G01M3/2807

Variable rate monitoring in flow-based metering systems
11359934 · 2022-06-14 · ·

Certain aspects and features include techniques for reporting resource flow at a metering device. In an example, a metering device measures resource flow by measuring a pressure or a flow rate. The metering device sets a reporting rate to a default reporting rate. The metering device transmits communications indicating the measured resource flow to an external device at the reporting rate. The metering device detects seismic activity at the metering device. The metering device determines that the seismic activity exceeds a seismic threshold. The metering device, in response to determining that the seismic activity exceeds the seismic threshold, adjusts the reporting rate to an event reporting rate, and starts an event time period. The metering device, transmits communications indicating the measured resource flow to the external device at the event reporting rate during the event time period.

REUSABLE PIPE INTEGRITY TEST HEAD SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Techniques for implementing and operating a system that includes a pipe segment, which has tubing that defines a bore and a fluid conduit implemented in an annulus of the tubing, and a test head. The test head includes a shell, which defines an annulus cavity, and an inflatable bladder implemented in the annulus cavity, in which the system maintains the inflatable securing bladder in a less inflated state while pipe segment tubing is not present in the annulus cavity and increases inflation of the inflatable bladder to a more inflated state when the tubing is present in the annulus cavity to facilitate securing and sealing an open end of the pipe segment in the test head to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into the annulus of the tubing via a testing port on the shell.

SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR DETECTING AND CONTROLLING LEAKS OF LIQUIDS OR GASES
20220146363 · 2022-05-12 ·

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for detecting leaks or blockages of liquids or gases in a transporting network. In various embodiments, ether a flow or pressure detector is attached to the network, changes are sensed over time, and data about flow or pressure is sent to and from a controller. In alternative embodiments, static and dynamic states are identified to discover relatively small leaks or blockages, sometimes by emptying the network in whole or in part. In some embodiments, aggregate measurement data is processed to identify usage and performance features particular to the transporting network, which allows a continuous improvement in the measurement of leaks and flow direction. In some embodiments, one detector can measure changes in multiple paths of the transporting network. In some embodiments, corrective action is taken automatically, while in other embodiments human operators order corrective action.

LOW TEMPERATURE PIPE SYSTEM TESTING
20230258525 · 2023-08-17 ·

A method of testing a pipe system with a testing apparatus is disclosed including a container, a cooling chamber in the container, and a cold head in the cooling chamber. The method includes loading the pipe system into the container; cooling a fluid, such as Helium gas, in the cooling chamber with the cold head to generate a cooled fluid; feeding the cooled fluid into the pipe system in the container; and taking a test measurement of the pipe system containing the cooled fluid.

Efficient method for localizing leaks in water supply pipe network based on valve operations and online water metering

The present disclosure belongs to the field of municipal engineering and urban water supply network, and provides an efficient method for localizing leaks in a districted metering area (DMA) of water supply pipe networks based on valve operations and online water metering, which is implemented in multiple stages to gradually reduce the leaking area. At each stage, the DMA is firstly decomposed into two sub-areas using an optimized valve operation strategy determined by a minimized objective function, wherein a graph theory-based method is used for the solution. Then the sub-areas containing leaks are identified through online water balance analysis based on smart demand meters, thereby reducing the leaking area. The minimum leaking area is identified with the least number of valve operations. Compared with the traditional methods, the method of the present disclosure can obviously improve the efficiency and accuracy of leak localization and is easy to implement.

PRESSURE-ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HIGH-PRESSURE GAS SEALING DETECTION

A pressure-adjustable auxiliary control system for high-pressure gas sealing detection includes: a high-pressure chamber environment monitoring unit configured to construct high-pressure test gas sealing environment and to test sealing performance of a sealing member; a first gas pipeline divided into two branches, of which one branch is connected to the high-pressure chamber environment monitoring unit as a first gas replacement path; a second gas pipeline which is connected to a test gas pressurization path together with the other branch of the first gas pipeline, where a first booster pump processing unit and a second booster pump processing unit are sequentially arranged in the test gas pressurization path for pressurizing the test gas, and are connected to the high-pressure chamber environment monitoring unit; a system air control module configured for control of respective air control valves; and a booster pump air control module and a driving air source preprocessing unit.

Gas shutoff system
11320336 · 2022-05-03 ·

A natural gas automatic shutoff system can analyze the flow rate of natural gas through a pipe. When an anomaly is detected, the device can prevent further flow of natural gas through the pipe and can automatically notify the homeowner or authorized monitor, such as through a cell phone application or other device. Additionally, the homeowner or authorized monitor can manually control and/or monitor the flow of gas through the pipe in real-time, such as through a cell phone application or other device. At least one exemplary embodiment uses a motorized ball valve to control the flow of gas, a flow meter to measure the rate of natural gas flow through the pipe, and a microcomputer to analyze the flow and send notifications to the homeowner or authorized monitor.

Method and Apparatus for Acoustically Detecting Fluid Leaks
20220128430 · 2022-04-28 ·

A system used in monitoring one or more operating parameters of a coolant-fluid cooled industrial installation includes one or more an acoustic sensors positioned to receive and sense one or more acoustic signals in an installation coolant-fluid flow. The acoustic sensor assembly operates to emit and sense acoustic signals at frequency ranges above and/or below the background noise frequency ranges which are associated with the normal industrial installation operation. Output data signals representative of sensed acoustic signals are compared to target frequency profiles predetermined as representing an acoustic frequency associated with a predetermined installation operating parameter or event.

POLY WELDED ANNULUS TEST HEAD SYSTEMS AND METHODS
20220128429 · 2022-04-28 ·

Techniques implementing and/or operating a system includes a pipe segment and a test head assembly secured to the pipe segment. The pipe segment includes tubing that defines a pipe bore through the pipe segment and a fluid conduit in a tubing annulus of the pipe segment. The test head assembly includes barrier material poly welded to the tubing of the pipe segment to facilitate sealing the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus from environmental conditions external to the tubing of the pipe segment and a fluid port fluidly connected to the fluid conduit defined within the tubing annulus to enable integrity of the tubing to be tested at least in part by flowing a test fluid into the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus via the fluid port, extracting fluid from the fluid conduit defined in the tubing annulus via the fluid port, or both.

FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM

Techniques for managing delivery of water or other fluids have been disclosed. A central server provides real-time data and cost analysis to a client. In addition, fluid delivery techniques provide alerts or automatic schedule suspensions to reduce risk of loss. The techniques reduce or eliminate the impact of air or gas captured with water or other fluid of a fluid delivery system. The techniques allow a preexisting fluid delivery system to be retrofitted to communicate with a central system and one or more sensors of a fluid delivery system.