US 9,851,277 B2Granted

Network manageable advanced gas sensor apparatus and method

AssigneeSolon Manufacturing Company

InventorKarl Frederick Scheucher

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Mechanical, electronic, algorithmic, and computer network facets are combined to create a highly integrated advanced gas sensor. A sensor is integrated into switchgear housings. These sensors integrated into high voltage switchgear products, deployed by electric utility end users in replacement and expansion cycles, function to detect and mitigate atmospheric pollution caused by leaking SF6. As its associated gas insulated tank is charged with 10 to 350 lbs. of SF6, each gas sensor monitors its local cache of gas, accurately sensing and computing fractional percentage losses (emissions) and gains (maintenance replacement) in SF6 mass, storing data in onboard data logs, and communicating data when triggered by detection events or in response to remote requests over a hierarchical communications network, a process that continues without labor until a fractional leak is automatically detected and reported creating the opportunity for early leak mitigation.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for computing gas density comprising the steps of:

acquiring a raw temperature measurement from a temperature probe in connection with a gas;
converting said raw temperature measurement to an accurate temperature reading using pre-determined temperature calibration information;
acquiring a raw displacement measurement from a displacement sensor in connection with a moveable element responding to the pressure and to the temperature of said gas;
converting said raw displacement measurement to an accurate displacement measurement using pre-determined displacement calibration information;
determining a nominal pressure measurement corresponding to said accurate displacement measurement using pre-determined displacement to pressure transformation information;
converting said nominal pressure measurement to an accurate pressure reading using said accurate temperature reading in conjunction with pre-determined temperature to pressure compensation information, and
computing the density of said gas using said accurate temperature reading and said accurate pressure reading in conjunction with a gas law.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/935,440Filed 8 Nov 2015 · continuation
Priority: 5 Aug 2011
Published: US 2016/0061706 A13 Mar 2016
Granted: 26 Dec 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01M 3/26
By using fluid or vacuum: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
G01D 5/142
Influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage: using Hall-effect devices
G01K 7/22
Using resistive elements: the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor
G01M 3/002
Investigating fluid-tightness of structures: by using thermal means

Family

Application61/515,834Us provisional application · filed 5 Aug 2011
Application61/542,261Us provisional application · filed 2 Oct 2011
Application13/568,108Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Aug 2012
US 2016/0061706 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Mar 2016
US 9,212,966 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2013/0031958 A1Published application
US 9,851,277 B2This patent

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