sound source, and by then suitably combining and processing the received signals to provide the desired indication of the source's location.

A fluid leak detection system is provided, and includes a fluid conduit, a fluid-cooled device having an inlet and an outlet, an inlet flow meter, an outlet flow meter, and a controller. The inlet flow meter is fluidly connected to the fluid conduit. The inlet flow meter monitors the inlet of the fluid-cooled device for an inlet temperature and an inlet flow rate. The inlet flow meter has an inlet flow meter drift versus process fluid temperature curve. The outlet flow meter is fluidly connected to the fluid conduit. The outlet flow meter monitors the outlet of the fluid-cooled device for an outlet temperature and an outlet flow rate. The outlet flow meter has an outlet flow meter drift versus process fluid temperature curve. The controller is in communication with the inlet flow meter and the outlet flow meter.

A leak detection system capable of automatically detecting a leak in a pressurized piping system. A pressure decay test is utilized to test for leaks in the piping system. Disruption to users of the piping system is reduced by only performing the pressure decay test when there is no user demand on the piping system. Thus, a leakage test is performed by first determining whether there is user demand on the piping system and proceeding with a pressure decay test only if there is no user demand present. If user demand is initiated during the performance of a pressure decay test, the system detects the user demand and halts the pressure decay test until the user demand stops.

A pressure sensor senses a pressure of a fuel vapor system at a fuel vapor passage. An electronic control unit executes a post-depressurization period flow diagnosis to determine whether the fuel vapor passage is clogged based on a behavior of the pressure in the fuel vapor system, which is sensed with the pressure sensor in a sealed state of the fuel vapor system after introduction of a negative pressure into the fuel vapor system.

The invention generally relates to a system and method for integrated gas delivery and leak detection to one or more applications. The system includes at least one application site, a process conduit extending from a process gas source site to the application site, a first and second process flow control at the process conduit, and a first pressure sensor.

Also included in the system is a microprocessor that is in electronic communication with the flow controls and the first pressure sensor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to respond to an application standby request by performing a pressure decay test, including closing the second process flow control and pressurizing a portion of the system by opening the first process flow control. Further included in the pressure test is closing the first process flow control when the pressure at the first pressure sensor is at a minimum pressure, and comparing an empirical pressure decay rate at the first pressure sensor with a maximum pressure decay rate, whereby an empirical pressure decay rate that exceeds the maximum pressure decay rate indicates the presence of a leak.

A flow sensor having an inlet and an outlet comprising: a plate moving in response to fluid flow therethrough, being displaced further as flow increases; a sensor for determining moving plate's position and creating an electronic signal related thereto; a biasing means for biasing the plate towards the sensor's inlet end. The sensor may include a sealing means for preventing flow therethrough until a specified differential pressure is reached allowing the device to be used as a bypass mechanism. The sealing means may also constitute a check valve means to prevent flow in an undesired direction. The check means comprises: a bullet rod adapted to be received within an orifice defined in a moving plate, such that the bullet rod prevents flow through the orifice until the moving plate is displaced past a terminal end of the bullet rod; and a plate means sealingly and slidingly received within a cylinder, which is closed for a portion of its length and open for another portion of its length, such that flow is prevented until the plate is displaced past the closed portion of the cylinder. The method using the sensor in multipurpose piping systems includes use of the apparatus in a system incorporating at least one fire sprinkler, the piping system also preferably providing at least one other use in the structure. The other use in the structure may be supplying domestic needs, or supplying heating/cooling water for a heating/air conditioning system.