System, method and apparatus for monitoring fluid storage and dispensing systems
First Claim
1. A processor-based system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a storage tank and a piping system, the piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold, the processor-based system comprising:
- a dispenser configured to dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system during a dispensing time interval, wherein the dispenser comprises a dispenser metering device;
a metering device in fluid communication with the piping system, the metering device configured to measure a plurality of sample flow rates over time in response to fluid passing through the metering device;
a monitoring application, wherein the monitoring application generates a dispensing alert when a piping system flow rate measured at the metering device is greater than a dispensing flow rate measured at the dispenser metering device; and
a processor configured to execute the monitoring application such that the monitoring application generates an alert within a substantially real-time period when at least one of the sample flow rates exceeds the maximum output flow rate threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, the invention relates to a system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a storage tank and a piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold. The system includes a dispenser configured to dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system during a dispensing time interval, a metering device in fluid communication with piping system, the metering device configured to measure a plurality of sample flow rates over time in response to fluid passing through the metering device, a gauge for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during the dispensing time interval and a processor for executing a monitoring application which generates an alert within a substantially real-time period in response to an event of interest, the monitoring application comparing the maximum output flow rate threshold to the plurality of sample flow rates over time to generate the alert when one of the sample flow rates exceeds the maximum output flow rate threshold.
43 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A processor-based system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a storage tank and a piping system, the piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold, the processor-based system comprising:
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a dispenser configured to dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system during a dispensing time interval, wherein the dispenser comprises a dispenser metering device; a metering device in fluid communication with the piping system, the metering device configured to measure a plurality of sample flow rates over time in response to fluid passing through the metering device; a monitoring application, wherein the monitoring application generates a dispensing alert when a piping system flow rate measured at the metering device is greater than a dispensing flow rate measured at the dispenser metering device; and a processor configured to execute the monitoring application such that the monitoring application generates an alert within a substantially real-time period when at least one of the sample flow rates exceeds the maximum output flow rate threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10)
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7. A processor-based system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a storage tank and a piping system, the piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold, the processor-based system comprising:
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a dispenser configured to dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system during a dispensing time interval; a metering device in fluid communication with the piping system, the metering device configured to measure a plurality of sample flow rates over time in response to fluid passing through the metering device; a monitoring application; a processor configured to execute the monitoring application such that the monitoring application generates an alert within a substantially real-time period when at least one of the sample flow rates exceeds the maximum output flow rate threshold; and
a gauge for measuring a volume of fluid dispensed from the storage tank during the dispensing time interval.
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8. A processor-based system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a storage tank and a piping system, the piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold, the processor-based system comprising:
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a dispenser configured to dispense fluid from the fluid dispensing system during a dispensing time interval; a metering device in fluid communication with the piping system, the metering device configured to measure a plurality of sample flow rates over time in response to fluid passing through the metering device; a monitoring application; and a processor configured to execute the monitoring application such that the monitoring application generates an alert within a substantially real-time period when at least one of the sample flow rates exceeds the maximum output flow rate threshold, wherein the metering device comprises a module for detecting changes in fluid flow direction.
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11. A processor-based system for monitoring a fluid dispensing system having a piping system, the piping system having a maximum output flow rate threshold, the processor-based system comprising:
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a plurality of flow rate metering modules for providing, at a plurality of times, data indicative of fluid flow rate, wherein one of the plurality of flow rate metering modules is disposed in a trunk line of the piping system and another one of the plurality of flow rate metering modules is disposed within a dispenser in fluid communication with the piping system; and a processor for receiving the data from the metering modules, calculating a flow rate value at each of the plurality of times, calculating a flow rate difference between the maximum output flow rate and the flow rate metering module indicated flow rate at each of the plurality of times, and generating an alert when the flow rate difference indicates the maximum output flow rate threshold has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring a fluid storage and dispensing system comprising the steps of:
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generating a first set of flow rate data at a first point in time at a first location in a piping system using a first flow rate meter, the piping system connected to the fluid storage and dispensing system and having a plurality of outlets; transmitting the first set of flow rate data to a monitoring device; determining a reaction threshold for the piping system, the reaction threshold corresponding to a maximum flow rate through the plurality of outlets of the piping system; detecting a fluid release event within a detection interval when the first set of flow rate data is greater than the reaction threshold; and generating an alert, using the monitoring device, when the fluid release event is detected within a substantially real-time period. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification