APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LEAK DETECTION

• US 20040007050A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Illinois Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Stetter, Joseph R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,701,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/226 for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

A monitoring system for chemical shipments having an apparatus for detection of a leak from a shipment vessel having a shroud. A first chemical sensor is in communication with a chamber of the shroud for detecting the presence of a substance leaking from the vessel. A second sensor is in communication with the ambient environment surrounding the shroud. A monitoring circuit in communication with the first chemical sensor and the second chemical sensor monitors a first chemical sensor output and a second chemical sensor output and signals an information unit dependant on the increase of at least one of the first and second chemical sensors. The information unit emits a signal to an alarm or output device in response to an increase of the magnitude and/or rate of increase of at least one of the first chemical sensor output and the second chemical sensor output. A physical sensor can be in combination with the monitoring circuit. The information unit can be a remote information unit to which the monitoring circuit signals by wireless communication means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detection of a leak from a vessel, comprising:

a shroud attached with respect to the vessel, the shroud having a first chamber, the first chamber housing a device forming communication with a second chamber of the vessel containing a substance;

a first chemical sensor in communication with the first chamber of the shroud;

a second chemical sensor positioned in communication with an ambient environment surrounding the shroud;

a monitoring circuit in communication with the first chemical sensor and the second chemical sensor; and

an information unit in communication with the monitoring circuit, the information unit emitting a signal in response to an output signal emitted from the monitoring circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit monitors a first chemical sensor output and a second chemical sensor output, and the information unit emits a signal in response to the output signal when the output signal indicates an increase of at least one of the first chemical sensor output and the second chemical sensor output.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit determines a difference between a first rate of increase of the first chemical sensor output and a second rate of increase of the second chemical sensor output, and the information unit emits a signal that is a function of the difference between the first rate of increase and the second rate of increase.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information unit comprises at least one of a local information unit positioned in proximity to the shroud of the vessel and a remote information unit in communication with the monitoring circuit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a transmitter in communication with the monitoring circuit, the transmitter receiving the output signal from the monitoring circuit and emitting a status signal to a receiver in communication with the remote information unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the remote information unit comprises a central processing unit in communication with the receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the remote information unit emits a signal to an output device.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second status signal is at least one of a radio signal, an analog signal, a digital signal, and a wireless signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the central processing unit receives a second signal from each of at least one second transmitter in connection with at least one second vessel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information unit comprises a plurality of indicators each corresponding to a different warning level.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monitoring circuit has a power rating of less than about 100 milliwatts.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second chemical sensors have a power rating of less than about 100 milliwatts.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transmitter has a power rating of less than about 100 milliwatts.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a physical sensor in communication with the monitoring circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the physical sensor is selected from the group consisting of temperature sensors, wireless sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, video sensors, audio sensors, and positioning sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shroud is rigid.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the shroud is fixed to the vessel.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a manway attached to the vessel.

19. An apparatus for detection of a leak from a vessel, comprising:

a shroud attached with respect to the vessel, the shroud having a first chamber, the first chamber housing a device forming communication with a second chamber of the vessel containing a substance;

a chemical sensor in communication with the first chamber of a shroud;

a monitoring circuit in communication with the chemical sensor; and

an information unit in communication with the monitoring circuit.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information unit comprises at least one of a local information unit positioned in proximity to the shroud of the vessel and a remote information unit in communication with the monitoring circuit.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a transmitter in communication with the monitoring circuit, the monitoring circuit emitting an output signal to the transmitter and the transmitter emitting a status signal to a receiver in communication with the remote information unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the status signal is at least one of a radio signal, an analog signal, a digital signal, and a wireless signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the remote information unit comprises a central processing unit in communication with the receiver.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the remote information unit receives a second status signal from each of at least one second transmitter in connection with at least one second vessel.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the remote information unit emits a signal to an output device.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the information unit comprises a plurality of indicators each corresponding to a different warning level.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the monitoring circuit has a power rating of less than about 100 milliwatts.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a physical sensor in communication with the monitoring circuit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the physical sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, a video sensor, an audio sensor, and a positioning sensor.

30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shroud is fixed to the vessel.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the shroud comprises a manway movably attached with respect to the vessel.

32. A method for detecting a leak from a vessel, comprising,

exposing a first chemical sensor to a first chamber of a shroud attached with respect to the vessel, the shroud housing a device forming communication with a second chamber of the vessel containing a substance;

exposing a second chemical sensor to an ambient environment outside the shroud of the vessel;

monitoring a first chemical sensor output of the first chemical sensor with a monitoring circuit;

monitoring a second chemical sensor output of the second chemical with the monitoring circuit;

detecting at least one of a first increase of the first chemical sensor output and a second increase of the second chemical sensor output; and

signaling an information unit in communication with the monitoring circuit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining a difference between a first rate of the first increase and a second rate of the second increase;

wherein the signal is dependant on the difference between the first rate and the second rate.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the information unit comprises at least one of a local information unit positioned in proximity to the shroud of the vessel and a remote information unit in wireless communication with the monitoring circuit.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

exposing a physical sensor to one of the first chamber and the ambient environment; and

monitoring a physical sensor output of the physical sensor with the monitoring circuit.