Method of detecting and controlling E-line loss in a centrifuge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400196-B2
Application number	US-201414537728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 12, 2013
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A method of detecting E-line loss in a disc stack centrifuge is provided, comprising: collecting data from at least one instrument associated with the centrifuge over a specific time period; calculating one or more indicators by comparing the collected data with expected values from a normally operating centrifuge, the indicators being indicative of a start of an E-line loss event; calculating the probability of E-line loss by applying weighted voting to the indicators to yield a probability value; and activating an alert upon determination that the probability value exceeds a threshold value.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of detecting E-line loss in a disc stack centrifuge comprising:
collecting data from at least one instrument associated with the centrifuge over a specific time period;
calculating one or more indicators by comparing the collected data with expected values from a normally operating centrifuge, the indicators being indicative of a start of an E-line loss event;
calculating the probability of E-line loss by applying weighted voting to the indicators to yield a probability value; and
activating an alert upon determination that the probability value exceeds a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising filtering the collected data to eliminate outliers.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least two consecutive probability values greater than the threshold value are indicative of an E-line loss.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the instrument is capable of detecting or measuring one or more parameters during centrifuge operation, generating data representative of the parameters, and transmitting the data to a host computer operatively connected to the instrument and programmed to process and analyze the data.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the instrument is selected from a flow meter or a sensor.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the parameter is selected from product flow, heavy phase flow, heavy phase pressure, power consumption of the centrifuge, speed of the centrifuge, vibration, or status of a feed valve.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more indicators comprise a decrease in product flow; an increase in heavy phase flow; heavy phase flow exceeding product flow; an increase in heavy phase pressure; heavy phase pressure exceeding export set-point; an increase in power consumption by the centrifuge; and a decrease in the speed of the centrifuge.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific time period extends from an initial baseline time point to a subsequent time point.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the data are collected at an interval ranging from about 2 seconds to about 1 minute during the specific time period.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the data are collected at an interval of about 5 seconds during the specific time period.

Assignees

• Syncrude Canada Ltd
• Syncrude Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Daugela Darcy
• Mueller David
• Bulbuc Daniel
• Engler-Cooper Christine

Classifications

• B04B13/00 Primary

  Control arrangements specially designed for centrifuges; Program control of centrifuges (control arrangements for feed, charge or discharge B04B11/00) · CPC title

• B04B1/08

  of conical shape · CPC title

• G01F1/00 Primary

  Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow (measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00) · CPC title

• B04B2013/006

  Interface detection or monitoring of separated components · CPC title