Method and device for dissolved gas analysis
09846148 ยท 2017-12-19
Assignee
Inventors
- Sandip Maity (Karnataka, IN)
- Nagapriya Kavoori Sethurnadhavan (Bangalore, IN)
- Samhitha Palanganda Poonacha (Karnataka, IN)
- Prashanth Raghavendra Prasad (Karnataka, IN)
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A system, comprising at least one source for irradiating electromagnetic radiation into a sample fluid and a reference fluid resulting in a change in a temperature of the sample fluid and a change in a temperature of the reference fluid, and a processing subsystem that monitors and determines a concentration of a gas of interest dissolved in the sample fluid based upon a difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid, wherein the reference fluid does not contain the gas of interest, and the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range corresponding to a spectral absorption range of the gas of interest.
Claims
1. A method, comprising: irradiating, in a first irradiating process, a sample fluid and a reference fluid by electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength range resulting in a first time temperature change of the sample fluid and a first time temperature change of the reference fluid, wherein the sample fluid or the reference fluid are substantially non-transparent; determining a first difference based upon the first time temperature change of the sample fluid and the first time temperature change of the reference fluid; irradiating, in a second irradiating process, the sample fluid and the reference fluid by electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength range resulting in a second time temperature change of the sample fluid and a second time temperature change of the reference fluid; determining a second difference based upon the second time temperature change of the sample fluid and the second time temperature change of the reference fluid; and determining a concentration of a gas of interest in the sample fluid based upon the first difference and the second difference.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first irradiating process comprises simultaneously irradiating the sample fluid and the reference fluid by the electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength range, further comprising: irradiating a first portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength range into the sample fluid; and irradiating a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength range into the reference fluid.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein intensity of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength range is substantially similar to intensity of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption peak of the gas of interest and the second wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption valley of the gas of interest.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference fluid does not contain the gas of interest.
6. A method, comprising: irradiating, in a first irradiating process, a sample fluid by electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength range resulting in a first time temperature change of the sample fluid; irradiating, in a second irradiating process, a reference fluid by a second wavelength range resulting in a first time temperature change of the reference fluid, wherein the sample fluid or the reference fluid are substantially non-transparent; determining a first difference based upon the first time temperature change of the sample fluid and the first time temperature change of the reference fluid; and monitoring and determining the concentration of the gas of interest in the sample fluid based upon the first difference.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sample fluid and the reference fluid are substantially same.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: irradiating the sample fluid and the reference fluid by electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength range resulting in a second time temperature change of the sample fluid and a second time temperature change of the reference fluid; determining a second difference based upon the second time temperature change of the sample fluid and the second time temperature change of the reference fluid; and monitoring and determining concentration of a gas of interest based upon a third difference between the first difference and the second difference.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sample fluid is substantially similar to the reference fluid.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption peak of the gas of interest and the second wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption valley of the gas of interest.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reference fluid contains the gas of interest.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second irradiating comprises simultaneously irradiating the sample fluid and the reference fluid by the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength range, further comprising: irradiating a third portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength range into the sample fluid; and irradiating a fourth portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength range into the reference fluid.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein intensity of the third portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength is substantially similar to intensity of the fourth portion of the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength.
Description
DRAWINGS
(1) These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7) When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles a, an, the, and said are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms comprising, including, and having are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
(8) Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it may be about related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as about is not limited to the precise value specified. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value.
(9) Though the present discussion provides examples in the context of an insulating fluid used in electric power industry, typically in transformers, these processes can be applied to any other fluid or application. In some embodiments, the insulating fluid may include a dielectric or insulating oil, a mineral oil, a coolant, or the like. The method and device described herein may be used with other industries such as chemical industry, petroleum industry, food industry, and water industry. Other suitable examples of the fluid may include vegetable oils, beverages, chemical compounds, or the like.
(10) The present methods and systems measure and test dissolved gases in a fluid, for example transformer oil or cooling fluid. In one embodiment, the present methods and systems determine concentration of the dissolved gases in the fluid. As discussed in detail below, some of the embodiments of the present systems and methods provide for selectively detecting and monitoring dissolved gases in a fluid by using calorimetry without extracting the dissolved gases from the fluid. In one embodiment, the present systems and methods determine the concentration/quantity of dissolved gases in a substantially non-transparent fluid without extracting the dissolved gases.
