Valve State Detection Using Acoustic Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance personnel face difficulties in recognizing wear and tear on valves through acoustic perception due to the increasing variety of valve types, making it challenging to determine their functional status without direct intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method involving audio signal processing to determine the state of a valve by receiving and analyzing acoustic recordings of its opening and closing processes, using bandpass-filtered signals, envelopes, and characteristic parameters, allowing for non-invasive and cost-effective status determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If maintenance personnel use acoustic perception to check valve status, then defects can be easily identified, but wear and tear on valves becomes difficult to recognize due to the growing variety of valve types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human acoustic perception with an automated audio analysis system that uses signal processing algorithms to evaluate valve states. The system captures acoustic signals during valve operation, processes them through bandpass filters and envelope detection, and automatically determines valve status, eliminating the need for personnel to manually adapt to different valve types while maintaining defect identification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the analysis parameters dynamically based on valve type characteristics. By adjusting bandpass filter frequencies and analysis configurations according to the specific valve being examined, the system maintains high measurement precision across diverse valve types without requiring personnel expertise for each variant
2Measurement precision
If direct intervention or dismantling of the valve is performed to determine its status, then accurate assessment of valve condition is achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes physical inspection and dismantling operations with non-invasive acoustic signal analysis. The system captures sound waves generated during normal valve operation and uses signal processing to assess valve condition, eliminating the need for direct intervention while maintaining assessment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary medium to assess valve status. Instead of directly examining the valve internals, the system uses sound waves generated during operation as a mediator to indirectly but accurately determine valve condition, simplifying the inspection process
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive audio signal processing is performed to determine valve state, then accurate state determination is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal processing into distinct stages: bandpass filtering to isolate relevant frequency ranges, envelope detection to extract amplitude modulations, and characteristic parameter extraction to identify valve state indicators. This segmentation allows parallel processing and optimizes computational efficiency while maintaining determination accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple and efficient determination of valve status, facilitating predictive maintenance and identifying error patterns, including those previously unknown, while adapting analysis configurations to different valve types.
Implementation Method 1
receiving or determining at least one audio signal which includes an acoustic audio recording of an opening and/or closing process of a valve
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided comprising: receiving or determining (102) at least one sound signal (T) comprising an acoustic recording of an opening and/or closing operation of a valve; determining (110, 120) a plurality of distinct representations (R1, R2) of at least part of the information provided with the sound signal (T); and determining (140) a state (Z) from a plurality of states of the valve depending on the plurality of representations (R1, R2).