Method of reducing energy waste by monitoring steam traps

• US 20040024544A1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael L., Sospenzi, Frank W., Hughes, Thomas S., Guebert, Rodger A.
• Application Number:
  US10/209,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/33
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/48 Monitoring arrangements for inspecting, e.g. flow of steam and steam condensate

Abstract

A method of monitoring steam traps to identify which steam traps are malfunctioning is described and claimed. The method involves surveying the building to locate all the steam traps, identifying where to place the sensors to monitor the steam traps of interest, placing the sensors in appropriate locations, collecting the signals from each sensor in a collection point, monitoring the collected signals to identify which steam traps are not operating as desired and taking corrective action regarding those steam traps that are not operating as desired. The method enables the operator of the industrial water system using steam traps to be able to reduce the cost of wasted energy in lost steam.

Claims

1. A method of reducing energy waste by monitoring steam traps comprising:

(1) surveying the building to locate all existing steam traps;

(2) numbering all of the existing steam traps;

(3) creating a Master Steam Trap Blueprint showing the location of all the steam traps;

(4) deciding which steam traps to monitor;

(5) performing a site survey to determine exactly where to place each sensor so that the signal from each sensor can be collected;

(6) placing sensors in appropriate locations so that the steam traps of interest may be monitored;

(7) collecting the signal from each of said sensors in a collection point;

(8) monitoring the collected signals to identify which steam traps are not operating as desired; and

(9) taking corrective action regarding those steam traps that are not operating as desired.

2. A method of reducing energy waste by remote monitoring of steam traps comprising:

(a) surveying the building to locate all existing steam traps;

(b) creating a Master Steam Trap Blueprint showing the location of all the steam traps;

(c) deciding which steam traps to monitor;

(d) performing a radio site survey to determine exactly where to place each sensors so that the signal from each sensor can be collected;

(e) placing sensors in appropriate locations so that the steam traps of interest may be monitored;

(f) collecting the signal from each of said sensors in a local computer which holds raw operating data from said sensors in an electronic format;

(g) coupling said local computer to an Internet server computer or, in the alternative, using a dedicated phone line to an Internet Service Provider to gain access to the Internet;

(h) transmitting said stored raw operating data via the world wide web using transmission methods to a remotely located Internet server computer;

(i) storing said raw operating data on said Internet server computer;

(j) manipulating said raw operating data into an analysis result; and

(k) uploading the results of said analysis result to an Internet server in a format suitable for access and visualization with a web browser program;

(l) reviewing the analysis result and taking corrective action regarding those steam traps that are not operating as desired.