Calibration management for volatile organic compound detector

• US 7,840,366 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LDARtools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Environmental Analytics Incorporated (Guardian Compliance)
• Inventors: Moses, Kevin, Moses, Rex, O'Keefe, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui; Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ngon; Ricky
• Application Number:
  US12/032,499
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85, 702 22- 24, 702/104, 702/137, 702/119, 702182-183, 702/187, 95 1- 3, 95/8, 96/18, 96/19, 73/10.1, 73/10.2, 73/10.6, 73/233.1, 73/232.1, 73/232, 204/194, 204/400, 204/401, 204/431, 204/228.1, 204/228.6, 204/229.8, 324601-603, 340/501, 340/502, 340/517, 340/531, 340/605, 340/632, 340/634, 431 13- 16, 431/22, 431/24, 431/26
• US Class Current: 702/85
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/007 Leak detector calibration, standard leaks G01M3/207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/00 Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials identification of microorganisms C12Q
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0006 Calibrating gas analysers

Abstract

A method for calibrating a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector. In one implementation, an initiation request may be received indicating a gas concentration level amount to be used for calibrating a VOC detector. A gas may be provided to the VOC detector according to the gas concentration level amount. The VOC detector may be provided with the gas concentration level amount. A calibration log may be received from the VOC detector. The calibration log may comprise an identifier of the VOC detector, the gas concentration level amount, and a date indicating when the VOC detector received the gas concentration level amount and the gas according to the gas concentration level amount.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector, comprising:

receiving an initiation request indicating a gas concentration level amount to be used for calibrating a VOC detector, wherein the VOC detector is configured to test whether valves and other components in petrochemical facilities are leaking;

providing gas according to the gas concentration level amount to the VOC detector;

providing the VOC detector with the gas concentration level amount via a wireless connection; and

receiving a calibration log from the VOC detector via the wireless connection, wherein the calibration log comprises an identifier of the VOC detector, the gas concentration level amount, an electronic signature of the provided gas, a date indicating when the VOC detector received the gas concentration level amount and the gas according to the gas concentration level amount, wherein the electronic signature is derived by combusting the provided gas.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the electronic signature with the gas concentration level amount.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a list of available VOC detectors; and

receiving a selection for the VOC detector.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a flow request to a spanbox to provide gas to the VOC detector.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

presenting a list of available gas sources;

receiving a selection for one or more gas sources, wherein the spanbox provides gas from one of the selected gas sources.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a validation request indicating the gas concentration level amount used for calibrating the VOC detector;

providing gas according to the gas concentration level amount to the VOC detector;

receiving a detection message indicating the concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector; and

validating the calibration of the VOC detector based on the gas concentration level amount and the concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the VOC detector passes a validation test based on the detected concentration level of gas, and the gas concentration level amount.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying a message indicating whether the VOC detector passes the validation test.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the detected concentration level is within a specified percentage of the gas concentration level amount.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the detected concentration level is within a specified range of the gas concentration level amount and that the VOC detector detects the detected concentration level within a specified time period.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing a validation record indicating an identifier of the VOC detector, a result indicating whether the VOC detector passes the validation test, and a date indicating when the VOC detector is validated.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the gas concentration level is based on the electronic signature of the provided gas.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation request is received by a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gas concentration level is provided by the PDA.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas is provided by a spanbox.

16. A method for validating a calibration of a volatile organic compound detector (VOC detector), comprising:

receiving a validation request indicating a gas concentration level amount;

providing gas according to the gas concentration level amount to the VOC detector, wherein the VOC detector is configured to test whether valves and other components in petrochemical facilities are leaking;

receiving a detection message indicating a concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector via a wireless connection, wherein the detected gas concentration level is based on an electronic signature of the provided gas, and wherein the electronic signature is derived by combusting the provided gas; and

validating the calibration of the VOC detector based on the gas concentration level amount and the concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the VOC detector passes a validation test based on whether the detected gas concentration level is within a specified percentage of the actual gas concentration level.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying a message indicating whether the VOC detector passes the validation test.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the detected concentration level is within a specified percentage of the gas concentration level amount.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein validating the calibration of the VOC detector comprises determining whether the detected concentration level is within a specified range of the gas concentration level amount and that the VOC detector detects the detected concentration level within a specified time period.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing a validation record indicating an identifier of the VOC detector, a result indicating whether the VOC detector passes the validation test, and a date indicating when the VOC detector is validated.

22. A system for calibrating a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to;

receive an initiation request indicating a gas concentration level amount to be used for calibrating a VOC detector, wherein the VOC detector is configured to test whether valves and other components in petrochemical facilities are leaking;

provide gas according to the gas concentration level amount to the VOC detector;

provide the VOC detector with the gas concentration level amount via a wireless connection; and

receive a calibration log from the VOC detector via the wireless connection, wherein the calibration log comprises an identifier of the VOC detector, the gas concentration level amount, an electronic signature of the provided gas and a date indicating when the VOC detector is calibrated with the gas concentration level amount, wherein the electronic signature is derived by combusting the provided gas.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

associate the electronic signature with the gas concentration level amount.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a validation request indicating the gas concentration level amount used for calibrating the VOC detector;

provide gas according to the gas concentration level amount to the VOC detector;

receive a detection message indicating the concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector;

validate the calibration of the VOC detector based on the gas concentration level amount and the concentration level of gas detected by the VOC detector; and

display a message indicating whether the VOC detector passes the validation test.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the gas concentration level is based on the electronic signature of the provided gas.