Detection of pipeline contaminants
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of detecting contaminants in a pipe that is transporting a known fluid, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- a processor establishing a baseline vibration pattern from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to the pipe, wherein the baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of the known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form;
the processor taking subsequent readings from the smart sensor to generate a new vibration pattern;
the processor, in response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, matching the new vibration pattern with a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid, wherein the known vibration pattern is known to occur when the specific contaminant is flowing through the pipe with the known fluid; and
the processor determining a specific gravity of the specific contaminant by matching the new vibration pattern with the known vibration pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product detects contaminants in a pipe that is transporting a known fluid. A baseline vibration pattern is established from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to the pipe. This baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of the known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form. Subsequent readings from the smart sensor are taken to generate a new vibration pattern. In response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, the new vibration pattern is matched to a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of detecting contaminants in a pipe that is transporting a known fluid, the computer-implemented method comprising:
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a processor establishing a baseline vibration pattern from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to the pipe, wherein the baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of the known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form; the processor taking subsequent readings from the smart sensor to generate a new vibration pattern; the processor, in response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, matching the new vibration pattern with a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid, wherein the known vibration pattern is known to occur when the specific contaminant is flowing through the pipe with the known fluid; and the processor determining a specific gravity of the specific contaminant by matching the new vibration pattern with the known vibration pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for detecting contaminants in a pipe that is transporting a known fluid, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer instructions stored therein for causing a computer processor to perform:
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establishing a baseline vibration pattern from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to the pipe, wherein the baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of the known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form; taking subsequent readings from the smart sensor to generate a new vibration pattern; and in response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, matching the new vibration pattern with a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid, wherein the known vibration pattern is known to occur when the specific contaminant is flowing through the pipe with the known fluid; and determining a specific gravity of the specific contaminant by matching the new vibration pattern with the known vibration pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a processor, a computer readable memory, and a computer readable storage media; first program instructions to establish a baseline vibration pattern from readings generated by a smart sensor that is affixed to a pipe, wherein the baseline vibration pattern is caused by a flow of a known fluid as the known fluid travels through the pipe in an unadulterated form; second program instructions to take subsequent readings from the smart sensor to generate a new vibration pattern; third program instructions to, in response to the new vibration pattern being different, beyond a predefined range, from the baseline vibration pattern, match the new vibration pattern with a known vibration pattern in order to identify a specific contaminant of the known fluid, wherein the known vibration pattern is known to occur when the specific contaminant is flowing through the pipe with the known fluid; and fourth program instructions to determine a specific gravity of the specific contaminant by matching the new vibration pattern with the known vibration pattern; and
whereinthe first, second, third, and fourth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media, and wherein the program instructions are executed by the processor via the computer readable memory. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
the fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media, and wherein the program instructions are executed by the processor via the computer readable memory.
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15. The system of claim 13, wherein the specific contaminant is a solid contaminant, and wherein the system further comprises:
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fifth program instructions to determine a solid-contaminant-to-known-fluid ratio based on the new vibration pattern; sixth program instructions to determine a rate of solid contaminant introduction into the pipe based on the determined solid-contaminant-to-known-fluid ratio; and seventh program instructions to identify a source of the solid contaminant based on the rate of solid contaminant introduction into the pipe; and
whereinthe fifth, sixth, and seventh program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media, and wherein the program instructions are executed by the processor via the computer readable memory.
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16. The system of claim 15, wherein the smart sensor comprises a uniquely-identified radio frequency identifier (RFID) device, and wherein the system further comprises:
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eighth program instructions to map a location of the smart sensor by interrogating an RFID device in the smart sensor; ninth program instructions to modify the new vibration pattern to create a location-dependent new vibration pattern according to the location of the smart sensor; and tenth program instructions to adjust an identified location of the source of the solid contaminant based on the location-dependent new vibration pattern; and
whereinthe eighth, ninth, and tenth program instructions are stored on the computer readable storage media, and wherein the program instructions are executed by the processor via the computer readable memory.
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Specification