Flow measurement with diagnostics
First Claim
1. A pressure transmitter adapted to couple to a primary flow element via impulse lines to sense flow, the pressure transmitter comprising:
- a differential pressure sensor adapted to couple to the impulse lines to sense a pressure;
an analog to digital converter coupled to the pressure sensor and generating a series of digital representations of the pressure;
a microprocessor system receiving the series of digital representations of pressure and having a first algorithm stored therein to calculate a difference between the series of digital representations and a moving average of the series of digital representations, and having a second algorithm stored therein to receive the difference and calculate a trained data set of historical data during a training mode and calculating a current data set during a monitoring mode and generating diagnostic data as a function of the current data set relative to the historical data indicating changes in the condition of flow sensing;
a digital to analog converter coupled to the microprocessor system generating an analog transmitter output indicative of flow; and
a digital communication circuit receiving the diagnostic data from the microprocessor system and generating a transmitter output indicating the diagnostic data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow meter diagnosing the condition of its primary element or impulse lines connecting to a differential pressure sensor. A difference circuit coupled to the differential pressure sensor has a difference output representing the sensed differential pressure minus a moving average. A calculate circuit receives the difference output and calculates a trained output of historical data obtained during an initial training time. The calculate circuit also calculates a monitor output of current data obtained during monitoring or normal operation of the fluid flow meter. A diagnostic circuit receives the trained output and the monitor put and generates a diagnostic output indicating a current condition of the primary element and impulse lines.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A pressure transmitter adapted to couple to a primary flow element via impulse lines to sense flow, the pressure transmitter comprising:
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a differential pressure sensor adapted to couple to the impulse lines to sense a pressure;
an analog to digital converter coupled to the pressure sensor and generating a series of digital representations of the pressure;
a microprocessor system receiving the series of digital representations of pressure and having a first algorithm stored therein to calculate a difference between the series of digital representations and a moving average of the series of digital representations, and having a second algorithm stored therein to receive the difference and calculate a trained data set of historical data during a training mode and calculating a current data set during a monitoring mode and generating diagnostic data as a function of the current data set relative to the historical data indicating changes in the condition of flow sensing;
a digital to analog converter coupled to the microprocessor system generating an analog transmitter output indicative of flow; and
a digital communication circuit receiving the diagnostic data from the microprocessor system and generating a transmitter output indicating the diagnostic data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
where A is the moving average, P is a series of sensed pressure values, and W is a weight for a sensed pressure value, m is a number of previous sensed pressure values in the series, k is an integer ranging from 0 to m and j identifies a sample number.
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4. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the trained data set comprises statistical data.
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5. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor system switches from the training mode to the monitoring mode.
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6. The pressure transmitter of claim 5 wherein the microprocessor system stores the trained data set in the training mode.
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7. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic data indicates a real time condition of a pressure generator.
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8. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic data indicates a condition of the primary flow element.
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9. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic data indicates a condition of the impulse lines.
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10. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the analog transmitter output comprises a calibrated output, and the diagnostic data transmitter output indicates if the pressure sensor is out of calibration.
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11. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the trained data set of historical data comprises power spectral density of the difference.
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12. The pressure transmitter of claim 11 wherein the power spectral density data is in the range of 0 to 100 Hertz.
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13. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the pressure transmitter is adapted to couple to a pitot tube primary flow element.
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14. The pressure transmitter of claim 13 wherein the pitot tube is an averaging pitot tube.
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15. The pressure transmitter of claim 14 wherein the averaging pitot tube is insertable through a tap on a pipe.
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16. The pressure transmitter of claim 13 further comprising an instrument manifold coupled between the pressure generator and the pressure sensor.
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17. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the primary flow element and impulse lines are combined in an integral orifice.
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18. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the pressure transmitter is adapted to couple to a venturi primary flow element.
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19. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the pressure transmitter is adapted to couple to a nozzle primary flow element.
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20. The pressure transmitter of claim 1 wherein the pressure transmitter is adapted to couple to an orifice primary flow element adapted for clamping between pipe flanges.
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21. A pressure transmitter adapted to couple to a primary flow element via impulse lines to sense flow, the pressure transmitter comprising:
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a differential pressure sensor adapted to couple to the impulse lines to sense a pressure;
a flow circuit coupled to the sensor to generate a flow output;
a difference circuit coupled to the sensor to generate a difference output representing the sensed pressure minus a moving average;
a calculate circuit to receive the difference output, calculate a trained output of historical data obtained during training, and calculate a monitor output of current data obtained during monitoring; and
a diagnostic circuit to receive the trained output and the monitor output and generate a diagnostic output indicating a current condition of flow sensing relative to an historical condition of flow sensing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
where A is the moving average, P is a series of sensed pressure values, and W is a weight for a sensed pressure value, m is a number of previous sensed pressure values in the series, k is an integer ranging from 0 to m and j identifies a sample number.
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28. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the historical data comprises statistical data.
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29. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the calculate circuit switches between a training mode and a monitoring mode.
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30. The pressure transmitter of claim 29 wherein the calculate circuit stores historical data in the monitoring mode.