(11) The present systems and methods monitor a sample fluid to determine the existence or non-existence of one or more dissolved gases in a sample fluid. As used herein, the term sample fluid refers to a fluid that is to be monitored and tested to determine the existence or non-existence of a dissolved gas. The present systems and methods further monitor and determine the concentration of the dissolved gases in the sample fluid. The present systems and methods irradiate electromagnetic radiation into the sample fluid and a reference fluid. According to one embodiment, the reference fluid does not contain the dissolved gases. The electromagnetic radiation has wavelengths that correspond to the absorption range of the dissolved gases. In one embodiment, the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation irradiated into the sample fluid and the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation irradiated into the reference fluid is same. The irradiation of the electromagnetic radiation into the sample fluid and the reference fluid may change the temperature of the sample fluid and the reference fluid. The change in the temperatures of the sample fluid and the reference fluid is used to monitor and determine the concentration of the dissolved gases in the sample fluid.
(12) A schematic of a device 10 for the detection and monitoring of dissolved gases in fluid is illustrated in
(13) As previously noted, the first container 12 contains the sample fluid 16, and the second container 14 contains the reference fluid 18. The first container 12 and the second container 14 may be of any shape having a volume to contain a sufficient amount of the sample fluid 16 and the reference fluid 18, respectively. The volumes of the containers 12, 14, in one example, are as small as 1 microliter. In some instances, the volumes of the containers 12, 14 may be in a range from about 1 microliter to about 10 milliliters. In some specific instances, the volumes may vary from about 5 microliters to about 5 milliliters. In some specific embodiments, the containers 12, 14 are cylindrical in shape with a cross section area, such as, circular, polygonal, or elliptical in shape. In one embodiment, the volume and size of the second container 14 may be similar to the first container 12. In another embodiment, the volume and size of the first container 12 may be different from the volume and size of the second container 14. In one embodiment, as shown in
(14) As previously noted, in the presently contemplated configuration, while the sample fluid 16 contains the dissolved gases 20, the reference fluid 18 does not contain an appreciable amount of the dissolved gases 20. It is noted that while the reference fluid 18 does not contain the dissolved gases 20, it may contain one or more gases other than the dissolved gases 20. In one embodiment, the dissolved gases 20 may be fault gases. In one embodiment, when the dissolved gases 20 are fault gases, the detection and monitoring of one or more of the dissolved gases 20 may help in detection of faults in an equipment that contains the sample fluid 16 and the fault gases 20. As used herein, fault gases refers to gases liberated within equipment upon a fault in the equipment. For example, insulating materials within transformers and related equipment break down to liberate gases. The type and distribution of the liberated gases can be related to the type of electrical fault, and the rate of gas generation or liberation can indicate the severity of the electrical fault. Examples of the fault gases dissolved in the dielectric oil, generally used in transformers, may include one or more dissolved gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, acetylene, butane, pentane and possibly other species.
(15) As shown in
(16) According to one embodiment, the radiation source 22 produces the electromagnetic radiation 24 that has a wavelength range corresponding to the spectral absorption range of the dissolved gases 20. Typically, a fluid may contain several dissolved gases, and in one embodiment, when the device 10 selectively monitors or detects a gas of interest in the dissolved gases 20, the radiation source 22 produces the electromagnetic radiation 24 that has the wavelength range in the spectral absorption range of the gas of interest in the dissolved gases 20. For example, C.sub.2H.sub.2 has its fundamental absorption range between about 3200 cm.sup.1 to about 3350 cm.sup.1, and CO.sub.2 has an absorption range between about 2300 cm.sup.1 to about 2400 cm.sup.1. An absorption range includes absorption lines at several wavelengths, which means that the absorption is higher at particular wavelengths in the range. Examples of particular wavelengths include about 3309.5 cm.sup.1 for detecting C.sub.2H.sub.2 and about 2325 cm.sup.1 for detecting CO.sub.2, though, of course, other wavelengths may be suitable for detecting these gases or other gases.
(17) In the illustrated embodiment, the device 10 further includes a beam splitter 26, and a mirror 28. The beam splitter 26, for example, may be located above the first container 12, and the mirror 28 may be located above the second container 14. However, in one embodiment, the beam splitter 28 may be located above the second container 14, and the mirror 28 may be located above the first container 12. The radiation source 22 is disposed at a position to direct the electromagnetic radiation 24 onto the beam splitter 26. In some instances, suitable optical arrangements may be used to direct the radiations 24 onto the beam splitter 26. For example, the electromagnetic radiation 24 may be collected by an aspheric lens and collimated using a lens.
