CONFIGURATION, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING GAS-FILLED CONTAINERS

• US 20160305862A1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: BRAND, BASTIAAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,670,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/266 for determining gas density
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A configuration for monitoring gas-filled containers includes at least one measuring device for measuring at least one parameter of the gas in the container, a communication device which is suitable for transmitting information about the gas to an evaluation device, and an energy supply device which is suitable for acquiring electrical energy from the surrounding electromagnetic radiation. In addition, a system having the configuration and a corresponding method are provided.

Claims

1. A configuration for monitoring gas-filled containers, the configuration comprising:

at least one measuring device for measuring at least one parameter of a gas in a container;

an evaluation device;

a communication device configured to transmit information about the gas to said evaluation device; and

an energy supply device configured to acquire electrical energy from surrounding electromagnetic radiation.

2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said at least one measuring device includes a gas pressure measuring device.

3. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said at least one measuring device includes a temperature measuring device.

4. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said communication device is configured to establish a radio link to said evaluation device.

5. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said energy supply device is configured to use electromagnetic radiation in at least one of the radio frequency band or the frequency band for TV signals or the frequency band for mobile radio for the acquisition of energy.

6. The configuration according to claim 5, wherein said energy supply device is configured to use light and solar cells for the acquisition of energy.

7. The configuration according to claim 1, which further comprises an energy accumulator for buffering electrical energy generated by said energy supply device.

8. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said at least one measuring device measures gas pressure and temperature parameters, and said evaluation device is configured to calculate a density of the gas from the measured parameters of the gas pressure and temperature.

9. The configuration according to claim 1, which further comprises a connecting apparatus configured to connect to a container, said at least one measuring device being associated with said connecting apparatus.

10. A system for monitoring gas-filled containers, the system comprising:

a configuration according to claim 1; and

a gas-filled container.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said container is an electrical installation being filled with a protective gas.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said protective gas includes sulfur hexafluoride.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said configuration is configured for retrofitting a container to its existing gas filling apparatus.

14. A method for monitoring gas-filled containers, the method comprising the following steps:

acquiring electrical energy from electromagnetic radiation surrounding a gas-filled container for supplying energy to at least one measuring device and one communication device;

using the at least one measuring device to measure at least one parameter of the gas in the container; and

using the communication device to transmit information about the gas to an evaluation device.

15. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises:

using the at least one measuring device to measure pressure and temperature parameters of the gas; and

calculating a density of the gas from the measured parameters.