U.S. patent application number 12/023217 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for apparatus and method for storing and transporting data related to vapor emissions and measurements thereof.
Invention is credited to Howard A. Carnes, Terry W. Miller.
Application Number | 20080120043 12/023217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36972121 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080120043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Terry W. ; et
al. |
May 22, 2008 |
Apparatus and Method for Storing and Transporting Data Related to
Vapor Emissions and Measurements Thereof
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus and a methods for
collecting, transmitting and storing fugitive gas emission data. An
embodiment of the invention collects fugitive gas with a sampling
probe and into a emission monitoring device. The device then sends
and stores fugitive gas data into a storage medium, such as a
wireless data-logging adapter. The wireless-data logging adapter
stores the data and wirelessly sends it to a personal digital
assistant or other form of redundant memory such as a data logger.
In one embodiment, the PDA can initiate commands to retrieve data
from the storage medium or operate the emission gas monitoring
device.
Inventors: |
Miller; Terry W.; (Durango,
CO) ; Carnes; Howard A.; (Suwanee, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI, LLP
1301 MCKINNEY
SUITE 5100
HOUSTON
TX
77010-3095
US
|
Family ID: |
36972121 |
Appl. No.: |
12/023217 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11245273 |
Oct 5, 2005 |
|
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12023217 |
Jan 31, 2008 |
|
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60616308 |
Oct 5, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
702/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 27/626 20130101;
G01N 2001/2285 20130101; G01N 35/00871 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/024 |
International
Class: |
G01N 31/00 20060101
G01N031/00 |
Claims
1. A method for storing and transporting hydrocarbon emissions data
comprising the steps of: (a) storing fugitive ionization emissions
data in a storage medium connected to an emissions measuring device
at a first location; (b) sending a digital signal representing the
detected level to a personal data assistant over a wireless
communications link; and (c) storing the digital signal
representing the detected level on a storage medium within the
personal data assistant.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: uploading
the digital signal representing the detected level to one or more
data processing devices remote from the first location over a
serial data link.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: uploading
the digital signal representing the detected level to one or more
data processing devices remote from the first location over a
wireless communications link.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the detected level of
fugitive ionization emissions further comprises the steps of: (d)
inputting one or more commands into the personal data assistant;
(e) receiving the one or more commands at the emissions monitoring
device; and (f) obtaining a fugitive ionization sample via a
sampling probe, in response to the one or more commands.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/616,308, filed Oct. 5, 2004, now
expired, the contents of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the petrochemical
and refinery field and more particularly to an apparatus and method
for detecting vapor emissions and storing and transporting data
related thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Petrochemical and refinery facilities move volatile fluids
between processes through a complex array of pipes. Pipes are
joined in tandem have sealed joints to prevent fugitive emissions.
Pipes not joined in tandem have sealed end caps to avoid fugitive
emissions. Conditions may be such that leaks develop at the seal
points. These leaks, or fugitive emissions, are toxic and explosive
and represent a threat to human life and property.
[0004] In order to avoid the dire results of pipe seal failures,
state and federal law mandates frequent inspections and monitoring
of pipe seals. In addition, petrochemical and refinery companies
must maintain measurement logs along with fugitive vapor
measurement data.
[0005] Piping in petrochemical and refinery companies facilities
may have hundreds, or even thousands of pipe seals. Such seals are
often difficult to access and require the use of ladders to realize
a measurement. Current art utilizes a emission sampling probe which
detects fugitive ionization emissions. The probe is connected to an
gas transport conduit which function to transport vapor samples
from the probe's aperture to an emissions measuring device, carried
in the operator's backpack. An electrical cable extends from the
emissions measuring device to a hand held data-logging device. The
electrical cable extending from the backpack to the hand held
device experiences constant flexing and stress, particularly at the
electrical connector, such that normal use requires frequent cable
replacements. In addition, when a cable breakdown data is lost or
irreparably compromised. Data loss and cable breakdowns jeopardize
pecuniary, property and personal safety interests.
[0006] It is desirable to find alternative means of data cabling
and a means of increasing data reliability and accuracy by
introducing data storage redundancy.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to a system and method
which detects vapor emissions then stores and electronically
transports data related thereto. Whereas the current art
experiences failures induced by the dynamics of the measurement
process and is susceptible to loss of data integrity the present
invention improves both reliability and data protection.