(18) The radiation source 22 transmits the electromagnetic radiation 24 onto the beam splitter 22 that splits the electromagnetic radiation 24 into two portions 30, 32. The two portions 30, 32, for example, include a first portion of electromagnetic radiations 30, and a second portion of electromagnetic radiation 32. In one embodiment, the beam splitter 26 splits the electromagnetic radiation 24 in such a way that the intensity of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 is similar to the intensity of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32. It is noted that in the present techniques, the intensity of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 and the intensity of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 need not be exactly same, notwithstanding that the intensity of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 and the intensity of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 may be similar. In one embodiment, intensity in the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 is substantially similar to the intensity in the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 when the intensity in the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 is +10% of the intensity of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation.
(19) The first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 is directed/irradiated into the first container 12 and the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 is directed/irradiated onto a mirror 28. The mirror 28 reflects and directs the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 into the second container 14. Therefore, the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 24 is directed/irradiated into the first container 12 that contains the sample fluid 16, and the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 is directed into the second container 14 that contains the reference fluid 18. In this example, the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 and the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 are simultaneously irradiated/directed into the sample fluid 16 and the reference fluid 18.
(20) In the presently contemplated configuration, the direction of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 into the first container 16 changes the temperature of the sample fluid 16 contained in the first container 12. The temperature of the sample fluid 16 changes due to absorption of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 by the dissolved gases 20 and by the sample fluid 16. In an ideal condition, since the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 has the wavelength range that correspond to the spectral absorption range of the dissolved gases 20, only the dissolved gases 20 absorb the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 to change the temperature of the sample fluid 16. In ideal conditions, when only the dissolved gases 20 in the sample fluid 16 absorb the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30, the absorption of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 by the dissolved gases 20 changes the temperature of the sample fluid 16. However, due to various factors, such as, non-transparency of the sample fluid 16, properties of the sample fluid 16, some of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation 30 may be absorbed by the sample fluid 16 and by the dissolved gases 20 to change the temperature of the sample fluid 16. Accordingly, in such conditions, the change in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 is due to the change in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the dissolved gases 20. In the presently contemplated configuration, the change in the temperature is an increase in temperature. Particularly, the change in the temperature may be apparent heating up of the sample fluid 16 in the first container 12. In some other cases, the sample fluid+dissolved gas could absorb the electromagnetic radiation and undergo some chemical change which could possibly cause a decrease in temperature.
(21) Furthermore, the irradiation of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 into the second container 14 may change the temperature of the reference fluid 18 contained in the second container 14. In ideal conditions, since the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 has the wavelength range that correspond to the spectral absorption range of the dissolved gases 20, the reference fluid 18 in the second container 14 does not absorb the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32. However, due to factors, such as, non-transparency of the reference fluid 18, properties of the reference fluid 18, existence of gases other than the dissolved gases 20, the reference fluid 18 and/or the gases other than the dissolved gases 20 may absorb some of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32. The absorption of the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation 32 by the reference fluid 18 and/or the gases other than the dissolved gases 20 may change the temperature of the reference fluid 18. In the presently contemplated configuration, the change in the temperature of the reference fluid is an increase in the temperature of the reference fluid 18.
(22) In one example, the device 10 further includes one or more temperature sensors 34, 36 that measure the change in temperatures of the sample fluid 16 and the reference fluid 18, respectively to generate signals 37, 39. The signal 37 is representative of the change in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the signal 39 is representative of the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 18. In some specific embodiment, the temperature sensors 34, 36 are located in the containers 12, 14 as shown in
(23) Hereinafter, the term temperature sensor 34 shall be referred to as first temperature sensor 34. Hereinafter, the term temperature sensor 36 shall be referred to as second temperature sensor 36. In the presently contemplated configuration, the first temperature sensor 34 is located inside the first container 12 and the second temperature sensor 36 is located inside the second container 14. Resolution of the temperature sensors 34, 36 may vary case by case. In some embodiments, the temperature sensors 34, 36 with high resolution, for example 20 micro kelvin may be desirable. In some embodiments, the temperature sensors 34, 36 with lower resolution may be sufficient for the temperature measurement. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may have resolution between about 20 micro kelvin and about 10 kelvin. One skilled in art knows to use a suitably sensitive temperature sensor according to the expected range of the change in temperature of the fluid for a particular gas.
