Fluid system evaluation with multiple chemical tracers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10024751-B2
Application number	US-201615237099-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Aug 14, 2015
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

Multiple chemical tracers are provided in a fluid system, and measured to evaluate parameters of the system. The multiple chemical tracers include at least one reactive chemical tracer that provides a measurable signal with an intensity that changes as the reactive chemical tracer reacts in the fluid system. The signals of the multiple chemical tracers are compared to each other to evaluate a system parameter, such as temperature, pH, or system events.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for evaluating a fluid system in which fluid flows through the system, the method comprising:
(a) introducing a plurality of chemical tracers into the fluid, including at least one reactive tracer that is reactive in the fluid to at least one of the fluid temperature and fluid pH, each of the plurality of chemical tracers providing a measurable signal, and the measurable signal of the at least one reactive tracer changing intensity as the reactive tracer reacts in the fluid;
(b) measuring the signals of each of the plurality of chemical tracers in the fluid system;
(c) determining an indicator of a fluid system operating response based on a relationship between the measured signal of the reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of another chemical tracer of the plurality of chemical tracers;
(d) comparing the indicator of the fluid system operating response in step (c) with an indicator of an expected response of the fluid system; and
(e) using the comparison in step (d) to (i) evaluate an operating property of the fluid system; and/or (ii) determine whether an event has occurred in the fluid system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one reactive chemical tracer and the another chemical tracer are introduced into the fluid system at a constant ratio.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising empirically determining the indicator of the expected response of the fluid system by measuring the signals of the plurality of chemical tracers in the fluid system during normal operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the fluid system operating response corresponds to a steady state operating response that is calculated by using a mathematical model with the measured signal of the reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of the another chemical tracer.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the expected response of the fluid system is an indicator of the expected response of the fluid system at a steady state.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining the indicator of the expected response of the fluid system at the steady state by:
(f) allowing the fluid system to reach the steady state;
(g) while the fluid system is at the steady state, measuring a steady state signal of the at least one reactive tracer and measuring a steady state signal of the another chemical tracer,
(h) determining the indicator of the expected response of the fluid system at steady state based on a relationship between the measured steady state signal of the at least one reactive tracer and the measured steady state signal of the another chemical tracer.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein step (h) includes determining a ratio of the measured steady state signal of the at least one reactive tracer and the measured steady state signal of the another chemical tracer.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further determining that the event has occurred if the indicator of the fluid system operating response deviates by a threshold amount from the indicator of the expected response of the fluid system.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the fluid system operating response is either (i) a ratio of the measured signal of the reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of the another chemical tracer; or (ii) a difference between the measured signal of the reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of the another chemical tracer.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison in step (d) is used to determine a leak in the fluid system.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measurable signal of the at least one reactive chemical tracer changes intensity based on the fluid temperature.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one reactive chemical tracer is fluorescein and the another chemical tracer is a break down product of fluorescein.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison in step (d) is used to determine the existence of fouling of equipment surfaces of equipment used in the fluid system.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the fouling is corrosion, scaling, or microbiological growth.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the another chemical tracer is a second reactive tracer that is reactive in the fluid system and that provides a measureable signal which changes intensity as it reacts in the fluid system.

16. A method of detecting leaks in a water system where heated water circulates through the system, the method comprising:
(a) providing a plurality of chemical tracers into a stream of the water system, including at least one thermally reactive tracer, each of the plurality of chemical tracers providing a measurable signal, and the measurable signal of the at least one thermally reactive tracer changing intensity based on temperature of the heated water circulating through the system;
(b) measuring the signals of each of the plurality of chemical tracers in the water system;
(c) determining an indicator of a water system operating response based on a relationship between the measured signal of the thermally reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of another chemical tracer of the plurality of chemical tracers;
(d) comparing the indicator of the water system operating response in step (c) with an indicator of an expected response of the water system; and
(e) determining that the water system has a leak condition if the indicator of the water system operating response deviates by a threshold amount from the expected response of the water system.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the water system is a boiler water system including a boiler and a heat exchanger.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the indicator of the water system operating response is either (i) a ratio of the measured signal of the thermally reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of the another chemical tracer; or (ii) a difference between the measured signal of the thermally reactive chemical tracer and the measured signal of the another chemical tracer.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the indicator of the water system operating response relates to a holding time of the water in the water system.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the water in the water system is heated to a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 300° C.

21. A method for evaluating a parameter of a water system in which water flows through the system, the method comprising:
(a) providing to the water of the water system at least a first reactive chemical tracer and a second reactive chemical tracer in a known ratio, the first reactive chemical tracer being reactive to a property of the water in the water system such that it provides a measurable signal that changes intensity as it reacts in the water, and the second reactive chemical tracer also being reactive to the property of the water in the water system such that it also provides a provides a measurable signal that changes intensity as it reacts in the water,
(b) then measuring the signals of the first and second reactive chemical tracers;
(c) then comparing the measured signal of the first reactive chemical tracer with the measured signal of the second reactive chemical tracer; and
(d) then evaluating the parameter of the water system based on the comparison in step (c).

Assignees

• Chemtreat Inc
• Chemtreat Inc

Inventors

• Richardson John
• White Kevin
• Wood Patrick
• Wilkins James

Classifications

• G01M3/22 Primary

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• F17D5/02

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• E03B7/003

  Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits · CPC title

• F24H1/00

  Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters (steam boilers F22B) · CPC title