Meter calibration accuracy
First Claim
1. A method of estimating the measuring accuracy of each of a plurality of dispensing meters which dispense fluid from a fluid dispensing system including a storage tank, comprising:
- measuring a volume of fluid dispensed through each of the plurality of dispensing meters during a plurality of time intervals during which fluid is simultaneously dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters;
measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during each of the plurality of time intervals; and
calculating a fraction of the volume of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters by performing a regression analysis with respect to the measured volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank equated with a fraction of a sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters during each of the plurality of time intervals, the fraction of the sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters being the sum of the fractions of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters on average over the plurality of time intervals.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of estimating the measuring accuracy of each of a plurality of dispensing meters which dispense fluid from a fluid dispensing system including a storage tank includes measuring a volume of fluid dispensed through each of the plurality of dispensing meters during a plurality of time intervals during which fluid is simultaneously dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters; measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during each of the plurality of time intervals; and calculating a fraction of the volume of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters by performing a regression analysis with respect to the measured volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank equated with a fraction of a sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters during each of the plurality of time intervals. The fraction of the sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters equals the sum of the fractions of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters on average over the plurality of time intervals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of estimating the measuring accuracy of each of a plurality of dispensing meters which dispense fluid from a fluid dispensing system including a storage tank, comprising:
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measuring a volume of fluid dispensed through each of the plurality of dispensing meters during a plurality of time intervals during which fluid is simultaneously dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters;
measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during each of the plurality of time intervals; and
calculating a fraction of the volume of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters by performing a regression analysis with respect to the measured volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank equated with a fraction of a sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters during each of the plurality of time intervals, the fraction of the sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters being the sum of the fractions of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters on average over the plurality of time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for estimating measuring accuracy for a fluid dispensing system including a storage tank, comprising:
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a plurality of dispensing meters which dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system and which measure a volume of fluid dispensed through each of the plurality of dispensing meters during a plurality of time intervals during which fluid is simultaneously dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters;
a gauge for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during each of the plurality of time intervals; and
a processor for collecting data indicative of the volumes of fluid measured by the plurality of dispensing meters and the gauge and for calculating a fraction of the volume of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters by performing a regression analysis with respect to the measured volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank equated with a fraction of a sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters during each of the plurality of time intervals, the fraction of the sum of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through the plurality of dispensing meters being the sum of the fractions of the measured volumes of fluid dispensed through each of the dispensing meters on average over the plurality of time intervals.
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8. A method of determining a rate of leakage for fluid leaking from a fluid dispensing system, which includes either one or a plurality of dispensing meters for dispensing fluid and a storage tank, the method comprising:
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measuring a volume of fluid dispensed through the dispensing meter during a plurality of time intervals each having an elapsed time;
measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during the elapsed time of each of the plurality of time intervals; and
calculating a rate of leakage for fluid leaking from the fluid dispensing system by performing a regression analysis with respect to the measured volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank equated with a fraction of a sum of the measured volume of fluid dispensed through the dispensing meter and the elapsed time during each of the plurality of time intervals, the fraction of the sum of the measured volume of fluid dispensed through the dispensing meter and the elapsed time being the sum of a fraction of the measured volume of fluid dispensed through the dispensing meter and the rate of leakage multiplied by the elapsed time on average over the plurality of time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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16. A method of obtaining inventory information for a fluid storage system including a metering device for measuring a quantity of fluid dispensed by the metering device and a storage tank having a gauge for measuring a volume of fluid in the storage tank, the method comprising:
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collecting a plurality measurement data from the metering device and the gauge over a plurality of time intervals;
transmitting the plurality of measurement data over a network to a location remote from the fluid storage system;
storing the plurality of measurement data at the remote location;
performing a statistical analysis of the stored plurality of measurement data to obtain inventory information for the fluid storage system.
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Specification