(24) In one embodiment, the first container 12 includes the first sensor 34, and the second container 14 includes the second sensor 36, wherein the sensors 34, 36 are arranged in a differential measurement arrangement. For example, the differential measurement arrangement may be a Wheatstone bridge or any other differential measurement arrangement. The differential measurement arrangement generates signals 38 that are representative of a difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 18 due to irradiation of the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation into the sample fluid and the second portion of the electromagnetic radiation into the reference fluid. The signals 38 that are representative of the difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 18 may be generated based upon the signals 37, 39. Accordingly, in one embodiment, when the change in temperature of the sample fluid 16 due to irradiation of the electromagnetic radiation 30 is T.sub.sample and the change in temperature of the reference fluid 18 due to irradiation of the electromagnetic radiation 32 is T.sub.ref, then the differential measurement arrangement or the Wheatstone bridge generates signals 38 that are representative of the difference between the change in temperature signals of the sample fluid 14 and the reference fluid 16, which may be represented as follows:
T=T.sub.sampleT.sub.ref(1)
(25) In certain embodiments, the device 10 further includes a processing subsystem 42 that is in operational communication with the first temperature sensor 34 and the second temperature sensor 36 and the device 10. It is noted that while in the presently contemplated configuration, the processing subsystem 42 receives the signals 38 representative of the difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid 14 and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 16, in certain embodiments, the processing subsystem 42 may receive the temperatures of the sample fluid 16 and the reference fluid 18 from the sensors 34, 36, and determine a difference between the change in temperature signals based upon the temperatures of the sample fluid 16 and the reference fluid 18.
(26) Irradiation of electromagnetic radiation into the sample fluid 16 and/or the reference fluid 18 may lead to absorption of the electromagnetic radiation 30, 32 by the sample fluid 16, the reference fluid 18 and the dissolved gases 20. The absorption of the electromagnetic radiation 30, 32 may result in conduction, convection and radiation heat gain by the sample fluid 16 and/or the reference fluid 18 to increase the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and/or the reference fluid 18. The increase in the temperature of the sample fluid 16 and/or the reference fluid and/or the difference in temperature between the sample and reference fluids may be very small, for example, in the range of micro Kelvin (K). The temperature of surrounding environment may introduce temperature error (hereinafter, referred to as noise) in the signals 38 (see
(27) To remove the noise signals from the signals 38, the device 10, may further include a plurality of environmental sensors 40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52. As used herein, the term environmental sensors refers to sensors that measure temperature of the nearby environment of the first container 12 and the second container 14. In accordance with one embodiment, the environmental sensors 40, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 may be located proximate the containers 12, 14 as shown in
(28) As shown in
(29) Subsequent to the generation of the signals 38 representative of the difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 18, and the removal of the noise signals from the signals 38, the processing subsystem 42 identifies, monitors and/or determines the dissolved gases 20 based upon the signals 38. In one embodiment, the processing subsystem 42 determines the concentration of the dissolved gases 20 in the sample fluid 16 based upon the difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid 16 and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid 18. In another embodiment, the processing subsystem 42 determines the concentration of the dissolved gases based upon the difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid 16, the change of temperature of the reference fluid 18 and a calibration constant. In one embodiment, the calibration constant may be determined experimentally. In another embodiment, the calibration constant, for example, may be determined based upon the extinction coefficient of the dissolved the gas of interest, length of the first container 12, the input intensity and the thermal resistance between the first container and the environment. The monitoring and determination of the concentration of the dissolved gases 20 in the sample fluid 16 is explained in greater detail with reference to
(30) Referring now to
(31) In the presently illustrated configuration, the first radiation source 202 and the second radiation source 204 produce electromagnetic radiation 206, 208, respectively, having wavelengths that correspond to the spectral absorption range of the dissolved gases 20 in the sample fluid 16. In one embodiment, when a gas of interest in the dissolved gases 20 is monitored, or when a concentration of the gas is determined, the first radiation source 202 and the second radiation source 204 may produce the electromagnetic radiation 206, 208 that have wavelengths within an absorption range of the gas of interest in the dissolved gases 20.