[0008] The state of the current art utilizes a wire data cable that
connects the emissions measuring device to a hand held data logging
device. A sampling probe--used to detect flame ionization and
fugitive emissions--is then connected to the emissions measuring
device. The emissions measuring device is placed in a backpack
carried by the test operator. The wire data cable exits from the
emissions measuring device at backpack location to the data logging
device held by the test operator. Gas transport conduit connects to
the probe and exits from the backpack to the sampling probe held by
the test operator.
[0009] In the course of performing tests, the wire data cable in
the current art is under significant stress at the its termination
points. Frequently the cable becomes damaged and may corrupt data.
Eventually the cable completely fails and requires repair or
replacement. This precipitates economic loss of test time and cost
of material repair or replacement.
[0010] In this embodiment of the present invention eliminates the
wire data cable that extends from emissions measuring device at the
backpack to the tester's hand held apparatus. In place of a cable,
a wireless connection is used to link the emissions measuring
device to a compatible wireless data-logger device. Such
data-logger device may comprise a Personnel Data Assistant (PDA) or
other device with a storage medium, microprocessor and transceiver
for wireless communication. The storage medium comprises any medium
of sufficient capacity capable of storing binary numbers. The
wireless link or connection eliminates the economic loss of the
current art approach. Additionally, the emissions measuring device
is coupled with an additional storage medium which serves as a
redundant storage location for sample data. Such sample data is
wirelessly transported to the hand held data-logger device.
[0011] In this embodiment of the invention, sample data is moved
from the probe onto the storage medium then onto the hand held
data-logger device. Data samples are stored storage medium and at
the data-logger device. At the end of an eight-hour work shift all
data are transferred from the data-logger device to a back office
database for long term archiving. Sample data residing in the
storage medium and the data-logger device is erased and is made
ready for the next work shift.
[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless
data-logging adapter ("WDA") of the emissions measuring device is
designated as a server and the data-logger device as the client.
Here, all manual transactions are initiated at the data-logger
device under control of the test operator. There may be a plurality
client data-logger devices with the functional ability to connect
with one or more data-logging adapters on emissions monitoring
devices acting as servers.
[0013] In one embodiment, there are three basic states. A system
task state provides authentication log on and log off capability,
system set-up, heart beat to verify operation, and to reset the
wireless data-logger as a maintenance operation.
[0014] The reading mode state controls the probe to initiate a test
sequence with a get probe Data. The test operator then moves the
probe around the circumference of the pipe seal under test. Sets of
discrete samples are taken as the probe is moved along the pipe
seal.
[0015] Following the reading mode state is the store data state.
Sample data is now stored in the emission measuring device's
storage medium followed in time to the data-logger device via the
wireless connection. At completion of the test shift data is
downloaded to a back office database. Both memories in the storage
medium and the data-logger device may be cleared of all sample data
to be ready for the next test shift or as desired.
[0016] In one embodiment, the WDA executes the operational states
on an electronic circuit card. Samples taken by the probe are sent
to a storage medium on the WDA via a serial data link. Initiation
commands to get probe data and start and stop probe sample data
acquisition are sent over this same serial data link. A serial data
link transceiver located in the storage medium connects to a
microprocessor matrix crossbar switch. The microprocessor matrix
crossbar switch may be substituted for any microprocessor capable
of routing serialized probe data samples from the probe to the
storage medium cache memory. Data from the cache memory is then
routed on demand to the wireless server transceiver. The wireless
server transceiver sends the sample data to the data-logger device
via the wireless connection.
[0017] In one embodiment, the invention commands initiated by the
test operator through the data-logger device are transmitted over
the wireless connection to the WDA's wireless server transceiver.
There, the data-logger device commands are sent to the
microprocessor crossbar switch, where they are routed to the
microprocessor core for interpretation and execution of the sent
command.
