Flame ionization detector management system

• US 8,271,208 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LDARtools Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LDARtools Incorporated
• Inventors: Moses, Kevin, Bolinger, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIVERA VARGAS, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/474,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 702/24, 702/85, 702/23, 324/464
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 with calibration coefficients stored in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/626 using heat to ionise a gas

Abstract

A method for calibrating a flame ionization detector (FID). The method includes receiving a request to schedule a calibration. After scheduling the calibration, a flow request command is sent to a gas distribution system at a scheduled calibration. The flow request command instructs the gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID. After the gas distribution system provides the gas at the gas concentration level to the FID, the method includes receiving a raw count from the FID and correlating the raw count with the gas and the gas concentration level provided to the FID. The method then stores the results of the correlation in a calibration log.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

receiving one or more scheduled times for calibration;

sending a first ignition command to the FID to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receiving a first temperature value of the chamber;

determining whether the first temperature value is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value;

sending one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID at the scheduled times if the first temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value;

receiving one or more raw counts from the FID;

determining one or more correlations between the raw counts, the gas and the gas concentration level provided to the FID; and

storing the correlations in a calibration log.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the raw counts represent the gas concentration level.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the calibration log to the FID.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the flow request commands and the calibration log are sent via a wireless communications interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the gas to use during the calibration and the gas concentration level of the gas to use during the calibration.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second ignition command to the FID to ignite a second ignition source located in the chamber of the FID if the first temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value;

receiving a second temperature value of the chamber;

determining whether the second temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value; and

sending the flow request commands to the gas distribution system if the second temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a message describing a failure of the first ignition source.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a message describing a failure of the second ignition source if the second temperature value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the calibration log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the calibration of the FID, a scheduled time for the calibration of the FID, a date in which the calibration of the FID was performed, a time in which the calibration of the FID was performed, the gas supplied during the calibration, the gas concentration level supplied during the calibration, the raw counts received during the calibration, or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the scheduled date and time with the date and time in which the FID was calibrated; and

displaying a message describing a missed calibration if the scheduled date and time do not match the date and time in which the FID was calibrated.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the scheduled date with the date in which the FID was calibrated; and

displaying a message describing a missed calibration if the scheduled date does not match the date in which the FID was calibrated.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message describing a failure in the calibration of the FID if the raw counts are not received.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a record about a maintenance performed on the FID;

receiving information about one or more scheduled maintenances to be performed on the FID;

storing the record and the information on a maintenance log; and

sending the maintenance log to the FID.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a notice when the scheduled maintenances are not performed.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

16. A method for validating a calibration of a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

receiving one or more scheduled times for a validation of the calibration;

automatically sending one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID at the one or more scheduled times;

receiving one or more raw counts from the FID;

determining whether the FID passes the validation;

storing a validation result in a validation log, wherein the validation log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the validation, a scheduled time for the validation, a date in which the validation was performed, a time in which the validation was performed, the gas supplied during the validation, the gas concentration level supplied during the validation, the raw counts received during the validation, or combinations thereof;

comparing the scheduled date and time with the date and time in which the validation was performed; and

displaying a message describing a missed validation if the scheduled date and time do not match the date and time in which the validation was performed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the raw counts represent the gas concentration level.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sending the validation log to the FID.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the gas to use during the validation and the gas concentration level of the gas to use during the validation.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a message describing a failure in the validation of the FID if the raw counts were not received.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein determining whether the FID passes the validation comprises:

identifying an expected raw count for the gas and the gas concentration level according to a calibration log;

comparing the expected raw count with the raw count received from the FID; and

determining that the FID passes the validation if the expected raw count matches the raw count within a specified tolerance.

22. A system, comprising:

a flame ionization detector (FID) comprising;

a first ignition source and a second ignition source located in a chamber of the FID; and

a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature inside the chamber; and

one or more computer devices in communication with the FID, wherein each computer device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

send a first ignition command to the FID to ignite the first ignition source;

receive a first temperature value of the chamber from the temperature sensor after a predetermined amount of time; and

send a second ignition command to the FID to ignite the second ignition source if the first temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to display a message describing a failure of the first ignition source.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory further comprises program instructions executable by the processor to:

receive a second temperature value of the chamber from the temperature sensor after the predetermined amount of time;

determine whether the second temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value; and

display a message describing a failure of the second ignition source if the second temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory comprises records of the calibration of the FID, the validation of the FID, the maintenance of the FID, or combination thereof.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising a battery power source configured to power the FID.

27. A method for initializing a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

sending a first ignition command to the FID to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receiving a first temperature value of the chamber from a temperature sensor disposed inside the chamber after a predetermined amount of time; and

sending a second ignition command to the FID to ignite a second ignition source located in the chamber if the first temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising displaying a message describing a failure of the first ignition source.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a second temperature value of the chamber from the temperature sensor after the predetermined amount of time;

determining whether the second temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value; and

displaying a message describing a failure of the second ignition source if the second temperature is less than the predetermined temperature value.