(32) The first radiation source 202, for example, may be located at a position, such that the first radiation source 202 directs the electromagnetic radiation 206 into the sample fluid 16 in the first container 12. Similarly, the second radiation source 204 may be located at a position such that the electromagnetic radiation 208 is directed into the reference fluid 18 in the second container 14. It is noted that in the presently contemplated configuration, the device 200 does not include the beam splitter 26 and the mirror 28 referred to in
(33) Referring now to
(34) Further, at 304, a reference fluid is filled in the second container 14. In the presently contemplated configuration, the reference fluid is oil. In one embodiment, the reference fluid is substantially same as the sample fluid. In another embodiment, the reference fluid is substantially similar to the sample fluid. It is noted that notwithstanding the reference fluid being substantially same as the sample fluid or being substantially similar to the sample fluid, the reference fluid does not contain the gas of interest. In one embodiment, the reference fluid may contain the gas of interest.
(35) At 306, electromagnetic radiation that has a first wavelength range are directed into the sample fluid and the reference fluid. In one example, the first wavelength range includes wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation that correspond to spectral absorption peak of the gas of interest. The first wavelength range, for example, may be determined based upon the specific gas absorption spectral databases or experimentally by using absorption spectroscopy. For example, for a gas of interest CO, one spectral absorption peak is at 2150.8 cm.sup.1 and a spectral absorption valley is at 2152.6 cm.sup.1. Hereinafter, the electromagnetic radiation that has the first wavelength range will be referred to as EMR .sub.max. It is noted that while a first portion of the EMR .sub.max is irradiated into the sample fluid and a second portion of the EMR .sub.max is irradiated into the reference fluid, for ease of understanding the discussion hereinafter will refer to irradiation of both fluid by the EMR .sub.max, and shall not refer to the irradiation of the first portion of the EMR .sub.max and the second portion of the EMR .sub.max.
(36) As previously noted with reference to G
fluid does not contain a sufficient level of Similarly, in certain embodiments, when the reference fluid is substantially transparent, the EMR .sub.max may not be absorbed by the reference fluid, and therefore, the change in the temperature of the reference fluid is approximately zero. In alternative embodiments, when the sample fluid is substantially non-transparent, and the sample fluid contains the gas of interest, the EMR .sub.max is absorbed by the sample fluid and the gas of interest to change the temperature of the sample fluid. Similarly, when the reference fluid is substantially non-transparent, some of the EMR .sub.max is absorbed by the reference fluid to change the temperature of the reference fluid. In certain alternative embodiments, when the sample fluid is substantially non-transparent and the sample fluid does not contain the gas of interest, the sample fluid may absorb some of the EMR .sub.max to change the temperature of the sample fluid.
(37) The phrase change in the temperature of the sample fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.max hereinafter shall be interchangeably used with the phrase first time temperature change of the sample fluid. Similarly, hereinafter, the phrase change in the temperature of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.max shall be interchangeably used with the phrase first time temperature change of the reference fluid. Subsequently at 308, signals that are representative of a difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid and the change in temperature of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.max are generated. In other words, signals that are representative of a difference between the first time temperature change of the sample fluid and the first time temperature change of the reference fluid are generated. The signals, for example may be the signals 38 (see
T.sub.1=T.sub.sample(1)T.sub.ref(1)(2)
where T.sub.1 is a first difference, T.sub.sample(1) is the first time temperature change of the sample fluid, T.sub.ref(1) is the first time temperature change of the reference fluid. In one embodiment, the first difference may be represented by the following equation (3):
T.sub.1=(T.sub.sample(1)T.sub.ref(1))exp(.sub.ref-oilL.sub.ref)exp((.sub.gasc.sub.gas+.sub.sample-oil)L.sub.sample) (3)
wherein .sub.gas refers to an extinction coefficient of a gas of interest, c.sub.gas represents the concentration of the gas of interest in the sample fluid, .sub.sample-oil represents absorption coefficient of the sample fluid, .sub.ref-oil represents absorption coefficient of the reference fluid, L.sub.sample represents length of path of the EMR .sub.max into the first container 12, and L.sub.ref represents length of path of the EMR .sub.max into the second container 14.
