Dynamic transient pressure detection system

• US 7,357,034 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BLACOH Fluid Controls, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Loren Worthington
• Inventors: Worthington, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori; Max
• Application Number:
  US11/641,686
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 737/53
• US Class Current: 73/753
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/02 Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss

Abstract

The present invention is a dynamic transient pressure detection system for detecting and recording variations in pressure inside operating fluid chambers. One or more dynamic pressure sensors are installed inside an operating fluid chamber. Pressure is continuously measured and recorded with a high degree of accuracy. Transients are detected and data samples are stored and processed to locate the source of the transients and to provide information for preventing transients during future operations. A clock or timer records the chronological time of detection for each sample. The clock or timer may be connected to a Global Positioning System to assist in determining the source of transient pressures.

Claims

1. A method for detecting dynamic transient pressures comprising:

installing a dynamic pressure sensor in an operating fluid chamber,

measuring fluid pressures in the operating fluid chamber,

transmitting data sample information from the dynamic pressure sensor to a receiver and signal processor,

recording data sample information at a predetermined interval,

analyzing data samples with the signal processor,

identifying transient pressures in the operating fluid chamber,

increasing data sampling rates and/or data recording rates during transient detection until pressures reach steady state,

storing transient pressure data in internal memory, and

analyzing and displaying collected data alone or with other kinds of data from other sources, using a data management program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining transient pressure parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising installing multiple dynamic pressure sensors in an operating fluid chamber.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising identifying a source of a transient pressure using two or more dynamic pressure sensors.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising analyzing data from one or multiple test sites simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising identifying an unknown or illegal diversion of pressure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording time of transient detections using a clock or timer, and determining a source of transient pressure from the time of detection and other data characteristics.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the clock or timer is a Global Positioning System receiver.

9. A method of detecting pressure transients in operating fluid chambers comprising:

defining pressure threshold in a chamber,

installing at least one pressure sensor in the chamber,

sensing pressure in the chamber with the sensor,

transmitting pressure data from the sensor to a receiver,

temporarily storing the pressure data in a buffer at a first, higher sampling rate,

periodically permanently storing the pressure data at a second, lower rate,

comparing the pressure data with the defined pressure threshold,

upon receiving the pressure data at values outside of the threshold;

permanently recording the pressure data in the buffer,

increasing the second rate to match the first rate,

permanently storing the pressure data at the first, higher rate, and

analyzing the pressure data recorded at the first, higher rate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising recording times of transmission with the temporarily and permanently stored and recorded pressure data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a time receiver at the sensor, receiving time signals at the sensor, and transmitting time indications with the pressure data transmission.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting potential information from the sensor.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving position signals and generalizing position information at the sensor and transmitting the position information with the time indications and the pressure data.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining background level noise and removing background noise from the pressure data.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid chamber is a pipeline and wherein the at least one sensor comprises multiple sensors, further comprising time and position signal receivers connected to the sensors for receiving time and position signals and further comprising transmitting time and position indications with the pressure data.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying a predetermined threshold pressure and alerting a user when the predetermined threshold is reached or exceeded.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying an unknown or illegal point of diversion of fluid from the chamber as a source of a transient pressure.

18. A method of monitoring pressure comprising:

installing transient pressure sensors within an operating fluid chamber,

establishing predetermined data sampling rates,

establishing predetermined sample data recording rates,

establishing transient pressure parameters,

measuring fluid pressures,

transmitting fluid pressure sample data to a receiver and signal processor,

recording sample data at the predetermined recording rates,

analyzing sample data,

comparing sample data to the transient pressure parameters for identifying transient pressures,

increasing data sampling rates and data recording rates during transient detection,

storing transient data in internal memory,

analyzing and displaying collected data, and

returning data sampling rates and data recording rates to predetermines rates when sample data returns to non-transient pressure parameters.