Hybrid wireless sensor network architecture for fluid delivery and distribution systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11070624-B2
Application number	US-201816482757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for monitoring, operating, controlling, or maintaining a fluid delivery and distribution system. The architecture includes intelligent fittings locatable at almost any location within the system and that are configured with sensor modules to make measurements of characteristics of a fluid passing therethrough or of component parameters, and with wireless communication modules to wireless communicate the measurements. The intelligent fittings may be used, via strategic location, to convert unintelligent components of the system into intelligent components at a cost lower than that required to replace the unintelligent components with intelligent components. The intelligent fittings may also replace unintelligent fittings to provide supplemental data corresponding to fluid characteristics at desired locations of a fluid delivery and distribution system. The architecture further includes a digital twin of a hybrid, wireless sensor network that may downloaded to controllers for use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
a first component adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid;
a second component adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid;
a conduit distributing the fluid between the first and second components;
first and second intelligent fittings each connected to the conduit at locations between said first component and said second component, said first and second intelligent fittings each having a sensor adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid distribution between the first and second components, and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network; and
a controller wirelessly receiving the data representative of the measurements from the communication network, the controller controlling an operation of at least one of the first and second components to shut off the fluid distribution between the first and second components when the data representative of the measurements indicates degradation of the conduit.

2. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein said first component comprises an intelligent component and said second component comprises an unintelligent component.

3. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 2 , wherein the second intelligent fitting is connected directly to the second component.

4. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein said first component comprises an unintelligent component and said second component comprises an intelligent component.

5. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 4 , wherein the first intelligent fitting is connected directly to the first component.

6. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein said first component comprises an intelligent component and said second component comprises an intelligent component.

7. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein said first and second intelligent fittings comprise a connector fitting, an elbow fitting, a tee fitting, a wye fitting, or a coupler fitting.

8. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein said communication network comprises a local area network, a broadband network, or a personal area network.

9. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the fluid measurable by said first and second intelligent fittings comprises temperature of the fluid, pressure of the fluid, flow rate of the fluid, or level of the fluid.

10. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first component or said second component comprises a pump, a filter, an actuator or a compressor.

11. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises hydraulic fluid, a fuel or water.

12. A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
a first component adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid;
a second component adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid;
an intelligent fitting connected for fluid communication between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting being adapted to communicate the fluid between said first component and said second component, said intelligent fitting having a sensor adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network; and
a controller adapted to receive data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid communicated wirelessly from said intelligent fitting, said controller further adapted to use the data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid to emulate operation of said first component or said second component via a digital twin.

13. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 12 , wherein said controller is further adapted to control operation of at least one of said first component or said second component based at least in part on received data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid.

14. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 12 , wherein said controller is further adapted to predict required maintenance for at least one of said first component or said second component based at least in part on received data representative of the measurements of the characteristic of the fluid.

15. A hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture for a fluid delivery and distribution system, said architecture comprising:
one or more intelligent components each adapted to perform one or more functions on a fluid or in response to receiving a fluid, said one or more intelligent components having a sensor module adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements via a communication network;
one or more unintelligent components each adapted to perform one or more functions on the fluid or in response to receiving the fluid;
a conduit distributing the fluid between the one or more intelligent components and the one or more unintelligent components;
at least one intelligent fitting connected to the conduit between an intelligent component and an unintelligent component, said at least one intelligent fitting being adapted to communicate the fluid between said intelligent component and said unintelligent component, said at least one intelligent fitting having a sensor module adapted to perform measurements of a characteristic of the fluid and to wirelessly communicate data representative of the measurements performed by the sensor module of the at least one intelligent fitting via the communication network; and
a controller adapted to wirelessly receive the data representative of the measurements from the at least one intelligent fitting and said one or more intelligent components, and the controller controlling an operation of the one or more intelligent components or one or more unintelligent components to shut off the fluid distribution between the one or more intelligent components and the one or more unintelligent components when the data representative of the measurements indicates degradation of the conduit.

16. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 15 , wherein said controller is operative to model operation of said one or more intelligent components and said one or more unintelligent components using digital twins in connection with said received data.

17. The hybrid, wireless sensor network architecture of claim 15 , wherein said sensor module of said at least one intelligent fitting is adapted to derive electrical power for operation by harvesting energy from the fluid.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Yuan Qinghui
• Lowinger Jeffrey

Classifications

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title

• H04W4/38

  for collecting sensor information · CPC title

• H04L67/125 Primary

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title

• G05D7/0617

  specially adapted for fluid materials · CPC title

• F16L55/07

  Arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating or draining (apparatus for draining F16T) · CPC title