(38) It is noted that the T.sub.sample(1) and the T.sub.ref(1), the difference T.sub.1 may be processed to remove noise introduced due to environment temperature before determination of the first difference T.sub.1. The noise, for example, may be removed based upon signals, such as, the signals 54 (see
(39) At 310, electromagnetic radiation that has a second wavelength range is directed into the sample fluid and the reference fluid. The second wavelength range includes wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation that correspond to spectral absorption valley of the gas of interest, if present in the sample fluid. For example, for a gas of interest CO, one spectral absorption peak (EMR .sub.max) is at 2150.8 cm.sup.1 and a spectral absorption valley (EMR .sub.min) is at 2152.6 cm.sup.1. In another example, for the gas of interest CO, another spectral absorption peak (EMR .sub.max) is at 2193.3 cm.sup.1 and another spectral absorption valley (EMR .sub.min) is at 2195 cm.sup.1. A person skilled in the art can identify one or more spectral absorption peaks and one more spectral absorption valleys corresponding to each gas of interest. The second wavelength range, for example, may be determined based upon gas absorption spectral database or experimentally using absorption spectroscopy. Hereinafter, the electromagnetic radiation that has the second wavelength range will be referred to as EMR .sub.min. Accordingly, irrespective of the sample fluid and reference fluid being transparent or non-transparent, the gas of interest if present in the sample fluid will not absorb or absorb a substantially minimal amount of the EMR .sub.min.
(40) It is noted that the irradiation of the EMR .sub.min may result in an increase in the temperature of the sample fluid and the reference fluid. In some embodiments, when the sample fluid and the reference fluid are substantially transparent (irrespective of the presence or absence of the gas of interest in the sample fluid), the EMR .sub.min may not be absorbed by the sample fluid, and therefore does not change the temperature of the sample fluid. Therefore, in certain embodiments, the change in temperature of the sample fluid and the reference fluid due to the irradiation of the electromagnetic radiation EMR .sub.min may be approximately zero. In alternative embodiments, when the sample fluid and the reference fluid are substantially non-transparent (irrespective of the presence or absence of the gas of interest in the sample fluid), the EMR .sub.min is absorbed by the sample fluid and the reference fluid resulting in a change in the temperature of the sample fluid and the reference fluid, respectively.
(41) Subsequently at 312, signals that are representative of a difference between the change in temperature of the sample fluid and the change in temperature of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.min are generated. The signals, for example may be the signals 38 (see
T.sub.2=T.sub.sample(2)T.sub.ref(2)(4)
where T.sub.2 is a second difference, T.sub.sample(2) is a second time temperature change of the sample fluid, and the reference fluid, T.sub.ref(2) is a second time temperature change of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.min. In one embodiment, the second difference may be represented by the following equation (5):
T.sub.2=(T.sub.sample(2)T.sub.ref(2))exp(.sub.ref-oilL.sub.ref)exp(.sub.sample-oil)L.sub.sample(5)
(42) wherein .sub.gas refers to an extinction coefficient of a gas of interest, c.sub.gas represents the concentration of the gas of interest in the sample fluid, .sub.sample-oil represents absorption coefficient of the sample fluid, .sub.ref-oil represents absorption coefficient of the reference fluid, L.sub.sample represents length of path of the EMR .sub.min into the first container 12, and L.sub.ref represents length of path of the EMR .sub.min into the second container 14. It is noted that the second time temperature change of the sample fluid T.sub.sample(2) and the second time temperature change of the reference fluid T.sub.ref(2), the first difference T.sub.1, or the second difference T.sub.2 may be processed to remove noise introduced due to environmental temperature before determination of the second difference T.sub.2. The noise, for example, may be removed based upon signals, such as, the signals 54 (see
(43) At 314, a third difference may be determined by subtracting the second difference from the first difference. The third difference may be represented by the following equation (6):
T.sub.3=(T.sub.1T.sub.2)(exp((.sub.gasc.sub.gas+.sub.sample-oil)L.sub.sample)exp(.sub.sample-oil)L.sub.sample)) (6)
(44) Furthermore, at 316, the concentration of the gas of interest c.sub.gas in the sample fluid may be determined based upon the third difference. The concentration of the gas of interest, for example, may be determined using the following equation (7):
T.sub.3(T.sub.1T.sub.2).sub.gasc.sub.gasL.sub.samplec.sub.gas(7)
(45) In view of the equation (7) it is noted that the concentration of the gas of interest may be determined based upon the first difference, second difference, the extinction coefficient of the gas of interest and the length of the first container.
(46) It is also noted that while
T.sub.4.sub.gasc.sub.gasL(8)
wherein T.sub.4 is a difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid and the change in temperature of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.max. Accordingly, in one embodiment, when the sample fluid is the same as the reference fluid (notwithstanding that the reference fluid does not contain the gas of interest), the concentration of the gas of interest may be determined based upon the difference between the change in the temperature of the sample fluid and the change in the temperature of the reference fluid due to irradiation of the EMR .sub.max, an extinction coefficient of the gas of interest and the length of the container that contains the sample fluid.
