Fluid Monitoring Apparatus and Method

• US 20090126483A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walker Engineering Incorporated (Comfort Systems USA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walker Engineering Incorporated (Comfort Systems USA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ryan, Robert M., Blendinger, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/304.C
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/246 thermal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/284 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/292 Light , e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2962 Measuring transit time of reflected waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/683 using electromechanically actuated indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/76 characterised by the construction of the float
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/10 in cable chambers, e.g. in manhole or in handhole

Abstract

A fluid monitoring apparatus and method is disclosed for use in an underground utility vault. Specifically, a system utilizing multiple sensors to determine the total amount and type of fluid present in a utility vault is disclosed. A first sensor located above the fluid detects and determines the overall depth of fluid present. A second sensor, relying on specific properties of the fluid(s) present, is located in contact with the fluids present. The information regarding specific fluid level and type is conveyed to a central location for monitoring.

Claims

1. ) An apparatus comprising:

a first sensor for detecting a total volume of fluid;

a second sensor to determine the volume presence of a first fluid or a second fluid, wherein a property of the first fluid is different from a property of the second fluid; and

wherein,

the first and second fluids make up at least a portion of the total volume of fluid.

2. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first sensor is located above the total fluid and the second sensor contacts either the first fluid, the second fluid, or the total fluid.

3. ) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first sensor is sonar.

4. ) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor, a transmitter, and a power source.

5. ) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising at least a additional sensor.

6. ) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the additional sensor is selected from the group consisting of an ambient temperature sensor, a conduit temperature sensor, a stray voltage sensor, or a cathodic voltage sensor.

7. ) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the property of the fluid is a dielectric constant of the fluid.

8. ) A sensor for determining a property of a fluid comprising:

a housing unit and a detector circuit, wherein

the detector circuit comprises a series of parallel plates in contact with a fluid;

a oscillator connected to the series of parallel plates,

wherein the oscillator'"'"'s output is conveyed to a processor and the output is directly related to a specific property of the fluid in contact with the series of parallel plates.

9. ) The sensor of claim 8 wherein the series of parallel plates are metallic.

10. ) The sensor of claim 8 wherein the specific property is the dielectric constant.

11. ) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detector circuit comprises a series of capacitors in contact with the fluid, and a series of oscillators connected to the series of capacitors, and wherein the oscillators output a signal to a processor wherein said output signal is directly related to the dielectric constant of the fluid in contact with the series of capacitors.

12. ) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the series of capacitors and the series of oscillators create a a-stable multi-vibrator.

13. ) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detector circuit comprises a series of capacitors in contact with the fluid, and a series of pulse generators connected to the series of capacitors, and wherein the pulse generators output a signal to a processor wherein said output signal is directly related to the dielectric constant of the fluid in contact with the series of capacitors.

14. ) A method for detecting the amount and type of fluid in an enclosed space comprising the steps of:

measuring the depth of a plurality of fluids;

measuring a dielectric constant of the plurality of fluids;

processing the dielectric constant data of the plurality of fluids;

determining if there is more then one fluid present.

15. ) The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of

transmitting the depth of the plurality of fluids and the dielectric constant data to a central location.

16. ) The method of claim 14 where the measuring the depth of the plurality of fluids further comprises using a sonar.

17. ) The method of claim 16 where the sonar device is mounted above the plurality of liquids to be measured.

18. ) The method of claim 14, where the dielectric constant measurement of the plurality of fluids utilizes a a-stable multi-vibrator in contact with the fluid.

19. ) The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

measuring at least an additional parameter of the enclosure and

transmitting that information along with the depth and dielectric data.

20. ) An utility vault fluid monitoring system comprising:

a first sensor for determining the presence of a fluid within a enclosure and a second sensor for determining a property of the fluid;

wherein the first sensor is housed in a first unit located above the fluid and a second senor is housed in a second unit in contact with the fluid.

21. ) The utility vault monitoring system of claim 20 wherein, the first unit houses a fluid sensor, a power source, a transmitter, a processor, and at least one sensor.

22. ) The utility vault monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the first sensor is a sonar system.

23. ) The utility vault monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the first sensor measures the total depth of the fluid.

24. ) The utility vault monitoring system of claim 23, wherein the fluid contains at least a first fluid and a second fluid;

and

wherein the first fluid and the second fluid have different dielectric constants and different specific gravities.

25. ) The manhole monitoring system of claim 20 wherein the second sensor detects the depth of either the first fluid or the second fluid.