Automatic boiler room equipment monitoring system

• US 5,053,978 A
• Filed: 05/26/1989
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solomon, Jeffrey
• Original Assignee: Solomon, Jeffrey
• Inventors: Solomon, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELNICK, STEVEN A
• Application Number:
  US07/358,255
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 364/557, 364/550, 364/510, 364/509, 364/506, 364/505, 237/17, 237/16, 237/8 D, 237/8 A, 237/7, 122/504.2, 122/448 R, 122/448 S, 122/448 A, 122/448 B, 122/446, 122/448.1, 122/448.2, 122/448.3, 122/448.4
• US Class Current: 702/54
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/20 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0227 Qualitative history assessment, whereby the type of data acted upon, e.g. waveforms, images or patterns, is not relevant, e.g. rule based assessment; if-then decisions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0264 Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements

Abstract

A system for monitoring, processing and storing operating parameters of a boiler room. A sonar gauge for measuring the level of liquid fuel in a storage tank, thermocouples to measure temperatures at varous points in the boiler room, and means to monitor the operating status of boiler room equipment are provided. Means to convert to digital data, store and analyze the digital data, and transmit the digital data to a remote location are provided.

Claims

1. A system for automatically monitoring, processing, and storing operating parameters of a boiler room comprising:

(a) means for detecting a level of liquid fuel in a storage tank and generating a fist set of electrical signals indicating the level;

(b) means for measuring temperatures at various locations in the boiler room and generating a second set of electrical signals indicative of the temperatures;

(c) means for monitoring the operating status of a plurality of conventional boiler room equipment and generating a third set of electrical signals indicative of the monitored operating status;

(d) computer means located in the boiler room for selecting from the first, second and third set of electrical signals generated and internally processing and storing the selected electrical signals in accordance with a set of internally programmed instructions; and

(e) means for transmitting the processed signals stored in the computer means from the computer means located in the boiler room to a computer located in a remote location.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein the means for detecting the level of liquid in the storage tank comprises a sonar device mounted in the storage tank comprising:

(a) means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the liquid fuel in the storage tank;

(b) means for detecting an echo of the transmitted ultrasonic signal from the surface level of the liquid fuel in the storage tank;

(c) means for electrically measuring a time differential between transmission of the ultrasonic signal and the detection of the echo of the ultrasonic signal; and

(d) means for generating the first electrical signal indicative of the level of the liquid fuel in the storage tank in accordance with the measured time differential.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein the first electrical signal consists of electrical current the value of which is indicative of the level of the liquid fuel in the storage tank.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein the computer means comprises an interface means comprising:

(a) a resistor means for converting the electrical current into an analog voltage, the value of which is indicative of the level of the liquid fuel in the storage tank; and

(b) analog to digital conversion means for converting the analog voltage into a digital signal which can be processed by the computer means.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein the means for measuring the temperatures at various locations in the boiler room comprises thermocouple devices located at the point at which the temperature is measured, which generate the second set of electrical signals indicative of the measured temperatures.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein the thermocouple devices are comprised of:

(a) a first thermocouple at the liquid fuel drawn from the storage tank;

(b) a second thermocouple at the water resident in a boiler room;

(c) a third thermocouple at the water drawn from the boiler for use as domestic hot water; and

(d) a fourth thermocouple at the gases expelled from the boiler through a stack.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein the second set of electrical signals is comprised of analog voltage signals.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein the computer means comprises an interface means comprising analog to digital conversion means for converting the analog voltage signals into a set of digital signals which can be processed by the computer means.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein the means for monitoring the operating status of the plurality of conventional boiler room equipment is through wires from electrical circuits of the equipment such that the wires are energized when the equipment is operating in one predetermined mode and de-energized when the equipment is operating in another predetermined mode.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein the conventional boiler room equipment comprises:

(a) a fuel valve which controls the flow of the liquid fuel from a fuel pump to a burner;

(b) the burner which is connected to a boiler and which draws the liquid fuel from the fuel valve for ignition therein;

(c) a pressure controller which monitors pressure of steam generated in the boiler;

(d) a low water cutoff valve which monitors the level of water in the boiler; and

(e) a smoke alarm which monitors the quality of the gases expelled by the boiler.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein the computer means comprises an interface mans comprising electrical relay means, said relay means generates a set of digital signals when the wires connected to the conventional boiler room equipment to the relay means are energized.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein the means for transmitting the processed signals is a modem.

