Method and apparatus for burst disk identification

• US 6,979,503 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texaco Incorporated & Texaco Development Corporation
• Original Assignee: Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Worsley, Ralph S., Wheat, W. Spencer S., Mirkovic, Vesna R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US10/407,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20040197624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 340/614, 320/101, 429/163, 429/12, 429/13, 429/30, 429/34
• US Class Current: 429/432
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0244 the reforming step being an autothermal reforming step, e.g. secondary reforming processes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1241 Natural gas or methane
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1276 Mixing of different feed components
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/142 At least two reforming, decomposition or partial oxidation steps in series
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1619 Measuring the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1628 Controlling the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/1633 Measuring the pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/169 Controlling the feed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/382 Multi-step processes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/16 with fracturing diaphragm ; Rupture discs
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0618 Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for identifying an activation of a burst disk. A pressure data or a temperature data relating to a flow is received. A determination is made whether the flow is interrupted based upon the at least one of the pressure data and the temperature data. A burst disk activation is identified in response to determining that the flow is interrupted.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

a controller operatively coupled to a burst disk, said controller to receive a pressure data, determine whether a pressure excursion has occurred based upon said pressure data, and to determine whether said burst disk has been activated in response to said pressure excursion, and

a voltage detector to detect a voltage drop in a fuel cell associated with said fuel cell system to determine whether an activation of said burst disk has occurred.