The invention relates generally to an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled wireless sensor system using attached and/or embedded passive electromagnetic sensors (PES) with distribution hardware. One embodiment of this invention includes a wireless sensor system, which permits process control and predictive maintenance on a utility's electrical transmission and distribution grid. Another embodiment includes a wireless sensor system, which permits process control and predictive maintenance of liquid or gas through a pipeline. Another embodiment includes a wireless sensor system, which permits measurement of breathable air pollutants. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a protective passive electromagnetic sensor pod and passive electromagnetic sensor equipped distribution hardware components is provided.

Systems and methods relate to testing and/or monitoring acoustic emissions detected at composite structures, such as carbon fiber structures, intended for use in extreme conditions, such as in high pressure conditions, high or low temperature conditions, conditions in which the composite structure is subjected to mechanical impacts, or the like. The systems and protocols are suitable for use with composite structures comprising, e.g., carbon fiber structures, such as hollow or partially hollow structures used in submersible vehicles, spacecraft, gas-fillable storage containers, pressure vessels, and the like, that are subjected to extreme conditions during use. Systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to collecting and analyzing data, determining background conditions, differentiating and classifying signals, conditioning or curing a material or structure, assessing, rating and/or validating the “health” of a material or structure in real-time, determining alarm conditions, predicting failure conditions, and the like.

There is provided a method and an apparatus analysing the condition of a liquid conduit system. Data is received from at least one sensor indicative of pressure within the system and then processed to generate an inflexion coded data subset for each sensor. The inflexion coded data is then cycle counted across at least one time period to generate a second data subset for each time period comprising a count of pressure cycles, the amplitude of these pressure cycles and an average pressure. A cumulative pressure-induced stress can then be calculated for each of the at least one time periods using the second data subset.

A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc. Such consumer noise level measurement at the consumer site allows collection of noise level data to assist in locating fluid leakages in a fluid supply pipe system.

A method for dynamically evaluating sag of a fluid by providing a test volume of the fluid into an angled sample chamber, wherein the angled sample chamber has a central axis, and wherein the central axis of the angled sample chamber is angled relative to horizontal, rotating the sample chamber about the central axis for a test period, and determining a sag density, wherein the sag density is a density of a fluid sample taken at a sample location within a stratum of the test volume of the fluid present in the angled sample chamber.

An instrumented coupling for pipe joints is described herein. The instrumented coupling includes a first threaded end configured to thread to a first pipe joint and a second threaded end configured to thread to a second pipe joint. The instrumented coupling also includes a sensor configured to obtain a measurement of a parameter of a well and a communications device configured to communicate to a receiving device outside of the well. The instrumented coupling further includes a processor configured to execute instructions in a data store. The instructions direct the processor to read the measurement from the sensor, compare the measurement from the sensor to a preset limit, and generate a signal within the communications device based, at least in part, on the measurement.

A partial pressure tool for real-time measurement and adjustment of pressure and viscosity and a measurement method thereof. The partial pressure tool includes an outer cylinder and adjustable annular throttling grooves, and the adjustable annular throttling grooves are split-type grooves vertically and successively installed on an inner wall of the outer cylinder at equal intervals. Four single throttling grooves are adjacent to each other and arranged concentrically on a circumferential surface. A viscometer is installed on a surface of an arc-shaped inner plate in a tail-end adjustable annular throttling groove. The viscometer is connected to an induction board through a transmission line. The arc-shaped inner plate in the tail-end adjustable annular throttling groove is provided with a pressure sensor and a torque sensor, and the pressure sensor and the torque sensor both are connected to the induction board. The induction board is connected to a DSP control module.

A consumption meter, e.g. a water or heat meter, for measuring a flow rate of a fluid supplied in a flow tube. First and second ultrasonic transducers are arranged at the flow tube for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic signals transmitted through the fluid and operated by a flow measurement sub-circuit for generating a signal indicative of the flow rate of the fluid. A noise measurement sub-circuit operates a sensor arranged at the flow tube for detection of acoustic signals of the flow tube, and being arranged to generate a signal indicative of a noise level of the flow tube accordingly. This sensor may comprise a separate transducer, or the sensor may be constituted by one or both of the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The consumption meter may communicate data representative of the noise level via a communication module along with data consumed amount of water, heat etc. Such consumer noise level measurement at the consumer site allows collection of noise level data to assist in locating fluid leakages in a fluid supply pipe system.

An environmental condition may be measured with a sensor (10) including a wire (20) having an ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic that varies in response to the environmental condition by sensing ultrasonic energy propagated through the wire using multiple types of propagation, and separating an effect of temperature on the wire from an effect of strain on the wire using the sensed ultrasonic energy propagated through the wire using the multiple types of propagation. A positive feedback loop may be used to excite the wire such that strain in the wire is based upon a sensed resonant frequency, while a square wave with a controlled duty cycle may be used to excite the wire at multiple excitation frequencies. A phase matched cone (200, 210) may be used to couple ultrasonic energy between a waveguide wire (202, 212) and a transducer (204, 214).

According to one embodiment, an estimating apparatus includes an insertion tube, a first sensor, a second sensor, a processing unit, an adder, and an analyzer. The insertion tube is detachably mounted midway along a coupling tube that couples an excitation source to a main unit. The first sensor is provided inside the insertion tube at a first distance from an exit of a space housing the excitation source. The second sensor is provided at a second distance from the first sensor. The processing unit performs filter processing to a first signal obtained by the first sensor. The adder adds a filtered signal and a second signal obtained by the second sensor, the first signal being the first signal having undergone filter processing by the processing unit. The analyzer analyzes a frequency of a signal obtained by the adder.