13. A system for automatically monitoring, processing, and storing operating parameters of a boiler room comprising:

(a) means for measuring temperatures at various locations in the boiler room wherein the means for measuring the temperatures comprises thermocouple wells located at the point at which the temperature is measured and generating a first set of electrical signals indicative of the temperatures;

(b) means for monitoring operating status of a plurality of conventional boiler room equipment and generating a second set of electrical signals indicative of the monitored operating status;

(c) computer means located in the boiler room for selecting electrical signals from the sets of electrical signals and internally processing and storing the selected electrical signals in accordance with a set of internally programmed instructions; and

(d) means for transmitting the processed signals stored in the computer means from the computer means located in the boiler room to a computer located in a remote location.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein the means for monitoring the operating statusof the plurality of conventional boiler room equipment is through wires from electrical circuits of the equipment such that the wires are energized when the equipment is operating in one predetermined mode and de-energized when the equipment is operating in another predetermined mode.

15. A system as in claim 13 wherein the thermocouple devices are comprised of:

(a) a first thermocouple at the liquid fuel drawn from the storage tank;

(b) a second thermocouple at the water resident in a boiler room;

(c) a third thermocouple at the water drawn from the boiler for use as domestic hot water; and

(d) a fourth thermocouple at the gases expelled from the boiler through a stack.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein the first set of electrical signals is comprised of analog voltage signals.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein the computer means comprises an interface means comprising analog to digital conversion means for converting the analog voltage signals into a set of digital signals which can be processed by the computer means.

18. A system for automatically monitoring, processing, and storing operating parameters of a boiler from comprising:

(a) means for measuring temperatures at various locations in the boiler room and generating a first set of electrical signals indicative of the temperatures;

(b) means for monitoring operating status of a plurality of conventional boiler room equipment and generating a second set of electrical signals indicative of the monitored operating status;

(c) computer means located in the boiler room for selecting from a plurality of electrical signals and internally processing and storing the selected electrical signals in accordance with a set of internally programmed instructions; and

(d) means for transmitting the processed signals stored in the computer means from the computer means located in the boiler room to a computer located in a remote location;

wherein the means for measuring the temperatures at various locations in the boiler room comprises thermocouple devices located at the point at which the temperature is measured;

wherein the means for monitoring the operating status of the plurality of conventional boiler room equipment comprises the connection of wires to electrical circuits of the equipment such that the wires are energized when the equipment is operating in one predetermined mode and de-energized when the equipment is operating in another predetermined mode, and the conventional boiler room equipment comprises;

(1) a fuel valve which controls the flow of the liquid fuel from a fuel pump to a burner;

(2) the burner which is connected to a boiler and which draws the liquid fuel from the fuel valve for ignition therein;

(3) a pressure controller which monitors pressure of steam generated in the boiler;

(4) a low water cutoff valve which monitors the level of water in the boiler; and

(5) a smoke alarm which monitors the quality of the gases expelled by the boiler.

19. A system as in claim 18 wherein the computer means comprises an interface means comprising electrical relay means wherein the relays generate a set of digital signals when the wires connected to the conventional boiler room equipment are energized.

20. A system for detecting the level of liquid in a storage tank comprising:

(a) means for transmitting an ultrasonic signal in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the liquid the storage tank;

(b) means for detecting an echo of the transmitted ultrasonic signal from the surface level of the liquid in the storage tank;

(c) means for electrically measuring a time differential between transmission of the ultrasonic signal and the detection of the echo of the ultrasonic signal;

(d) means for generating an electrical signal indicative of the level of the liquid fuel in the storage tank in accordance with the measured time differential;

(e) a chamber above the top of the storage tank in communication with the storage tank; and

(f) means for mounting the transmitting means and detecting means in communication with the liquid in the storage tank at a predetermined distance above the top of the storage tank within said chamber whereby the transmitting means and detecting means do not come into contact with the liquid in the storage tank at any time.

21. A system as in claim 20 wherein the electrical signal consists of the electrical current the value of which is indicative of the level of the liquid in the storage tank.

22. A system as in claim 21 further comprising:

(a) a resistor means for converting the electrical current into an analog voltage, the value of which is indicative of the level of the liquid in the storage tank; and

(b) analog to digital conversion means for converting the analog voltage into a digital signal.

23. A system as in claim 22 further comprising a computer means for storing and processing the digital signal in accordance with a set of internally programmed instructions.

24. A system as in claim 23 further comprising means for transmitting the processed signals stored in the computer means from the computer means to a second computer located in a remote location.

25. A system as in claim 24 wherein the means for transmitting is a modem.

26. A system as in claim 20 wherein the means for mounting the transmitting means and detecting means comprises a mounting plate, means for fastening the mounting plate to a pre-cut manhole opening located on the top of the storage tank, which manhole opening comprises said chamber above the top of the storage tank and wherein the transmitting and detecting means attaches to said mounting plate.

27. A system as in claim 20 wherein the predetermined distance above the storage tank is approximately ten inches or less.