Pressure relief device integrity sensor
First Claim
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1. A pressure relief device integrity sensor, comprising:
- a sensor element configured to sense a condition of a pre-activation reactive region of a rupturable pressure relief device configured to activate by rupturing in response to a predetermined pressure, the sensor element configured to transmit a signal indicative of a normal condition;
wherein the sensor element comprises a conductive element exhibiting a first resistance;
wherein the conductive element is configured to deform in response to a compromise in the integrity of the pre-activation reactive region, and wherein the deformation of the conductive element causes the conductive element to exhibit a second resistance; and
wherein a change in or interruption of the signal indicates a compromise in the integrity of the pre-activation reactive region before activation of the pressure relief device.
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Abstract
A sensor for sensing the integrity of a pressure relief device, along with associated systems and methods, are disclosed. The sensor may sense a designed area of weakness of a pressure relief device, such as an explosion vent or rupture disk. A monitor may monitor a signal from the sensor, which may be transmitted between the sensor and monitor by way of a sensor loop. In response to a change in the designed area of weakness, the signal from the sensor may be altered or interrupted, indicating that the designed area of weakness has changed. The signal from the sensor may be, for example, an electrical signal, optical signal, or an air flow in a pneumatic loop.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A pressure relief device integrity sensor, comprising:
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a sensor element configured to sense a condition of a pre-activation reactive region of a rupturable pressure relief device configured to activate by rupturing in response to a predetermined pressure, the sensor element configured to transmit a signal indicative of a normal condition; wherein the sensor element comprises a conductive element exhibiting a first resistance; wherein the conductive element is configured to deform in response to a compromise in the integrity of the pre-activation reactive region, and wherein the deformation of the conductive element causes the conductive element to exhibit a second resistance; and wherein a change in or interruption of the signal indicates a compromise in the integrity of the pre-activation reactive region before activation of the pressure relief device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A pressure relief device integrity sensor, comprising:
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a normally closed circuit configured to transmit a signal; wherein the normally closed circuit comprises a conductive element having a first resistance, wherein the conductive element is configured to deform in response to a non-activating change in at least one pre-activation reactive region of an explodable pressure relief device, and wherein the deformation of the conductive element causes the conductive element to exhibit a second resistance; and wherein a change in or interruption of the signal indicates that the pre-activation reactive region has been compromised. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for sensing the integrity of a pressure relief device, comprising:
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a non-reversible pressure relief device having one or more pre-activation reactive regions; and at least one sensor element configured to transmit a signal indicating a condition of at least one of the one or more pre-activation reactive regions before the pressure relief device activates, wherein the sensor element comprises a conductive element exhibiting a first resistance; wherein the conductive element is configured to deform when the integrity of the pre-activation reactive region is compromised before activation of the pressure relief device, wherein the deformation of the conductive element causes the conductive element to exhibit a second resistance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of monitoring a non-reclosable pressure relief device, comprising:
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sensing a condition of a pre-activation reactive region of the pressure relief device; transmitting a signal indicative of a condition of the pressure relief device, wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal having a voltage and a current; and changing or interrupting at least one of the voltage and current of the electrical signal to indicate a non-activating deformation of the pre-activation reactive region. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A pressure relief apparatus for a pressurized system comprising:
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a pressure relief device comprising an activating portion configured to relieve pressure by bursting or rupturing when pressure in the pressurized system exceeds a threshold, wherein the activating portion comprises a designed area of weakness and a pre-activation reactive region; and an integrity sensor configured to sense that the pressure relief device has weakened before activation, the sensor comprising a conductive element exhibiting a first resistance, wherein the conductive element is configured to deform and exhibit a second resistance when the pressure relief device has weakened before activation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of monitoring the integrity of a non-reclosing pressure relief device having a pre-activation reactive region, wherein the pressure relief device is installed with a pressurized system, comprising:
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sensing a strain at the pre-activation reactive region, wherein sensing a strain comprises deforming a conductive element to change the resistance of the conductive element; and generating a signal when the strain indicates that the pressure relief device has been deformed without activating. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of monitoring the integrity of a rupturable pressure relief device configured to activate by rupturing in response to an overpressure, comprising:
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applying a pressure to the rupturable pressure relief device; measuring a strain of at least one region of the rupturable pressure relief device; identifying a pre-activation reactive region based on the strain measured at the at least one region of the rupturable pressure relief device; and monitoring a deformation of the pre-activation reactive region before activation of the pressure relief device; wherein monitoring a deformation of the pre-activation reactive region before activation of the pressure relief device comprises deforming a conductive element in response to the deformation, wherein deforming the conductive element causes a change in the resistance of the conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification