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

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- Number: US 10,870,970 B2
- Document ID: US10870970B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/636,445
- Filed: 2017-06-28
- Published: 2017-10-19
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-14
- Assignees: Reliance Worldwide Corporation
- Applicants: Reliance Worldwide Corporation
- Inventors: Michael Hammond; Francis M. Mess; Samuel Elia; Jorge C. Almirall; Brian Gestner; Jeffrey L. Leaders; Mathew Shane Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870970B2

## CPC

- E03B 7/071: {Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off}
- E03B 7/072: {Arrangement of flowmeters}
- F17D 5/06: using electric or acoustic means
- G01F 1/66: by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
- G01F 1/662: {Constructional details}
- G01F 1/667: Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
- G01F 25/10: of flowmeters
- G01M 3/243: {for pipes}
- G01M 3/2807: {for pipes (G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence)}
- G01M 3/2815: {using pressure measurements}
- G08B 5/222: {Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems (selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00)}
- G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold}
- G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture
- G01F 15/005: {Valves (valves in general F16K)}
- G01F 15/14: Casings, e.g. of special material
- G01F 15/185: {Connecting means, e.g. bypass conduits}
- E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D)
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein responsive to detecting the fluid leak event, the at least one processor is:
actuating the shut-off valve to block fluid flow in the pipe; or
sending a warning message to a client device via a communication interface, the leak detection system including the communication interface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate comprises:
computing a difference between the first fluid flow parameter estimate and the second fluid flow parameter estimate; and
comparing the difference to a threshold value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The leak detection system of claim 3, wherein detecting the fluid leak event comprises detecting the fluid leak event if the difference exceeds the threshold value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor measuring fluid pressure in the pipe downstream from the shut-off valve.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein detecting the fluid leak event comprises:
obtaining a first fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is closed;
obtaining a second fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor after opening the shut-off valve; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The leak detection system of claim 6, wherein detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on an increase in the second fluid pressure measurement relative to the first fluid pressure measurement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The leak detection system of claim 7, wherein comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
computing a difference between a first fluid pressure value associated with the first fluid pressure measurement and a second fluid pressure value associated with the second fluid pressure measurement; and
comparing the difference between the first fluid pressure value and the second fluid pressure value to a pressure threshold value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The leak detection system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor further comprises:
obtaining a fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is opened;
comparing the fluid pressure measurement to a pressure threshold value; and
generating a warning message if the fluid pressure measurement exceeds the pressure threshold value.

### Claim 11

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
closing the shut-off valve to block fluid flow in the pipe responsive to detecting the fluid leak event; or
sending a warning message to a client device via a communication interface responsive to detecting the fluid leak event.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate comprises:
computing a difference between the first fluid flow parameter estimate and the second fluid flow parameter estimate; and
comparing the difference to a threshold value.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the fluid leak event further comprises:
obtaining, by the at least one processor, a first fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is closed;
obtaining, by the at least one processor, a second fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor after opening the shut-off valve; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure more measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurements and the second fluid pressure measurements comprises:
comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement; and
determining presence of the fluid leak event responsive to an increase in the second fluid pressure measurements compared to the first fluid pressure measurements.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
computing a difference between a first fluid pressure value associated with the first fluid pressure measurement and a second fluid pressure value associated with the second fluid pressure measurement; and
comparing the difference between the first fluid pressure value and the second fluid pressure value to a pressure threshold value.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
obtaining a fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is opened;
comparing the fluid pressure measurement to a pressure threshold value; and
generating a warning message regarding a pressure regulator if the fluid pressure measurement exceeds the pressure threshold value.