The disclosed systems and method utilize the autofluorescence, optic imaging, and heat transfer resistance technologies to monitor the same simulated surface area for deposits. The systems and methods may provide continuous monitoring, detection, characterization and quantification of deposits. Utilizing this information, an associated control system may initiate alarms, initiate a chemical treatment operation, and adjust corresponding chemical treatment and preventive protocols to minimize and/or eradicate the issue.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring process water within a food processing system are provided. One example water control system for a food processing system generally includes a temperature adjustment element having an inlet and an outlet and a sensor coupled to the outlet of the temperature adjust element. The temperature adjustment element is configured to: receive, at the inlet, a portion of process water from a process water supply in a stage of the food processing system, the process water in the process water supply and the received portion of the process water having a first temperature; and cause the portion of the process water at the outlet to have a second temperature, different from the first temperature. The sensor is configured to measure at least one property of the portion of the process water received from the outlet of the temperature adjustment element.

Disclosed is a methodology for determination and prediction of heat exchanger fouling, such as polymer fouling in the circulation loop that forms part of the heat exchanger system. The buildup of a polymer or other undesired material deposit in the heat exchanger provides a distinctive temperature signature (thermal gradient) on the surface of the heat exchanger asset, which is visualized using a thermographic camera. Coupling images (thermograms) from the camera with a machine learning algorithm identifies fouling and, with knowledge of the historical data of the asset and operating and ambient conditions, enables prediction of future fouling. The thermal images provide several types, or orders, of temperature information that are indicative of locations vulnerable to fouling. In one case, the method uses machine learning applied to time-based temperature change/gradient information to detect hidden polymer fouling in areas that form part of the heat exchanger asset.

A method may include: generating a signal in a conduit; measuring the signal; generating data representing a deposit in the conduit, the data being generated by a deposition identification model, wherein the deposition identification model utilizes the signal as an input; generating a treatment plan based at least in part on the data representing the deposit; and applying a chemical additive to the conduit based at least in part on the treatment plan.

A system and method adapted to have high sensitivity to the formation of biofilm by mixed community bacteria in fluids. The system enhances corrosion imbalance by differentiating conditions between metal sensor elements immersed in the liquid being monitored. The liquid may be diverted to and flowed through a sample chamber where adjacent sensor elements may reside in different flow velocity or temperature regions. The differentiated conditions allow for different film formation on one of the sensor elements relative to the other, and also more quickly than in the main system from which the sampled liquid has been diverted. The differentiated formation allows the use of measurement of polarization current between the metal sensors to produce data with superior resolution relative to prior methods. The speed of film formation promoted by the differentiated conditions allows for determination of risk of film formation in the main system prior to that film's formation in the main system.

A system and method that determines whether a heat exchanger within a complex networked system is fouling is provided. The system and method includes training classifiers indicative of a plurality of fouling conditions associated with the heat exchanger and testing the classifiers with optimal sensor data from optimal sensors to determine whether the fouling is being experienced by the heat exchanger.

A system and method adapted to have high sensitivity to the formation of biofilm by mixed community bacteria in fluids. The system enhances corrosion imbalance by differentiating conditions between metal sensor elements immersed in the liquid being monitored. The liquid may be diverted to and flowed through a sample chamber where adjacent sensor elements may reside in different flow velocity or temperature regions. The differentiated conditions allow for different film formation on one of the sensor elements relative to the other, and also more quickly than in the main system from which the sampled liquid has been diverted. The differentiated formation allows the use of measurement of polarization current between the metal sensors to produce data with superior resolution relative to prior methods. The speed of film formation promoted by the differentiated conditions allows for determination of risk of film formation in the main system prior to that film's formation in the main system.

The invention relates to a method for evaluation of fouling of passages of a spacer plate (10) of a tubular heat exchanger (11), wherein first, second and third pressure sensors (31, 32, 33) are arranged, the method comprising steps of: (a) during a transient operation phase of the heat exchanger determination of a value over time of Wide Range Level NGL, from the measurements of the first and third pressure sensors (31, 33), and of a value over time of Narrow Range Level NGE, from the measurements of the second and third pressure sensors (31, 33); (b) determination of a value over time of Steam Range Level deviation NGV, corresponding to the NGL from which a component representative of a variation of free water surface in the heat exchanger has been filtered, from the values of NGL and NGE; (c) comparison of the determined value of NGV with a set of reference profiles NGV.sub.i for said transient operation phase of the heat exchanger, each reference profile NGV.sub.i being associated with a level of fouling so as to identify a target reference profile NGV.sub.opt among the reference profiles NGV.sub.i for said transient operation phase of the heat exchanger, which is that closest to the determined value NGV. (d) restored on an interface (3) of the level of fouling associated with the identified target reference profile NGV.sub.opt.

A system and method that determines whether a heat exchanger within a complex networked system is fouling is provided. The system and method includes training classifiers indicative of a plurality of fouling conditions associated with the heat exchanger and testing the classifiers with optimal sensor data from optimal sensors to determine whether the fouling is being experienced by the heat exchanger.

A pipe diagnostic system includes a sensor capsule, measurement circuitry and a controller. The sensor capsule is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of a pipe and has at least one temperature sensitive element disposed therein. The measurement circuitry is coupled to the sensor capsule and is configured to measure an electrical characteristic of the at least one temperature sensitive element and provide an indication of the measurement. The controller is coupled to the measurement circuitry and is configured to obtain a transmitter reference measurement and employ a heat transfer calculation with the transmitter reference measurement and the indication to generate an estimated process fluid temperature. The controller is further configured to obtain an indication of process fluid temperature and provide a pipe diagnostic indication based on a comparison of the estimated process fluid temperature and the obtained indication of process fluid temperature.