(47) It is further noted that in certain embodiments, a sample fluid is similar to a reference fluid (irrespective of the presence or absence of the gas of interest in the reference fluid). In such embodiment, when the sample fluid is similar to the reference fluid, the sample fluid is irradiated by electromagnetic radiation that has a first wavelength range, and the reference fluid is irradiated by electromagnetic radiation that has a second wavelength range. In one embodiment, the sample fluid is similar to the reference fluid when the absorbance of the reference fluid is within 10% of the absorbance of the sample fluid in the measurement wavelength range. As previously noted, the first wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption peak (.sub.max) of the gas of interest, and the second wavelength range corresponds to a spectral absorption valley (.sub.min) of the gas of interest. The irradiation of the first wavelength range (.sub.max) results in a first time temperature change of the sample fluid, and the irradiation of the second wavelength range results in a first time temperature change of the reference fluid. A first difference between the first time temperature of the sample fluid and the first time temperature change of the second fluid is determined/generated. Furthermore, the second wavelength range (.sub.min) is irradiated into the sample fluid and the reference fluid. The irradiation of the second wavelength range results in a second time temperature change of the sample fluid and a second time temperature of the reference fluid. A second difference between the second time temperature change of the sample fluid and a second time temperature change of the reference fluid is determined. The first difference and the second difference is used to monitor the gas of interest and determine a concentration of the gas of interest.
(48)
(49) In the presently contemplated configuration, reference numeral 402 is representative of a signal that represents a difference in a change in the temperatures of a reference fluid and a sample fluid. For example, the signal 402 is the signal 38 (see
(50) At 404, a start point p.sub.start and an end point p.sub.end are located to identify a trend change in the temperature of the signal 402. The start point p.sub.start and an end point p.sub.end, for example, may be identified using a wavelet decomposition technique. Exemplary start point p.sub.start 504 and end point p.sub.end 506 in the signal 502 are shown in
(51) Referring back to
y.sub.base=y(1|p.sub.start,p.sub.end|end)(9)
wherein y is the signal 402, 502, y.sub.base is a baseline signal corresponding to the temperature change signal y, p.sub.start is a start point in the temperature change signal, p.sub.end. is an end point in the temperature change signal y.
(52) Referring back to
(53) Subsequently at 412, a baseline trend signal is generated by applying a wavelet decomposition method to the combined signal X. An exemplary baseline trend signal 509 corresponding to the environmental signals 408 is shown in
(54) Referring back to
(55) Subsequently, at 416, oscillations trend is determined based upon the intermediate and the approximate signal. For example, the oscillations trend is determined by subtracting the approximate signal from the intermediate signal. The oscillations trend represents short term or local variability in the signal 402, therefore the oscillations trend is also present in the intermediate signal, due to the environment temperature. An exemplary oscillations trend 514 corresponding to the intermediate signal 510 and the approximate signal 511 is shown in
(56) Furthermore, at 417, an environmental oscillations signal is determined based upon the combined signal X and the baseline trend signal. For example, the environmental oscillations signal is generated by subtracting the baseline trend signal from the combined signal X. An exemplary environmental oscillations signal 515 is shown in
(57) Subsequently, at 418, a residual signal is generated by filtering the oscillations trend signal using the environmental oscillations signal. For example, in
(58) In certain embodiments, white noise may be removed from the final signal at 422 by using various techniques, such as, average filtering method, moving average filtering method, and the like. In this example, the removal of the white noise from the final signal results in generation of a white noise corrected final signal. An exemplary white noise corrected signal 518 that is generated by using a moving average filtering technique on the final signal 516 is shown in
(59) Subsequently, in certain embodiments, at 424 a noise corrected signal may be generated. The noise corrected, for example, may be generated by fitting a curve on the white noise corrected final signal. For example, in
(60) The present systems and techniques provide a direct (in-oil/fluid) approach for monitoring dissolved gases in a fluid without extracting gases from the fluid unlike known methods and devices. The present systems and techniques selectively determine individual gases and their concentrations in the fluid, for example in dielectric oils used in transformers. Furthermore, the present systems and techniques monitor and determine the concentration of the dissolved gases even when the dissolved gases are dissolved in a substantially non-transparent fluid. The device explained with reference to
(61) While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.