Method and apparatus for analyzing steam trap data

• US 7,912,675 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armstrong International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Armstrong International Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheskaty, Rex, Kerr, Robert H, Quake, Tom D, Gaines, Michael H, Helman, Michael P
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/792,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 737/10, 73/232, 73/290.1, 734/321, 737/00, 738/66, 137/167, 137/154, 137/156, 137/159, 137/165, 137/168, 137/171, 137/551, 137/558, 137/559, 340/500, 340/540, 340/603, 340/679, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 702/1, 702/33, 702/50, 702/55, 702/127, 702/130, 702/182, 702/183, 702/184, 702/187, 702/188, 702/189, 705/1, 705/7, 705/11, 705/400, 705/500
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/48 Monitoring arrangements for inspecting, e.g. flow of steam and steam condensate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3028 With non-discriminating gas vent or liquid discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A system for analyzing steam trap data includes a steam trap monitoring device operable to monitor a parameter of a steam trap, transform the parameter into data, and transmit the data to a computer; and includes a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data. A method of analyzing steam trap data includes the steps of: providing a steam trap monitoring device operable to monitor a parameter of a steam trap, transform the parameter into data, and transmit data to a computer, and providing a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data; using the steam trap monitoring device to monitor a parameter of a steam trap, transform the parameter into data, and transmit the data to the computer; and using the computer to receive the data, and evaluate the data with the algorithm.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing steam trap data comprising:

a plurality of steam trap monitoring devices each connected to a respective one of a plurality of steam traps, each of the steam trap monitoring devices including at least one sensor operable to monitor a parameter of the respective steam trap, a transforming apparatus operable to transform the parameter into data, and a transmitter operable to transmit the data to a computer; and

a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data, the algorithm including an environmental program module for making

     1) an efficiency analysis of a steam trap system and

     2) an emissions analysis based on steam and emitted constituents other than steam caused by the current operation of the steam trap from the data, the computer generating an output based upon the algorithm, the output being one of output data stored in a data storage device and output data transmitted to a user interface.

2. A system for analyzing steam trap data comprising:

a plurality of steam trap monitoring devices each connected to a respective one of a plurality of steam traps, each of the steam trap monitoring devices including at least one sensor operable to monitor a parameter of the respective steam trap, a transforming apparatus operable to transform the parameter into data, and a transmitter operable to transmit the data to a computer; and

a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data, the algorithm including an operational program module for making an analysis of the data, the computer generating an output based upon the algorithm, the output being a present operating condition report, the condition report having a priority of one of immediate use by personnel or one of output data stored in a data storage device, the output sending a notification to specific personnel based on the condition report.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the algorithm includes an economic program module.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the algorithm includes a predictive program module.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the steam trap monitoring device includes an internet enabled transmitter for transmitting the data to the computer.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the computer is operable to transmit output to an output device, the output being based upon the algorithm evaluation of the data.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the computer is operable to transmit output to a user interface device.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the algorithm is automatically executed to evaluate the data upon the computer'"'"'s receiving the data.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the algorithm includes a program module operable to be executed upon the computer receiving an execution request from a user interface.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the computer includes a storage device and is operable to store output to the storage device, the output being based upon the algorithm evaluation of the data.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is operable to retrieve the stored output from the storage device and operable to transmit the retrieved output to a user interface device.

12. A system for analyzing steam trap data comprising:

a plurality of steam trap monitoring devices each connected to a respective one of a plurality of steam traps, each of the steam trap monitoring devices including at least one sensor operable to monitor a parameter of the respective steam trap, a transforming apparatus operable to transform the parameter into data, and a transmitter operable to transmit the data to a computer; and

a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data, the algorithm including a remedial program module for making an analysis of the data, the computer generating output based upon the algorithm, the output being one of a repair schedule or a work order for maintenance to repair a particular steam trap and output data stored in a data storage device.

13. A method of analyzing steam trap data comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of steam trap monitoring devices each connected to a respective one of a plurality of steam traps, each of the steam trap monitoring devices including at least one sensor operable to monitor a parameter of the respective steam trap, a transforming apparatus operable to transform the parameter into data, and a transmitter operable to transmit data to a computer and providing a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data, the algorithm including an operational program module for making an analysis of the data and generating a condition report indicating a priority of a steam trap present operating condition;

(b) using the steam trap monitoring device to monitor a parameter of a steam trap, transform the parameter into data, and transmit the data to the computer; and

(c) using the computer to receive the data, and evaluate the data with the operational assessment program module of the algorithm; and

(d) generating a condition report indicating the present operating condition of the steam trap, and using the computer to generate an output based upon the condition report, the output comprising sending a notification to specific personnel based on the condition report and storing the condition report in a data storage device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the algorithm includes an economic assessment program module and wherein step (c) further includes generating a cost/benefit analysis of repairing the steam trap.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the algorithm includes an environmental assessment program module.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the algorithm includes an remedial assessment program and wherein step (c) further includes generating a repair schedule for maintenance of the steam trap.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the algorithm includes a predictive assessment program module, the predictive assessment program module using steam tray history information and wherein step (c) further includes generating a potential problem report.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein step (b) further comprises using a repeater to relay the data from the steam trap monitoring device to the computer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the repeater is a transceiver operable to relay the data from the steam trap monitoring device to the computer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the transceiver is an internet enabled transceiver.

21. A system for analyzing steam trap data comprising:

a plurality of steam trap monitoring devices each connected to a respective one of a plurality of steam traps, each of the steam trap monitoring devices including at least one sensor operable to monitor a parameter of the respective steam trap, a transforming apparatus operable to transform the parameter into data, and a transmitter operable to transmit the data to a computer; and

a computer operable to receive the data, the computer including an algorithm for evaluating the data, the algorithm including an operational program module for making an analysis of the data, the operational program module configured to rank an operating condition of the steam trap and generate an output based on the steam trap operating condition ranking, the output including a notification of the steam trap operating condition sent to specific personnel based on the operating condition ranking.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the output is a condition report indicating the present operating condition of the steam trap, the condition report generated by the computer indicating the data priority ranking as being one of a high priority for immediate use by personnel or a low priority where the data is stored in a data storage device.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the algorithm includes an economic module configured to output a repair cost based on the current condition of the steam trap.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the economic module is configured to generate a cost/benefit analysis of repairing the steam trap based on the data of the steam trap condition.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the algorithm includes an environmental module configured to assess an environmental impact of the steam trap condition, the environmental impact being a function of at least one of efficiency and emission of the steam trap.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the environmental module is configured to generate an impact report based upon the steam trap condition, the report comparing known emission values to the data of the steam trap condition, the data including at least one of CO₂, SO_X, and NO_X emissions.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein the algorithm includes a predictive module configured to evaluate potential steam trap problems based on the data of the steam trap condition.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the predictive module is configured to access information of at least one of steam trap performance history, model specific specifications, and steam trap location to generate an output based on the evaluation of potential steam trap problems.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein the operational program module is configured to rank the data according to priority of the steam trap condition based on output of at least one of an economic module output of a cost/benefit analysis of repairing the steam trap, an environmental module output of an assessment of an environmental impact of the steam trap condition, and a predictive module output of an evaluation of potential steam trap problems.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the output of the operational module is a notification of the steam trap condition associated with the high priority ranked data.