30. A method for determining whether a calibration event has occurred in a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

receiving a calibration log from the FID, wherein the calibration log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for a calibration of the FID, a scheduled time for the calibration of the FID, a date in which the calibration of the FID was performed, a time in which the calibration of the FID was performed, a gas supplied during the calibration, a gas concentration level supplied during the calibration, a raw count received during the calibration, or combinations thereof;

comparing the scheduled date with the date in which the FID was calibrated;

displaying a message describing a missed calibration if the scheduled date does not match the date in which the FID was calibrated; and

displaying a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

31. A method for determining whether a validation event has occurred in a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

receiving a validation log from the FID, wherein the validation log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the validation of the FID, a scheduled time for the validation of the FID, a date in which the validation of the FID was performed, a time in which the validation of the FID was performed, a gas supplied during the validation, a gas concentration level supplied during the validation, a raw count received during the validation, or combinations thereof;

comparing the scheduled date with the date in which the FID was validated;

displaying a message describing a missed validation if the scheduled date does not match the date in which the FID was validated; and

displaying a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

32. A method for storing a record about a maintenance performed on a flame ionization detector (FID), comprising:

receiving information about one or more scheduled maintenances to be performed on the FID;

receiving a record about the maintenance performed on the FID;

storing the record and the information on a maintenance log, wherein the maintenance log comprises one or more repair records, one or more maintenance checks, one or more replacement parts, one or more confirmations of flow rates, one or more battery replacements or combinations thereof; and

sending the maintenance log to FID;

displaying a notice when the scheduled maintenances are not performed; and

displaying a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

33. A system, comprising:

a flame ionization detector (FID); and

one or more computer devices in communication with the FID, wherein each computer device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

receive one or more scheduled times for calibration;

send a first ignition command to the FID to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receive a first temperature value of the chamber;

determine whether the first temperature value is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value;

send one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID at the scheduled times if the first temperature is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value;

receive one or more raw counts from the FID for the one or more scheduled times;

determine one or more correlations between the raw counts, the gas and the gas concentration level provided to the FID; and

store the correlations in a calibration log.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the flame ionization detector comprises a battery power source configured to power the FID.

35. A system, comprising:

a flame ionization detector (FID); and

one or more computer devices in communication with the FID, wherein each computer device comprises;

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to;

receive one or more scheduled times for a validation of a calibration;

send a first ignition command to the FID to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receive a first temperature value of the chamber;

determine whether the first temperature value is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value;

send one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID at the scheduled times if the first temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value;

determine whether the FID passes the validation; and

store a validation result in a validation log.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the flame ionization detector comprises a battery power source configured to power the FID.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive one or more scheduled times for calibration;

send a first ignition command to a flame ionization detector (FID) to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receive a first temperature value of the chamber;

determine whether the first temperature value is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value;

send one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to the FID at the scheduled times if the first temperature value is equal to or greater than the predetermined temperature value;

receive one or more raw counts from the FID;

determine one or more correlations between the raw counts, the gas and the gas concentration level provided to the FID; and

store the correlations in a calibration log.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a calibration log from a flame ionization detector (FID), wherein the calibration log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the calibration of the FID, a scheduled time for the calibration of the FID, a date in which the calibration of the FID was performed, a time in which the calibration of the FID was performed, a gas supplied during the calibration, a gas concentration level supplied during the calibration, a raw count received during the calibration, or combinations thereof;

compare the scheduled date with the date in which the FID was calibrated;

display a message describing a missed calibration if the scheduled date does not match the date in which the FID was calibrated; and

display a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive a validation log from a flame ionization detector (FID), wherein the validation log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the validation of the FID, a scheduled time for the validation of the FID, a date in which the validation of the FID was performed, a time in which the validation of the FID was performed, a gas supplied during the validation, a gas concentration level supplied during the validation, a raw count received during the validation, or combinations thereof;

compare the scheduled date with the date in which the FID was validated;

display a message describing a missed validation if the scheduled date does not match the date in which the FID was validated; and

display a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive information about one or more scheduled maintenances to be performed on a flame ionization detector (FID);

receive a record about a maintenance performed on the FID;

store the record and the information on a maintenance log, wherein the maintenance log comprises one or more repair records, one or more maintenance checks, one or more replacement parts, one or more confirmations of flow rates, one or more battery replacements or combinations thereof;

send the maintenance log to the FID;

display a notice when the scheduled maintenances are not performed; and

display a notice when a periodic maintenance on the FID is required.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

send a first ignition command to a flame ionization detector (FID) to ignite a first ignition source located in a chamber of the FID;

receive a first temperature value of the chamber from a temperature sensor disposed inside the chamber after a predetermined amount of time; and

send a second ignition command to the FID to ignite a second ignition source located in the chamber if the first temperature value is less than the predetermined temperature value.

42. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive one or more scheduled times for a validation of a calibration;

automatically send one or more flow request commands to a gas distribution system to provide a gas at a gas concentration level to a flame ionization detector (FID) at the one or more scheduled times;

receive one or more raw counts from the FID;

determine whether the FID passes the validation;

storing a validation result in a validation log, wherein the validation log comprises an identifier of the FID, a scheduled date for the validation, a scheduled time for the validation, a date in which the validation was performed, a time in which the validation was performed, the gas supplied during the validation, the gas concentration level supplied during the validation, the raw counts received during the validation, or combinations thereof;

comparing the scheduled date and time with the date and time in which the validation was performed; and

displaying a message describing a missed validation if the scheduled date and time do not match the date and time in which the validation was performed.