[0018] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims
of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be
readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other
structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art
that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit
and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The
novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the
invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages will be better
understood from the following description when considered in
connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly
understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the
purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as
a definition of the limits of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an example of the apparatus used for detecting
vapor emissions.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates prior art apparatus used to collect,
transport and store vapor emission data.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates in schematic format an embodiment of the
present invention that collects, transports and stores emission
data.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates in schematic operational state of an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention with a
wireless data logger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIG. 1 shows the mechanical view of basic components of a
typical flame ionization detector 1 used to detect vapor, gas and
other fugitive emissions from pipes and pipe connections. The
cavity 2 is where the fugitive gas sample 5 is drawn internally
along with Hydrogen gas 6. On command from, for example, a wireless
data-logger adapter, an ignition filament 3 ignites the gas
mixture. A collector electrode 4 measures an ionization level that
is translated into level of fugitive vapor or gas. Fugitive vapor
data is digitized in the flame ionization detector electronic
circuit board 11. The digitized fugitive vapor sample data is
serialized and provides a serial data transceiver interface to, for
example, a wireless data-logger adapter.
[0026] FIG. 2 is block diagram that shows the current art used to
capture Fugitive Emissions from petrochemical and refinery
facilities. A gas collection probe 7 takes samples of air in the
vicinity of piping sealed joints. Samples drawn into the collection
probe are drawn into a tube or transport conduit 9 carrying the
sample into the flame ionization detector chamber 2 illustrated in
FIG. 1. Based on the content of fugitive gas present in the sample
the flame ionization detector, a binary number is created with a
value representative of the level of the fugitive gas present in
the intake sample. This binary number is converted into a serial
data stream by the flame ionization detector apparatus 1. The
serial data stream is transmitted to a hand held data logging
apparatus 10 over a wire data cable 8. Fugitive emission intensity
is stored in a memory in the data logging apparatus. At the end of
the test shift, fugitive emission data is transferred to a back
office database as a permanent record.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that shows an embodiment of the
present invention to improve the current art shown in FIG. 2. A gas
collection probe 12 takes samples of air in the vicinity of piping
sealed joints. Samples drawn into the collection probe are drawn
into a tube or transport conduit 14 carrying the sample into the
flame ionization detector chamber 2 (illustrated in FIG. 1) of a
flame ionization detector or other emission measuring device 16.
Based on the content of fugitive gas present in the sample, the
emission measuring device creates a binary number with a value
representative of the level of the fugitive gas present in the
intake sample. This binary number is converted into a serial data
stream by the emission measuring device using a microprocessor.
[0028] A serial data stream is sent over a short length of cable 20
of approximately twelve inches to a wireless data-logging adapter
41 with a hard drive, or any digital storage medium 22. The storage
medium 22 receives the fugitive emission in binary data format. The
data is temporarily stored in a memory and a like copy of the
fugitive emission sample is converted from a wired binary serial
stream signal to a wireless binary stream signal by a transceiver
23 associated with the memory medium. The transceiver sends the
fugitive emission sample data to a Personal Data Assistant 26, such
as a data logger device, attached to the wrist of the test
operator.
[0029] The short data cable 20 provides direct current power path
to the storage medium and transceiver from the emission detector
battery power supply.
[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the test
operator initiates a taking of a fugitive emission sample by
entering an instruction onto the Personal Data Assistant 26. The
command to take a fugitive emission sample is sent back to the
emission measuring device 16 by wireless transmission 24 to the
transceiver 23 and then transfer information already stored to the
PDA 26. Alternatively, the transceiver could relay an instruction
back to the emission monitoring device 16 through the cable 20.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows the operational states of an embodiment of the
present invention. A state is present that performs administrative
tasks. System task operations 30 represent shared administrative
tasks between the Personal Data Assistant 26, the emissions
monitoring device 16, and the WDA 41 apparatus. In the present
invention manual commands initiated by the Test Operator are
entered into the Personal Data Assistant 26. The storage medium is
assigned as the Server and the Personal Data Assistant as the
Client. It is the Server/Client relationship that enables the Test
operator manual commands and the transport of fugitive emission
sample data to the Personal Data Assistant by way of the storage
medium and associated transceiver.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention a system set-up
state occurs when the Test operator turns power on the Personal
Data Assistant. The emission measuring device and storage medium is
power applied. This state initializes the Personal Data Assistant
and the storage medium so that Test Operator initiator commands and
fugitive emission sample data are enabled for operation.
[0033] The system tasks state requires a Test Operator to provide
authentication by a Log On and Log Off procedure. Once
authenticated the storage medium initiates a periodic `Heart Beat`
processes that provides validation that fugitive emission sample
data is correctly being transferred from the to the storage medium
and to the Personal Data Assistant. It also validates that manual
commands initiated by the Test Operator are correctly sent to the
storage medium with transceiver and to the emission measuring
device.
