Method and apparatus for burst disk identification

• US 8,153,311 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation (Chevron Corp.), Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation (Chevron Corp.), Texaco Incorporated (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Wheat, W. Spencer, Mirkovic, Vesna R., Worsley, Ralph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Cynthia H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US11/265,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20060057438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,350 Days
• Field of Search: 429/423, 429/432, 429/442, 429/444, 429/454
• US Class Current: 429/423
• 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. A method, comprising:

receiving at least one of a pressure data and a temperature data relating to a flow, wherein receiving said at least one of said pressure data and said temperature data relating to a flow comprises receiving at least one of a pressure data and a temperature data relating to a reformate flow in a reformer;

determining whether said flow is interrupted based upon said at least one of said pressure data and said temperature data;

identifying a burst disk activation in response to determining that said flow is interrupted; and

wherein determining whether said flow is interrupted comprises determining whether a voltage drop in a portion of a fuel cell is below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method described in claim 1, wherein receiving said at least one of said pressure data and said temperature data relating to a flow comprises receiving said at least one of said pressure data and said temperature data relating to a flow between a first mechanical resistance and a second mechanical resistance.

3. The method described in claim 1, wherein determining whether said flow is interrupted comprises determining whether said pressure data is below a predetermined threshold.

4. The method described in claim 3, wherein determining whether said pressure data is below said predetermined threshold comprises determining whether said pressure data indicates that the associated pressure is below about 0.5 PSI.

5. The method described in claim 1, wherein determining whether said flow is interrupted comprises determining whether said temperature data is below a predetermined threshold.

6. The method described in claim 5, wherein determining whether said temperature data is below said predetermined threshold comprises determining whether said temperature data indicates that the associated temperature is below about 40°

C.

7. The method described in claim 1, wherein identifying a burst disk activation in response to determining that said flow is interrupted comprises identifying a burst disk that has ruptured.