Methods and apparatus for fluid flow monitoring and leak detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870970-B2
Application number	US-201715636445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Aug 14, 2014
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

According to at least one aspect, a fluid flow monitoring system includes an ultrasonic sensor for generating measurement signals associated with respective ultrasonic signals propagating through the fluid in the lumen, a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the lumen, and a controller. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic sensor and to the shut-off valve. The controller can be configured to compute a plurality of fluid flow parameter estimates based on a plurality of measurement signals generated by the ultrasonic sensor over a time window while the shut-off valve is open. The controller can obtain an offset value associated with fluid flow parameter measurements during a zero flow state of the shut-off valve. The controller can then check for presence of a fluid leak event based on the fluid flow parameter estimates over the time window and the offset value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to detect a leak in a pipe, the leak detection system comprising:
an ultrasonic sensor transmitting ultrasonic signals to propagate through a fluid in the pipe and receiving respective measurement signals;
a shut-off valve for blocking fluid flow in the pipe; and
at least one processor:
closing the shut-off valve to block fluid flow through the pipe;
computing a first fluid flow parameter estimate of a fluid flow parameter based on a first measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor while the shut-off valve is closed, the fluid flow parameter indicative of a fluid flow rate or a fluid flow velocity;
opening the shut-off valve;
computing a second fluid flow parameter estimate of the fluid flow parameter based on a second measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor after opening the shut-off valve;
comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate;
determining, based on the comparison, that a change in the fluid flow parameter satisfies a fluid flow parameter threshold; and
detecting, based on the determination, a fluid leak event.

2. The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein responsive to detecting the fluid leak event, the at least one processor is:
actuating the shut-off valve to block fluid flow in the pipe; or
sending a warning message to a client device via a communication interface, the leak detection system including the communication interface.

3. The leak detection system of claim 1 , wherein comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate comprises:
computing a difference between the first fluid flow parameter estimate and the second fluid flow parameter estimate; and
comparing the difference to a threshold value.

4. The leak detection system of claim 3 , wherein detecting the fluid leak event comprises detecting the fluid leak event if the difference exceeds the threshold value.

5. The leak detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor measuring fluid pressure in the pipe downstream from the shut-off valve.

6. The leak detection system of claim 5 , wherein detecting the fluid leak event comprises:
obtaining a first fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is closed;
obtaining a second fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor after opening the shut-off valve; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement.

7. The leak detection system of claim 6 , wherein detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on an increase in the second fluid pressure measurement relative to the first fluid pressure measurement.

8. The leak detection system of claim 7 , wherein comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
computing a difference between a first fluid pressure value associated with the first fluid pressure measurement and a second fluid pressure value associated with the second fluid pressure measurement; and
comparing the difference between the first fluid pressure value and the second fluid pressure value to a pressure threshold value.

9. The leak detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator.

10. The leak detection system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor further comprises:
obtaining a fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is opened;
comparing the fluid pressure measurement to a pressure threshold value; and
generating a warning message if the fluid pressure measurement exceeds the pressure threshold value.

11. A method for detecting a leak in a pipe comprising: closing, by at least one processor, a shut-off valve to block fluid flow through the pipe; computing, by the at least one processor, a first fluid flow parameter estimate of a fluid flow parameter based on a first measurement signal received by an ultrasonic sensor while the shut-off valve is closed, the fluid flow parameter includes a fluid flow rate or a fluid flow velocity; opening, by the at least one processor, the shut-off valve; computing, by the at least one processor, a second fluid flow parameter estimate of the fluid flow parameter based on a second measurement signal received by the ultrasonic sensor after opening the shut-off valve; comparing, by the at least one processor, the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate; determining, by the at least one processor, based on the comparison, that a change in the fluid flow parameter satisfies a fluid flow parameter threshold; detecting, by the at least one processor, based on the determination, a fluid leak event in the pipe.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
closing the shut-off valve to block fluid flow in the pipe responsive to detecting the fluid leak event; or
sending a warning message to a client device via a communication interface responsive to detecting the fluid leak event.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein comparing the first fluid flow parameter estimate to the second fluid flow parameter estimate comprises:
computing a difference between the first fluid flow parameter estimate and the second fluid flow parameter estimate; and
comparing the difference to a threshold value.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting the fluid leak event further comprises:
obtaining, by the at least one processor, a first fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is closed;
obtaining, by the at least one processor, a second fluid pressure measurement from the pressure sensor after opening the shut-off valve; and
detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure more measurement and the second fluid pressure measurement.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting the fluid leak event based on the first fluid pressure measurements and the second fluid pressure measurements comprises:
comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement; and
determining presence of the fluid leak event responsive to an increase in the second fluid pressure measurements compared to the first fluid pressure measurements.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein comparing the first fluid pressure measurement to the second fluid pressure measurement comprises:
computing a difference between a first fluid pressure value associated with the first fluid pressure measurement and a second fluid pressure value associated with the second fluid pressure measurement; and
comparing the difference between the first fluid pressure value and the second fluid pressure value to a pressure threshold value.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
obtaining a fluid pressure measurement from a pressure sensor while the shut-off valve is opened;
comparing the fluid pressure measurement to a pressure threshold value; and
generating a warning message regarding a pressure regulator if the fluid pressure measurement exceeds the pressure threshold value.

Assignees

• Reliance Worldwide Corp

Inventors

• Hammond Michael
• Mess Francis M
• Elia Samuel
• Almirall Jorge C
• Gestner Brian
• Leaders Jeffrey L
• Smith Mathew Shane

Classifications

• G01F25/10

  of flowmeters · CPC title

• F17D5/06

  using electric or acoustic means · CPC title

• G01M3/243

  for pipes · CPC title

• E03B7/072

  Arrangement of flowmeters · CPC title

• G01F1/667

  Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters · CPC title