US 7,152,004 B2 · Method and system for determining and monitoring dispensing point flow rates and pump flow capacities using dispensing events and tank level data

Abstract

A system and method for calculating the flow rate of a dispensing point or flow capacity of a pump and fuel delivery system and determining if the dispensing point or fuel delivery system has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the calculated dispensing point flow rate is other than expected. The calculated dispensing flow rate is calculated by collecting fuel tank level data points for a dispensing point that fall within start and stop events of the dispensing event. The slope of a fitted line to the fuel tank level data points is used as the indication of the flow rate of the dispensing point. Different mathematical techniques may be used to improve the flow rate calculation to compensate for the minimum resolution of collecting fuel tank level data and the dead time included in the data of a dispensing transaction.

Claims82

Dependent claims

A method of determining the flow rate of a single dispensing point for a dispensing transaction in a service station using dispensing point dispensing start and end event data and tank probe fuel level data from a fuel tank which supplies fuel to the single dispensing point, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving tank level data that is a record of the tank level of the fuel tank that supplies fuel to the dispensing point to formulate a plurality of tank level data points;
(b) determining the start of the dispensing transaction using a dispensing start event for the dispensing point;
(c) determining the end of the dispensing transaction using a dispensing end event for the dispensing point;
(d) defining a region of interest in the plurality of tank level data points between the start of the dispensing transaction and the end of the dispensing transaction;
(e) determining the amount of fuel dispensed by the dispensing point in the region of interest;
(f) calculating the flow rate of the dispensing point for the dispensing transaction based on the amount of fuel dispensed by the dispensing point in the region of interest and the duration in the region of interest;
and
(g) storing the calculated dispensing flow rate.

5 more elements

A system for determining the flow rate of a single dispensing point for a dispensing transaction in a service station using dispensing point dispensing start and end event data and tank probe fuel level data from a fuel tank which supplies fuel to the single dispensing point, comprising:

a tank that contains fuel;
a probe electronically coupled to a control system having memory wherein the probe determines the tank level of the tank and communicates the tank level to a control system;
a fuel dispenser, comprising:
a dispensing point;
a controller coupled to the dispensing point wherein the controller:
controls fueling through said dispensing point;
generates a dispensing start event when fueling is allowed to be dispensed through the dispensing point;
and
generates a dispensing end event when fueling is no longer allowed to be dispensed through said dispensing point;
said control system adapted to:
(a) receive tank level data that is a record of the tank level of the fuel tank that supplies fuel to the dispensing point to formulate a plurality of tank level data points;
(b) determine the start of the dispensing transaction using a dispensing start event for the dispensing point;
(c) determine the end of the dispensing transaction using a dispensing end event for the dispensing point;
(d) define a region of interest in the plurality of tank level data points between the start of the dispensing transaction and the end of the dispensing transaction;
(e) determine the amount of fuel dispensed by the dispensing point in the region of interest;
and
(f) calculate the flow rate of the dispensing point for the dispensing transaction based on the amount of fuel dispensed by the dispensing point in the region of interest and the duration in the region of interest.

14 more elements

A method of determining the capacity of a pump and/or the flow rate of a dispensing point for a dispensing transaction in a service station using dispensing point dispensing start and end event data and tank probe data from a tank for multiple concurrent dispensing transactions, comprising the steps of:

(I) receiving tank level data that is a record of the tank level of the fuel tank that supplies fuel to a plurality of dispensing points using the pump to formulate a plurality of tank level data points;
(II) receiving the start of dispensing transactions using dispensing start events for the plurality of dispensing points;
(III) receiving the end of dispensing transactions using dispensing end events for the plurality of dispensing points;
and
(IV) determining periods in the plurality of tank level data points where more than one dispensing point is active;
and
for each of the periods:
(a) determining the number of dispensing points that are active in the plurality of tank level data points;
(b) determining the start of the dispensing transactions using dispensing start events for the dispensing points;
(c) determining the end of the dispensing transactions using dispensing end events for the dispensing points;
(d) defining a region of interest in the plurality of tank level data points between the start of the dispensing transactions and the end of the dispensing transactions;
(e) determining the amount of fuel dispensed by the plurality of dispensing points in the region of interest;
(f) calculating an aggregate dispensing flow rate of the dispensing points based on the amount of fuel dispensed by the plurality of dispensing points in the region of interest and the duration in the region of interest;
and
(g) storing the calculated dispensing flow rate.

12 more elements

A system for determining the capacity of a pump and/or the flow rate of a dispensing point for a dispensing transaction in a service station using dispensing point dispensing start and end event data and tank probe data from a tank from multiple concurrent dispensing transactions, comprising:

a probe electronically coupled to a control system having memory wherein the probe determines the tank level of the tank and communicates the tank level to the control system;
said control system adapted to:
(I) receive tank level data that is a record of the tank level of the fuel tank that supplies fuel to a plurality of dispensing points using the pump to formulate a plurality of tank level data points;
(II) receive the start of dispensing transactions using dispensing start events for the plurality of dispensing points;
(III) receive the end of dispensing transactions using dispensing end events for the plurality of dispensing points;
and
(IV) determine periods in the plurality of tank level data points where more than one dispensing point is active;
and
for each of the periods:
(a) determine the number of dispensing points that are active in the plurality of tank level data points;
(b) determine the start of the dispensing transactions using dispensing start events for the dispensing points;
(c) determine the end of the dispensing transactions using dispensing end events for the dispensing points;
(d) define a region of interest in the plurality of tank level data points between the start of the dispensing transactions and the end of the dispensing transactions;
(e) determine the amount of fuel dispensed by the plurality of dispensing points in the region of interest;
and
(f) calculate an aggregate dispensing flow rate of the dispensing points based on the amount of fuel dispensed by the plurality of dispensing points in the region of interest and the duration in the region of interest.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for determining and monitoring dispensing point flow rates and pump flow capacities using dispensing events and tank level data

Life of this patent

Method and system for determining and monitoring dispensing point flow rates and pump flow capacities using dispensing events and tank level data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims82