US 10,870,970 B2 · Methods and apparatus for fluid flow monitoring and leak detection

Abstract

According to at least one aspect, a fluid flow monitoring system includes an ultrasonic sensor for generating measurement signals associated with respective ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid in the lumen, a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the lumen, and a controller. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor and to the shut-off valve. The controller can be configured to compute a plurality of fluid flow parameter estimates based on a plurality of measurement signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor over a time window while the shut-off valve is open. The controller can obtain an offset value associated with fluid flow parameter measurements during a zero flow state of the shut-off valve. The controller can then check for presence of a fluid leak event based on the fluid flow parameter estimates over the time window and the offset value.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system to detect a leak in a pipe, the leak detection system comprising:

an ultrasonic sensor transmitting ultrasonic signals to propagate through a fluid in the pipe and receiving respective measurement signals;
a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the pipe;
and
at least one processor:
closing the shut-off valve to block fluid flow through the pipe;
computing a first fluid flow parameter estimate of a fluid flow parameter based on a first measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor while the shut-off valve is closed, the fluid flow parameter indicative of a fluid flow rate or a fluid flow velocity;
opening the shut-off valve;
computing a second fluid flow parameter estimate of the fluid flow parameter based on a second measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor after opening the shut-off valve;
comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate;
determining, based on the comparison, that a change in the fluid flow parameter satisfies a fluid flow parameter threshold;
and
detecting, based on the determination, a fluid leak event.

9 more elements

A method for detecting a leak in a pipe comprising:

closing, by at least one processor, a shut-off valve to block fluid flow through the pipe;
computing, by the at least one processor, a first fluid flow parameter estimate of a fluid flow parameter based on a first measurement signal received by an ultrasonic sensor while the shut-off valve is closed, the fluid flow parameter includes a fluid flow rate or a fluid flow velocity;
opening, by the at least one processor, the shut-off valve;
computing, by the at least one processor, a second fluid flow parameter estimate of the fluid flow parameter based on a second measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor after opening the shut-off valve;
comparing, by the at least one processor, the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate;
determining, by the at least one processor, based on the comparison, that a change in the fluid flow parameter satisfies a fluid flow parameter threshold;
detecting, by the at least one processor, based on the determination, a fluid leak event in the pipe.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/636,445Filed 28 Jun 2017 · continuation

Priority

14 Aug 2014

Published

US 2017/0152648 A119 Oct 2017

Granted

22 Dec 2020

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

E03B 7/071
Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems: arrangement of safety devices in…
E03B 7/072
Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons or valves, in the pipe systems: arrangement of flowmeters
F17D 5/06
Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss: using electric or acoustic means
G01F 1/66
Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow: by…

Family

PCT/US2015/045418Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 2014

Application62/037,511Us provisional application · filed 14 Aug 2014

Application62/083,053Us provisional application · filed 21 Nov 2014

PCT/US2015/045414Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Aug 2015

Application15/432,678Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Feb 2017

US 2017/0298597 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Oct 2017

US 10,865,546 B2Related patent

US 2017/0152648 A1Published application

US 10,870,970 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Methods and apparatus for fluid flow monitoring and leak detection

Life of this patent

Methods and apparatus for fluid flow monitoring and leak detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17