[0034] A storage medium reset command is available to the Test
Operator in any event when any of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3
becomes inoperative or unresponsive to Test Operator commands.
[0035] The System Tasks State 30 enables the Test Operator to begin
a process of initiating the emission measuring device to take
fugitive emission samples in the Reading Mode State 32. In Reading
Mode 32, a Get Probe Data command is entered into the Personal Data
Assistant 26 and interpreted by the software for the WDA 41 with
transceiver to initialize the emission measuring device. The Test
Operator enters Start Probe Sample to instruct the emission
measuring device to sample and process for detecting fugitive
emissions in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. At the completion of
the fugitive emissions sample period a Stop Probe Sample Command is
entered into the Personal Data Assistant that is interpreted by the
WDA 41 to disable the emission measuring device from taking further
fugitive emission samples.
[0036] As the emission measuring device takes in fugitive emissions
samples and transfers emissions data to the WDA 41, the Store Data
State 34 is enabled. The first action commands the emission
measuring device to transfer fugitive emission sample data to a
Cache Memory, shown in FIG. 5, located in the WDA 41. On command
from the Test Operator fugitive emission sample data is transferred
to the Personal Data Assistant over the Wireless Radio Link 24
shown in FIG. 3. In an alternative embodiment, the final command in
the Store Data State instructs the Storage medium to clear the
Cache Memory 22, shown in FIG. 5 to delete fugitive emission sample
data.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic that shows the functional elements and
command and data paths in the flame ionization detector (or other
emissions monitoring device) 16, WDA 41 and Personal Data Assistant
26 apparatus. Commands initiated by the Test Operator, shown in
FIG. 3, are entered into the Personal Data Assistant 26 provisioned
with an embedded Wireless Transceiver 52. The commands are then
sent over the Wireless Radio Data Link 24, to the Wireless Client
Transceiver 23 located in the Wireless Data-logging Adapter 41 were
the Commands are forwarded to a Microprocessor Matrix Crossbar
switch 44. The software embedded in the Microprocessor Core 46
instructs the Microprocessor Matrix Crossbar Switch to rout the
command to the Serial Data Link Transceiver 42. The command is
forwarded to the emission measuring device 16 or, in this case, a
Flame Ionization Detector 16 to execute the Command. Commands are
interpreted by the Microprocessor Core 46 to be executed in the
Wireless Data-logging Adapter 41 as defined in the FIG. 4 state
diagram.
[0038] Commands sent by the Personal Data Assistant to the wireless
data logger adapter initiates taking fugitive emission samples and
routing those samples to both the Cache Memory 22 in the Wireless
data-logger and to the Wireless Server Transceiver, through the
Wireless Data Link onto the Personal Data Assistant memory.
[0039] An embodiment of the invention uses a probe to detect gas
emissions. Such probe transports gasses encountered during a
sampling period to an emissions measuring device via a transport
conduit. The emissions measuring device is connected with a WDA 41
via a serial data link 20 (shown in FIG. 3). Such serial data link
may be hardwired or wireless. The WDA 41 shown in FIG. 5 functions
in conjunction with a cache memory 22 and a microprocessor 44 and
46 and a networking device 23. The networking device 23 functions
as a transceiver capable of two way wireless communications, such
as sending and receiving data streams. A data-logger 26 (e.g., a
personal data assistant) exists as a separate unit. The data-logger
device functions as a separate data retention device in that it has
a storage medium, microprocessor and a networking device capable of
two way wireless communications.
[0040] In another embodiment, during a sample period--the interval
in which gas emissions are measured--a test operator causes the
probe to survey sealed piping in search of fugitive gases. When
such gases are encountered, gas enters the probe aperture and flows
from the transport conduit into the measuring device 16 where flame
ionization levels are evaluated and digitized. After digitizing the
gas level into a serial data stream the storage medium 22 on the
WDA 41 retains a copy of the data. A transceiver 23 on the WDA 41
then sends a redundant copy of the data wirelessly to the data
logging device 26.
[0041] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines,
manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,
presently existing or later to be developed that perform
substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same
result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be
utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the
appended claims are intended to include within their scope such
processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,
methods, or steps.
* * * * *