Electronic Vibrating Plumb Bob for Fluid Composition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tank gauging methods fail to accurately measure and differentiate between water and entrained water in petroleum storage tanks, which is crucial for ensuring the saleability of petroleum products, as they often rely on passive plumb bobs that do not provide real-time feedback on fluid composition.
Innovation Solution
An electronic vibrating plumb bob, known as 'BuzzBob', equipped with an Infrared LED light emitter and receiver, an inclinometer, and a gyroscope, which provides haptic feedback through vibrations to differentiate between water, oil, and emulsions, ensuring accurate measurement and detection of fluid levels and composition, including detecting entrained water beyond acceptable limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a passive plumb bob is used for tank gauging, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is maintained, but the measurement precision and ability to detect fluid composition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical plumb bob with an electronic system that uses infrared LEDs for fluid detection. The infrared emitter and receiver detect fluid composition by measuring light absorption characteristics, substituting mechanical detection with optical sensing to achieve precise fluid composition analysis without relying on traditional mechanical methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared LED emitter and receiver as intermediary components between the plumb bob and the fluid being measured. These intermediaries enable non-contact detection of fluid composition by emitting infrared light through the fluid and measuring the absorbed light, providing accurate measurement without direct mechanical interaction
2Loss of information
If conventional tank gauging methods are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the loss of information regarding entrained water detection occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the infrared receiver detect light transmission through the fluid and provide real-time information about fluid composition to the operator. This feedback mechanism enables continuous monitoring of entrained water levels, allowing operators to make informed decisions about petroleum product quality and tank management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical gauging methods with an electronic optical detection system using infrared LEDs. This substitution enables detection of fluid composition properties that are invisible to traditional mechanical methods, particularly the ability to distinguish between free water and entrained water based on their different optical absorption characteristics
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
The 'BuzzBob' enables precise measurement and analysis of fluid levels and composition, providing operators with real-time feedback on fluid content, system status, and battery power, ensuring that petroleum products meet saleability standards by accurately detecting water and entrained water levels.
Implementation Method 1
The vibrating plumb bob of the present disclosure has an Infrared LED light emitter and an Infrared LED light receiver which are aligned in registration and operated to detect the presence of and measure the mixture of fluids either organic or inorganic
Implementation Method 2
Both an inclinometer and a gyroscope are included for feedback of plumb bob body position or orientation
Implementation Method 3
The inclinometer is preferably a mechanical or liquid switch for detecting the orientation of the plumb bob, which once activated will power on the vibrating plumb bob
Implementation Method 4
The vibration or haptic feedback mechanism is electronically controlled and varies in frequencies or pulses to also notify the operator of fluid content in contact with the nose, system status, fluid content, calibration, condition of battery, and power on-off status etc
Data Source
AI summary
A plumb bob for detecting differing fluids in tanks and vessels includes a tubular housing having enclosed ends. An LED infrared transmitter disposed in the tubular housing transmits infrared signals through fluids in which the plum bob is immersed to a LED infrared receiver. Circuitry disposed within the housing provides power to the LEDs and operates an LED driver to determine fluid parameters for the types of fluids in which the plumb bob is immersed. One or more vibration signal generators emits different vibrations according to the types of fluids detected. The vibration signal generators transmit the vibrations from the housing through a gauge tape line to a gauge tape reel held by an operator, who can determine the fluid types by the vibrations.