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31. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the diagnostic output comprises a real time indication of the condition of a pressure generator.
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32. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the diagnostic circuit indicates a condition of the primary element.
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33. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the diagnostic circuit indicates a condition of the impulse lines.
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34. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the flow output comprises a calibrated output and the diagnostic circuit indicates if the pressure sensor is out of calibration.
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35. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the historical data comprises power spectral density of the difference output.
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36. The pressure transmitter of claim 35 wherein the power spectral density data is in the range of 0 to 100 Hertz.
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37. The pressure transmitter of claim 21 wherein the diagnostic circuit implements a diagnostic algorithm selected from the group of algorithms consisting of neural networks, fuzzy logic, wavelets and Fourier transforms.
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38. A fluid flow meter adapted to sense fluid flow, comprising,
a pressure generator having a primary element and impulse lines couplable to the fluid flow; -
a differential pressure sensor coupled to the impulse lines to sense a pressure;
a flow circuit coupled to the sensor to generate a flow output;
a difference circuit coupled to the sensor to generate a difference output representing the sensed pressure minus a moving average of the sensed pressure;
a calculate circuit to receive the difference output and calculate a trained output of historical data obtained during training and calculating a monitor output of current data obtained during monitoring; and
a diagnostic circuit to receive the trained output and the monitor output and generate a diagnostic output indicating a current condition of the pressure generator relative to an historical condition. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
where A is the moving average, P is a series of sensed pressure values, and W is a weight for a sensed pressure value, m is a number of previous sensed pressure values in the series, k is an integer ranging from 0 to m and j identifies a sample number.
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41. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the historical data comprises statistical data.
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42. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the calculate circuit switches between a training mode and a monitoring mode.
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43. The fluid flow meter of claim 42 wherein the calculate circuit stores the historical data in the training mode.
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44. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the diagnostic output indicates a real time condition of the pressure generator.
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45. The fluid flow meter of claim 44 wherein the diagnostic output indicates a condition of the primary element.
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46. The fluid flow meter of claim 44 wherein the diagnostic output indicates a condition of the impulse lines.
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47. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the flow output comprises a calibrated output and the diagnostic output indicates if the pressure generator is out of calibration.
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48. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the historical data comprises power spectral density of the difference output.
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49. The fluid flow meter of claim 48 wherein the power spectral density data is in the range of 0 to 100 Hertz.
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50. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the primary element comprises a pitot tube.
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51. The fluid flow meter of claim 50 wherein the pitot tube is an averaging pitot tube.
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52. The fluid flow meter of claim 51 wherein the averaging pitot tube is inserted through a tap on a pipe.
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53. The fluid flow meter of claim 50 further comprising an instrument manifold coupled between the pressure generator and the pressure sensor.
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54. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the primary element and impulse lines are combined in an integral orifice.
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55. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the primary element comprises a venturi.
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56. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the primary element comprises a nozzle.
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57. The fluid flow meter of claim 38 wherein the primary element comprises an orifice plate adapted for clamping between pipe flanges.
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58. The flow meter of claim 38 wherein the diagnostic current implements a diagnostic algorithm selected from the group of algorithms consisting of neural networks, fuzzy logic, wavelets and Fourier transforms.
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59. A diagnostic method performed in a pressure transmitter coupled to a primary flow element via impulse lines, the method comprising:
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calculating a difference between a pressure sensed by the pressure transmitter and a moving average of the sensed pressure;
acquiring and storing an historical data set of the calculated difference during a train mode of the pressure transmitter;
acquiring and storing a current data set of the calculated difference during a monitoring mode of the pressure transmitter;
comparing the current data set to the historical data set to diagnose the condition of the primary flow element and impulse lines; and
generating output of the pressure transmitter indicating the condition of the primary flow element and impulse lines. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a microprocessor system in a pressure transmitter to cause the pressure transmitter to perform a diagnostic operation relative to a primary element and impulse lines couplable to the transmitter, the instructions comprising:
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calculating a difference between a pressure sensed by the pressure transmitter and a moving average of the sensed pressure;
acquiring and storing an historical data set of the calculated difference during a train mode of the pressure transmitter;
acquiring and storing a current data set of the calculated difference during a monitoring mode of the pressure transmitter;
comparing the current data set to the historical data set to diagnose the condition of the primary element and impulse lines; and
generating an output of the pressure transmitter indicating the condition of the primary element and impulse lines.
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68. A pressure transmitter adapted to couple to a primary flow element via impulse lines to sense flow, the pressure transmitter comprising:
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a differential pressure sensor adapted to couple to the impulse lines to sense a pressure;
a flow circuit coupled to the sensor and generating a flow output;
differencing means coupled to the sensor for generating a difference output representing the sensed pressure minus a moving average of the sensed pressure;
calculating means receiving the difference output for calculating a trained output of historical data obtained during training and for calculating a monitor output of current data obtained during monitoring; and
diagnosing means receiving the trained output and the monitor output and generating a diagnostic output for diagnosing a current condition of flow sensing relative to an historical condition of flow sensing.
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Specification