Steam trap monitoring
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring the status of a steam trap comprising:
- sensing a process condition of at least one of a temperature condition, an acoustical condition, or a pressure condition of the steam trap by taking multiple readings of one or more stream trap parameters, the process condition representing a continuum of values between an uppermost process condition limit and a lowermost process condition limit;
selecting a threshold level for the sensed process condition, the threshold level having a adjustable value between the upper process condition limit and the lower process condition limit;
processing the multiple readings using an algorithm in a processor mounted in a steam trap monitor positioned in the vicinity of the steam trap, wherein the processing includes;
a) determining if the sensed process condition exceeds the threshold level;
b) continuing to sense the process condition for a pre-determined number of readings after determining that the threshold level has been exceeded by the sensed process condition; and
c) comparing the sensed process condition from each of the pre-determined number of readings to the threshold level; and
d) returning to the step of sensing the process condition of the steam trap when the sensed process condition again falls below the threshold level before the predetermined number of readings are completed; and
transmitting a signal, based upon the processed multiple readings, indicative of determining one of a transient or steady state status of the process condition of the one or more steam trap parameters.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring the status of a steam trap include a device for sensing a process condition of the steam trap and a device for processing the sensed condition. The apparatus can include a processor positioned on a steam trap. The connection of the monitoring device to the steam trap can be to the trap itself or to an adjacent pipe or other apparatus.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring the status of a steam trap comprising:
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sensing a process condition of at least one of a temperature condition, an acoustical condition, or a pressure condition of the steam trap by taking multiple readings of one or more stream trap parameters, the process condition representing a continuum of values between an uppermost process condition limit and a lowermost process condition limit; selecting a threshold level for the sensed process condition, the threshold level having a adjustable value between the upper process condition limit and the lower process condition limit; processing the multiple readings using an algorithm in a processor mounted in a steam trap monitor positioned in the vicinity of the steam trap, wherein the processing includes; a) determining if the sensed process condition exceeds the threshold level; b) continuing to sense the process condition for a pre-determined number of readings after determining that the threshold level has been exceeded by the sensed process condition; and c) comparing the sensed process condition from each of the pre-determined number of readings to the threshold level; and d) returning to the step of sensing the process condition of the steam trap when the sensed process condition again falls below the threshold level before the predetermined number of readings are completed; and transmitting a signal, based upon the processed multiple readings, indicative of determining one of a transient or steady state status of the process condition of the one or more steam trap parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of a monitoring the operational characteristics of a steam trap comprising:
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connecting a monitoring device to a specific steam trap unit; programming the monitoring device to learn the individual operational characteristics of the specific steam trap unit; operating the steam trap unit during an initial set up period; sensing a process condition that is representative of the operational characteristics of the specific steam trap unit during the initial set up procedure by taking multiple readings of one or more stream trap parameters, the process condition being at least one of a temperature condition, an acoustical condition, or a pressure condition, the process condition representing a continuum of values between an uppermost process condition limit and a lowermost process condition limit; determining an upper tolerance level and a lower tolerance level of the sensed process condition for the specific steam trap unit, the upper and lower tolerance levels being selectable values between the uppermost process condition limit and the lowermost process condition limit; initiating a query to determine whether the process condition is one of a transient status or a steady state status process condition of the steam trap and sensing the process condition of the specific steam trap unit during operation after the initial set up period; comparing the sensed process condition of the specific steam trap unit after the initial set up period with the upper and lower tolerance levels; and generating a signal when the sensed process condition is outside of the upper and lower tolerance levels. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification