Emissions monitoring and tracking system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring hydrocarbon emissions from an emissions release point, comparing the monitored emissions to a threshold, and reporting the comparison results, the apparatus comprising:
- an identification code disposed at the emissions release point to identify the release point;
a portable data entry device into which the identification code is entered, the data entry device providing an identification signal representative of the identification code;
a portable sensor which senses the hydrocarbon emissions from the release point and provides a sense signal representative of those sensed emissions;
a portable data collector coupled to the data entry device and to the sensor to receive the identification signal and the sense signal and to record the identification and sense signals as data; and
a main computer which receives the recorded data from the portable data collector and compares the sense data to a predetermined threshold to determine if the sense data exceeds the threshold and reports the result of the comparison and the identification code of the emissions release point.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable subsystem carried by the inspector includes an identification scanner, an emissions sensor and a portable data collector. An inspector identifies the release point by use of a portable scanner and then tests the release point for leaks. The portable data collector stores the identification along with the emissions test data. At periodic intervals the portable data collector is connected to a main computer and the stored data is uploaded. The main computer analyzes the uploaded data for a pass or fail of the release point of the emissions test and issues the appropriate comparison results. Additionally, the severity of the leak is determined and remedial action is specified. This remedial action includes issuance of a repair report and updating the repair schedule, updating the inspection schedule for reinspection after repairs are completed and updating the inspection history. The computer maintains data sufficient to generate reports tailored to the requirements of government agencies.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring hydrocarbon emissions from an emissions release point, comparing the monitored emissions to a threshold, and reporting the comparison results, the apparatus comprising:
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an identification code disposed at the emissions release point to identify the release point; a portable data entry device into which the identification code is entered, the data entry device providing an identification signal representative of the identification code; a portable sensor which senses the hydrocarbon emissions from the release point and provides a sense signal representative of those sensed emissions; a portable data collector coupled to the data entry device and to the sensor to receive the identification signal and the sense signal and to record the identification and sense signals as data; and a main computer which receives the recorded data from the portable data collector and compares the sense data to a predetermined threshold to determine if the sense data exceeds the threshold and reports the result of the comparison and the identification code of the emissions release point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for monitoring hydrocarbon emissions from an emissions release point, comparing the monitored emissions to a threshold, and reporting the comparison results, the apparatus comprising:
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an identification code disposed at the emissions release point to identify the release point; a portable data entry device into which the identification code is entered, the data entry device providing an identification signal representative of the identification code; a portable sensor which senses the hydrocarbon emissions from the release point and provides a sense signal representative of those sensed emissions; a portable data collector coupled to the data entry device and to the sensor to receive the identification signal and the sense signal and to record the identification and sense signals as data in a record initiated by the identification signal wherein the portable data collector also records the date when it records the data; and a main computer selectively coupled to the portable data collector which receives the recorded data when coupled to the portable data collector, compares the received sense data to a predetermined threshold to determine if the sense data exceeds the threshold, reports the result of the comparison, maintains an emissions history of the release point and updates the history of the release point, and issues a repair report in the event that the sense signal data exceeds the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring hydrocarbon emissions from an emissions release point, comparing the monitored emissions to a threshold, and reporting the comparison results, the method comprising the steps of:
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assigning an identification code to the release point; entering the assigned identification code into a portable data entry device at the release point and providing an identification signal representative of the identification code entered; sensing hydrocarbon emissions from the release point with a portable emissions sensor and providing an emissions signal representative of the sensed emissions; receiving the identification signal and the emissions signal and recording the signals as data; transferring the recorded identification and emissions data to a main computer; comparing the sensed emissions data of the received record to a predetermined threshold in the main computer to determine if the threshold has been exceeded, and reporting the result of the comparison; and storing the result of the comparison with the identification data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification