U.S. patent application number 16/949706 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-12 for ageing and dust detection in a meter.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Norbert Flerlage, Christian Lampe-Juergens, Tobias Meimberg, Ralf Schroeder genannt Berghegger, Andreas Wuchrer.
Application Number | 20220146298 16/949706 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005235218 |
Filed Date | 2022-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220146298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meimberg; Tobias ; et
al. |
May 12, 2022 |
AGEING AND DUST DETECTION IN A METER
Abstract
An ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data
collection unit configured to collect a plurality of parameters of
a gas meter; and a processing unit, configured to: receive the
plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical
value of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated
numerical value of the plurality of the parameters with a
corresponding predefined higher range of values and a predefined
lower range of values for the plurality of parameters; determine a
reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values,
wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one
of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a
combination thereof.
Inventors: |
Meimberg; Tobias;
(Osnabrueck, DE) ; Flerlage; Norbert; (Loeningen,
DE) ; Lampe-Juergens; Christian; (Spelle, DE)
; Wuchrer; Andreas; (Georgsmarienhuette, DE) ;
Schroeder genannt Berghegger; Ralf; (Glandorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005235218 |
Appl. No.: |
16/949706 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01F 15/125 20130101;
B01D 45/08 20130101; G01F 1/662 20130101; G01F 15/005 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01F 15/12 20060101
G01F015/12; G01F 1/66 20060101 G01F001/66; G01F 15/00 20060101
G01F015/00; B01D 45/08 20060101 B01D045/08 |
Claims
1. An ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data
collection unit connected to a gas meter, configured to collect a
plurality of parameters of the gas meter; a memory device storing
executable instructions; and a processing unit, in communication
with the memory device, connected to the data collection unit,
wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive each of the
plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical
value of each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the
calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the
parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values
for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding
predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of
parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on
the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters,
wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one
of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a
combination thereof; and generate a report based on the determined
reason of the fault.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of parameters of
the gas meter are at least one of, a temperature inside the gas
meter, a time of the gas meter in a field, an accumulated volume of
a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a gain amplification from an
automatic-gain-control, a shape of the signal, a resonance
frequency, a capacity of a filter mat of a multifunctional dust
trap, a resistance of the filter mat of the multifunctional dust
trap, or a combination thereof.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is measured using a
capacitive measurement and/or a resistive measurement of a
capacitance and/or a resistance formed between an upper conductive
grid and a lower conductive grid of the multifunctional dust
trap.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical value of the temperature is within the
predefined lower range of values of the temperature.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical value of the temperature is within the
predefined higher range of values of the temperature.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical values of the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is within the predefined
higher range of values of the capacity and/or the resistance of the
filter mat.
7. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical values of the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is within the predefined
lower range of values of the capacity and/or the resistance of the
filter mat.
8. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical value of the time of the gas meter in the
field is within the predefined lower range of values of the time of
the gas meter in the field.
9. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical value of the time of the gas meter in the
field is within the predefined higher range of values of the time
of the gas meter in the field.
10. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
processing unit detects a shift in the resonance frequency based on
the calculated numerical value of the resonance frequency in the
gas meter.
11. An ageing and dust detection system, comprising: a data
collection unit connected to a gas meter, configured to collect a
plurality of parameters of the gas meter, wherein the plurality of
parameters of the gas meter are at least one of, a temperature
inside the gas meter, a time of the gas meter in a field, a volume
of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a gain amplification from an
automatic-gain-control, a shape of the signal, a resonance
frequency, a capacity of a filter mat of a multifunctional dust
trap, a resistance of the filter mat of the multifunctional dust
trap, or a combination thereof; a memory device storing executable
instructions; and a processing unit, in communication with the
memory device, connected to the data collection unit, and the upper
conductive grid and the lower conductive grid, wherein the
processing unit is configured to: receive each of the plurality of
the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of
each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated
numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters with a
corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the
plurality of parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range
of values for each of the plurality of parameters; determine a
reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values of
each of the plurality of the parameters, wherein the reason of the
fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an
ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof; and generate a
report based on the determined reason of the fault.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is measured using a
capacitive measurement and/or a resistive measurement of a
capacitance and/or a resistance formed between an upper conductive
grid and a lower conductive grid of the multifunctional dust
trap.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical value of the temperature is within the
predefined lower range of values of the temperature.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical value of the temperature is within the
predefined higher range of values of the temperature.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical values of the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is within the predefined
higher range of values of the capacity and/or the resistance of the
filter mat.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical values of the capacity of the filter mat
and/or the resistance of the filter mat is within the predefined
lower range of values of the capacity and/or the resistance of the
filter mat.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
calculated numerical value of the time of the gas meter in the
field is within the predefined lower range of values of the time of
the gas meter in the field.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the ageing of the gas meter when the
calculated numerical value of the time of the gas meter in the
field is within the predefined higher range of values of the time
of the gas meter in the field.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit when
executing the executable instructions determines the reason of the
fault in the gas meter as the presence of the dust when the
processing unit detects a shift in the resonance frequency based on
the calculated numerical value of the resonance frequency in the
gas meter.
20. A method comprising steps of: receiving data associated with a
plurality of parameters of a gas meter from a data collection unit
connected to the gas meter, and a plurality of conductive grids of
a multifunctional dust trap, wherein the plurality of parameters of
the gas meter are selected from one of, a temperature inside the
gas meter, a time of the gas meter in a field, an accumulated
volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal,
a gain amplification from an automatic-gain-control, a capacity of
a filter mat of a multifunctional dust trap, a resistance of the
filter mat of the multifunctional dust trap, a resonance frequency,
or a combination thereof; calculating a numerical value of each of
the plurality of parameters based on the received data; comparing
the calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the
parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values
for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding
predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of
parameters; determining a reason of a fault in the gas meter based
on the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters,
wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one
of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a
combination thereof; and generating a report based on the
determined reason of the fault.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to a system and a method for
detecting a reason for a fault in meters such as a gas meter.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Ultrasonic transducers used in a gas meter are very
sensitive to dust contamination that negatively impacts a
measurement accuracy of the gas meter. Moreover, an ageing of
different components of the gas meter also causes a decrease in the
measurement accuracy of the gas meter. In addition, a combination
of these two factors results in a poor performance of the gas meter
in long term, which needs to be rectified at a right time to
mitigate additional costs of operating and changing a faulty gas
meter.
[0003] Traditionally used systems can find out a fault in the gas
meter and generate an alarm based on the detected fault. However,
the traditional systems cannot predict a reason for the fault in
the gas meter. In some cases, the fault can occur due to dust
particles from gas pipelines, and in other cases, the fault can
occur due to ageing of components of the gas meter. The dust
particles are intended to be collected in a dust trap installed
within the gas meter, which includes a capacity and a resistance
measurement setup to detect if the dust particles are the reason
for the fault. However, if the reason of the fault is ageing, then
the capacity and resistance measurement setup of the dust trap is
ineffective. Moreover, if the dust is not collected in the dust
trap then the dust continue to flow to transducers and accumulate
on the transducers that can affect a performance of the gas meter.
In traditional systems, in case, an amplitude of a signal drops 10%
from an initial amplitude, an alarm is activated, which notifies a
gas meter operator about the detected fault in the gas meter.
However, if a correct reason for the detected fault is unknown,
then the meter operator may end up replacing the gas meter when the
gas pipeline needs to be replaced, and vice versa.
[0004] There is thus a need for a system and a method for detecting
a correct reason for a detected fault in a gas meter in a more
efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosure reveals an ageing and dust detection system,
comprising: a data collection unit connected to a gas meter,
configured to collect a plurality of parameters of the gas meter.
Further, the ageing and dust detection system comprises a memory
device storing executable instructions. Further, the ageing and
dust detection system comprises a processing unit, in communication
with the memory device, connected to the data collection unit,
wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive each of the
plurality of the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical
value of each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the
calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the
parameters with a corresponding predefined higher range of values
for each of the plurality of parameters, and a corresponding
predefined lower range of values for each of the plurality of
parameters; determine a reason of a fault in the gas meter based on
the compared values of each of the plurality of the parameters,
wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at least one
of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or a
combination thereof; and generate a report based on the determined
reason of the fault.
[0006] The disclosure reveals an ageing and dust detection system,
comprising: a data collection unit connected to a gas meter,
configured to collect a plurality of parameters of the gas meter,
wherein the plurality of parameters of the gas meter are at least
one of, a temperature inside the gas meter, a time of the gas meter
in a field, a volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a gain
amplification from an automatic-gain-control, a shape of the
signal, a resonance frequency, a capacity of a filter mat of a
multifunctional dust trap, a resistance of the filter mat of the
multifunctional dust trap, or a combination thereof. Further, the
ageing and dust detection system comprises a memory device storing
executable instructions. Further, the ageing and dust detection
system comprises a processing unit, in communication with the
memory device, connected to the data collection unit, and the upper
conductive grid and the lower conductive grid, wherein the
processing unit is configured to: receive each of the plurality of
the parameters of the gas meter; calculate a numerical value of
each of the plurality of the parameters; compare the calculated
numerical value of each of the plurality of the parameters with a
corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the
plurality of parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range
of values for each of the plurality of parameters; determine a
reason of a fault in the gas meter based on the compared values of
each of the plurality of the parameters, wherein the reason of the
fault in the gas meter is at least one of, a presence of a dust, an
ageing of the gas meter, or a combination thereof, and generate a
report based on the determined reason of the fault, wherein the
report comprises the calculated numerical value of each of the
plurality of parameters.
[0007] The disclosure reveals a method comprising steps of:
receiving data associated with a plurality of parameters of a gas
meter from a data collection unit connected to the gas meter, and a
plurality of conductive grids of a multifunctional dust trap,
wherein the plurality of parameters of the gas meter are selected
from one of, a temperature inside the gas meter, a time of the gas
meter in a field, an accumulated volume of a flow, an amplitude of
a signal, a shape of the signal, a gain amplification from
automatic-gain-control, a resonance frequency, a capacity of a
filter mat of a multifunctional dust trap, a resistance of the
filter mat of the multifunctional dust trap, or a combination
thereof. Further, the method comprises a step of, calculating a
numerical value of each of the plurality of parameters based on the
received data; comparing the calculated numerical value of each of
the plurality of the parameters with a corresponding predefined
higher range of values for each of the plurality of parameters, and
a corresponding predefined lower range of values for each of the
plurality of parameters; determining a reason of a fault in the gas
meter based on the compared values of each of the plurality of the
parameters, wherein the reason of the fault in the gas meter is at
least one of, a presence of a dust, an ageing of the gas meter, or
a combination thereof and generating a report based on the
determined reason of the fault, wherein the report comprises the
calculated numerical value of each of the plurality of the
parameters.
[0008] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an
understanding of some embodiments of the present mechanism. This
summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the
present mechanism and its various embodiments. The summary presents
selected concepts of the embodiments of the present mechanism in a
simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description
presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the
present mechanism are possible utilizing, alone or in combination,
one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an ageing and dust
detection system, according to an embodiment of the present
mechanism;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front
view of a multifunctional dust trap for measuring one of a
plurality of parameters of a gas meter, according to an embodiment
of the present mechanism;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front
view of a multifunctional dust trap for measuring one of the
plurality of parameters of the gas meter, according to another
embodiment of the present mechanism;
[0012] FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of the
multifunctional dust trap, according to an embodiment of the
present mechanism;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating components of a processing
unit, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism;
[0014] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an amplitude time graph
for a wave package transmitted by a first transducer and captured
by a second transducer of a flow tube of the ageing and dust
detection system, according to an embodiment of the present
mechanism;
[0015] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a graph of a Fast Fourier
Transform (FFT) for the wave package upstream received at the
second transducer without a presence of a dust, according to an
embodiment of the present mechanism;
[0016] FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating the graph of the FFT for
the wave package upstream received at the second transducer with
the presence of the dust, according to an embodiment of the present
mechanism; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method for an ageing and
dust detection in a gas meter using the ageing and dust detection
system.
DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present system and approach may incorporate one or more
processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless
and/or wire connections, and/or the like, in an implementation
described and/or shown herein.
[0019] This description may provide one or more illustrative and
specific examples or ways of implementing the present system and
approach. There may be numerous other examples or ways of
implementing the system and approach.
[0020] The present approach may provide a system and a method for
detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter. According to
embodiments of the present mechanism, the reason may be a presence
of a dust or an ageing of the gas meter.
[0021] The present approach may provide a system and a method for
detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter that may help to find
out a root-cause of the gas meter failure in a field. In addition,
the system and the method may provide a customer an additional
information that pipes may be very rusty and should be
exchanged.
[0022] The present mechanism has a feature in it that it may use
the advantages of the prior used fault detection techniques without
harvesting the disadvantage.
[0023] A technical benefit is to have a system and a method for
detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter for enabling a meter
operator to take necessary actions to improve a measuring accuracy
and lifetime of the gas meter.
[0024] A business advantage is to have a low-cost system for
detecting a reason for a fault in a gas meter that provide
additional features by without adding additional components to the
gas meter.
[0025] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an ageing and dust
detection system 100. The ageing and dust detection system 100 may
be configured to detect a reason for a fault in a measurement of a
gas meter 102 when the gas meter 102 fails in a field.
[0026] The ageing and dust detection system 100 may comprise the
gas meter 102, a data collection unit 104, a processing unit 106,
and a user device 108. Further, the gas meter 102, the data
collection unit 104, and the processing unit 106 may be configured
to communicate with each other by one or more communication
mediums. The communication medium may include, but not limited to,
a coaxial cable, a copper wire, a fiber optic, a wire that comprise
a system bus coupled to a processor of a computing device, and so
forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the
communication medium known to a person skilled in the art that may
be capable of enabling a communication within the ageing and dust
detection system 100. Further, the processing unit 106, and the
user device 108 may be connected through a communication network
110, according to embodiments of the present mechanism. The
communication network 110 may include a data network such as, but
not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network
(WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT),
and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any
of the communication network 110 known to a person skilled in the
art that may be capable of enabling a communication within the
ageing and dust detection system 100. According to an embodiment of
the present mechanism, the processing unit 106, and the user device
108 may be configured to communicate with each other by one or more
communication mediums connected to the communication network 110.
As discussed above, the communication mediums include, but are not
limited to, coaxial cables, copper wires, fiber optics, wires that
comprise a system bus coupled to a processor of a computing device,
and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any
of the communication mediums known to a person skilled in the art
that may be capable of enabling a communication within the ageing
and dust detection system 100.
[0027] Further, the gas meter 102 may be connected to a pipeline
(not shown) to measure a flow rate of a gas passing through the gas
meter 102. Further, the gas meter 102 may comprise a
multifunctional dust trap 112, and a flow tube 114. According to
embodiments of the present mechanism, the multifunctional dust trap
112 and the flow tube 114 may be made up of a material, such as,
but not limited to, a natural plastic, a Polybutylene Terephthalate
(PBT) material, a Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and so forth.
Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of the
material for making the multifunctional dust trap 112 and the flow
tube 114 known to a person skilled in the art that may be capable
of providing a durability to the multifunctional dust trap 112 and
the flow tube 114.
[0028] The multifunctional dust trap 112 may comprises an inlet 116
that may be connected to a gas inlet 118 of the gas meter 102. A
flow of the gas may enter from the inlet 116 into a chamber 120 of
the multifunctional dust trap 112. According to an embodiment of
the present mechanism, a larger cross-sectional area of the chamber
120 in comparison with the inlet 116 may cause a drop in a velocity
of the flow of the gas. Further, the chamber 120 may guide the flow
of the gas towards an outlet 122 of the multifunctional dust trap
112. The outlet 122 may comprise a filter mat 124 fixedly attached
to the outlet 122 for filtering a plurality of micro-dust particles
(hereinafter referred to as the micro-dust particles). The filter
mat 124 may filter the gas thus eliminating the micro-dust
particles from the gas to produce a clean gas. Further, the clean
gas may enter the flow tube 114 installed within the gas meter 102.
The flow tube 114 may comprise a plurality of flow inlets 126a-126b
(hereinafter referred to as the flow inlets 126) for enabling a
balanced flow of the gas into a flow chamber 128 of the flow tube
114. The flow tube 114 may further comprise a first transducer 130
connected near a first end of the flow chamber 128 and a second
transducer 132 connected near a second end of the flow chamber 128.
The first transducer 130 and the second transducer 132 may be a
device capable of converting an electrical energy into a plurality
of acoustic waves (hereinafter referred to as the acoustic waves).
Further, the first transducer 130 and the second transducer 132 may
be connected in the flow tube 114 such that the first transducer
130 and the second transducer 132 faces each other. The first
transducer 130 may be configured to transmit the generated acoustic
waves towards the second transducer 132 and the second transducer
132 may be configured to transmit the generated acoustic waves
towards the first transducer 130. Further, an outlet 134 of the
flow tube 114 may be connected to a gas outlet 136 of the gas meter
102. The gas outlet 136 may be connected to the pipeline (not
shown) that may receive the flow of the clean gas from the flow
tube 114, according to an embodiment of the present mechanism.
[0029] Further, the gas meter 102 may comprise a display 138
connected to the processing unit 106 that may be configured to
display an output generated by the processing unit 106, according
to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The display 138 may be,
but not limited to, a digital display, a touch screen display, and
so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of
the display 138 known to a person skilled in the art that may be
capable of displaying the output generated by the processing unit
106.
[0030] The data collection unit 104 of the ageing and dust
detection system 100 may be an electrical device connected to the
gas meter 102 through a connecting wire 140, according to an
embodiment of the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the
present mechanism, the data collection unit 104 may be connected to
the gas meter 102 through a wireless connection. The data
collection unit 104 may comprise a plurality of electrical circuits
that may be configured to collect data of a plurality of parameters
(hereinafter referred to as the parameters) associated with the gas
meter 102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The
parameters may be, but not limited to, a temperature inside the gas
meter 102, a time of the gas meter 102 in a field, an accumulated
volume of a flow, an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal,
a gain amplification from an automatic-gain-control, a resonance
frequency, a capacity of a filter mat 124, a resistance of a filter
mat 124 (as shown in the FIG. 1B), and so forth. Embodiments of the
present mechanism may include any of the parameters associated with
the gas meter 102 known to a person skilled in the art. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the temperature inside the gas
meter 102 may be sensed using a temperature sensor (not shown) that
may be configured to transmit the sensed temperature inside the gas
meter 102 to the data collection unit 104. Further, the data
collection unit 104 may be configured to determine the time of the
gas meter 102 in the field in real time using an integrated clock
(not shown) installed within the gas meter 102, in an embodiment of
the present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present
mechanism, the time of the gas meter 102 in the field may be
manually entered by a user by using the display 138 that may
transmit the data to the processing unit 106. The user may be, but
not limited to, a meter operator, a serviceman, and so forth.
Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or
otherwise cover any user of the ageing and dust detection system
100.
[0031] Furthermore, the data collection unit 104 may be configured
to collect the temperature inside the gas meter 102, the time of
the gas meter 102 in the field, the accumulated volume of the flow,
the amplitude of the signal, the shape of the signal, the gain
amplification from the automatic-gain-control, the resonance
frequency, the capacity of the filter mat 124, and the resistance
of the filter mat 124 through an electrical circuit (not shown) of
the gas meter 102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism.
Further, the data collection unit 104 may be configured to transmit
the collected data to the processing unit 106. The processing unit
106 may be configured to receive and/or transmit data within the
ageing and dust detection system 100 using the communication
network 110. Further, the processing unit 106 may be configured to
process data associated with the ageing and dust detection system
100 to generate the output, in an embodiment of the present
mechanism. According to embodiments of the present invention, the
processing unit 106 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable
Logic Control unit (PLC), a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a
computing device, a development board, and so forth. Embodiments of
the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover
any type of the processing unit 106 known to a person skilled in
the art that may be capable of processing the received data.
Further, components of the processing unit 106 will be explained in
detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.
[0032] The processing unit 106 may be further connected to a memory
device 107 that may be configured to store a plurality of computer
executable instructions. The memory device 107 may be, but not
limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM),
a flash memory, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention
are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory
device 107 known to a person skilled in the art.
[0033] The user device 108 may be configured to enable the user to
receive data and to transmit data within the ageing and dust
detection system 100. The user may be, but not limited to, a meter
operator, a serviceman, and so forth. Embodiments of the present
invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any user of
the ageing and dust detection system 100. According to embodiments
of the present invention, the user device 108 may be, but not
limited to, a mobile device, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a
portable computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a smart
device, a smart watch, a smart glass, and so forth. Embodiments of
the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover
any type of the user device 108 known to a person skilled in the
art.
[0034] FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front
view of the multifunctional dust trap 112 for measuring the
parameters of the gas meter 102. The parameters may be the capacity
of the filter mat 124 and the resistance of the filter mat 124,
according to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The inlet 116
of the multifunctional dust trap 112 may be attached to the chamber
120. The outlet 122 may be provided to enable the exit of the clean
gas from the chamber 120 of the multifunctional dust trap 112.
Further, the outlet 122 may comprise a frame 142 that may be
capable of fixedly holding the filter mat 124, in an embodiment of
the present mechanism. Further, the frame 142 may comprise an upper
conductive grid 144, and a lower conductive grid 146 such that the
upper conductive grid 144 and the lower conductive grid 146
sandwiches the filter mat 124. The upper conductive grid 144 and
the lower conductive grid 146 may be further connected to a power
source (not shown) that may be capable of enabling the upper
conductive grid 144 and the lower conductive grid 146 to generate
an electrostatic charge. The generated electrostatic charge may be
used to generate data representing an amount of the micro-dust
particles collected by the filter mat 124. The upper conductive
grid 144 and the lower conductive grid 146 sandwiching the filter
mat 124 may form a capacitance that may enable a capacitive
measurement of the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by
the filter mat 124. The micro-dust particles may be, but not
limited to, Iron (II, III) Oxide (Fe.sub.3O.sub.4), Ferrous Oxide
(FeO), Silicone Oxide (SiO), and so forth. Embodiments of the
present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any
type of the micro-dust particles known to a person skilled in the
art. Further, the upper conductive grid 144, and the lower
conductive grid 146 may be configured to transmit the data
representing the amount of the micro-dust particles collected by
the filter mat 124 to the processing unit 106.
[0035] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional front
view of a multifunctional dust trap 200 for measuring the
parameters of the gas meter 102. The parameters may be the capacity
and the resistance of the filter mat 124, according to another
embodiment of the present mechanism. The multifunctional dust trap
200 comprises a top part 202, and a bottom part 204. Further, the
top part 202, and the bottom part 204 may be made up of a material
such as, but not limited to, a natural plastic, a synthetic
plastic, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a metal, and so
forth. The top part 202, and the bottom part 204 may be made up of
any of the material known to a person skilled in the art that may
provide a durability to the multifunctional dust trap 200.
[0036] The top part 202 may comprise an inlet 206, an outlet 208,
and an upper chamber 210. The inlet 206 may be a cylindrical shaped
hollow structure for connecting the multifunctional dust trap 200
with the gas meter 102. The inlet 206 may comprise an inlet cavity
212 on an outer surface along a circumference of the inlet 206 to
fixedly connect the multifunctional dust trap 200 with the gas
meter 102, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another
embodiment of the present mechanism, the inlet cavity 212 may be
provided to removably connect the multifunctional dust trap 200
with the gas meter 102 by using a plurality of threads (not
shown).
[0037] The outlet 208 may be an opening adjacent to the inlet 206,
which may be provided to enable an exit of a flow of a clean gas
from the upper chamber 210. The flow of the clean gas may be free
from the dust particles that may improve an accuracy of a
measurement of the gas meter 102. The outlet 208 and the inlet 206
may be connected through a vertical wall 214. The vertical wall 214
may act as a channel for guiding the flow of the gas through the
upper chamber 210 from the inlet 206 towards the outlet 208.
Further, the vertical wall 214 and the upper chamber 210 may form a
frame 216 having a cavity 246 (as shown in FIG. 2B) provided on an
inner surface along a perimeter of the frame 216. A shape of the
frame 216 may be, but not limited to, a square, a rectangular, and
so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of
the shape of the frame 216 known to a person skilled in the art.
Further, the frame 216 may be capable of fixedly holding the filter
mat 124, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The filter mat
124 may be fixedly attached within the frame 216 for filtering a
plurality of micro-dust particles (hereinafter referred to as the
micro-dust particles) from the gas, in an embodiment of the present
mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the
filter mat 124 may be removably attached within the frame 216 by
using a snap lock mechanism. Further, the filter mat 124 may be
made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a fabric, a
woven material, and so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism
may include any of the material for making the filter mat 124 known
to a person skilled in the art that may be capable of filtering the
micro-dust particles.
[0038] Further, the frame 216 may comprise an upper conductive grid
218, and a lower conductive grid 220 such that the upper conductive
grid 218 and the lower conductive grid 220 sandwiches the filter
mat 124. The upper conductive grid 218 and the lower conductive
grid 220 may be further connected to a power source (not shown)
that may be capable of enabling the upper conductive grid 218 and
the lower conductive grid 220 to generate an electrostatic charge.
The generated electrostatic charge may be used to generate data
representing an amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the
filter mat 124. The upper conductive grid 218 and the lower
conductive grid 220 sandwiching the filter mat 124 may form a
capacitance that may enable a capacitive measurement of the amount
of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat 124. In
another embodiment of the present invention, the upper conductive
grid 218 and the lower conductive grid 220 sandwiching the filter
mat 124 may be capable of generating data representing a resistance
of the filter mat 124 that may be used for a resistive measurement
of the resistance of the filter mat 124. Further, the upper
conductive grid 218, and the lower conductive grid 220 may be
configured to transmit the data representing the amount of the
micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat 124 and the data
representing the resistance of the filter mat 124 to the processing
unit 106 through the data collection unit 104. The frame 216 may
further comprise a cover 222 that may be fixedly attached onto the
upper conductive grid 218 to hold the upper conductive grid 218 in
place, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In another
embodiment of the present mechanism, the cover 222 may be removably
attached onto the upper conductive grid 218 using a snap lock
mechanism. Further, the cover 222 may comprise a plurality of ribs
224a-224n (hereinafter referred to as the ribs 224) connected to
each other forming a grid like structure to cover the upper
conductive grid 218. The cover 222 may be made up of a material
such as, but not limited to, a natural plastic, a Polybutylene
Terephthalate (PBT) material, a Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and
so forth. Embodiments of the present mechanism may include any of
the material for making the cover 222 known to a person skilled in
the art that may be capable of providing a durability to the cover
222.
[0039] The upper chamber 210 may comprise a first wall 226, a
second wall 228, a side wall 230, and a top surface 232. The first
wall 226, the second wall 228, the side walls 230, and the top
surface 232 may form a hollow enclosure defining the upper chamber
210. The inlet 206 may be connected to the top surface 232 of the
upper chamber 210, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The
first wall 226 may be a flat wall extending vertically in a
downward direction from the top surface 232. The second wall 228
may be a curved wall extending vertically in a downward direction
from the frame 216.
[0040] The bottom part 204 may comprise a first curved wall 234, a
second curved wall 236, and a base 238. The first curved wall 234
and the second curved wall 236 may be a concave shaped wall
designed to guide the flow of the gas from the inlet 206 to the
outlet 208. Further, the bottom part 204 may comprise a plurality
of locking mechanism 240a-240m (hereinafter referred to as the
locking mechanism 240) that may be capable of fixedly engaging with
a plurality of protrusions 242a-242m (hereinafter referred to as
the protrusions 242) provided on the side wall 230 of the upper
chamber 210 to attach the bottom part 204 with the top part 202.
Further, the locking mechanism 240 may be a snap lock mechanism, in
an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the base 238 may
comprise a plurality of ribs 244a-244o (hereinafter referred to as
the ribs 244) extending vertically in an upward direction from an
inner surface of the base 238. The ribs 244 may be fixedly attached
along a length of the base 238, in an embodiment of the present
mechanism.
[0041] FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an exploded view of the
multifunctional dust trap 200, according to an embodiment of the
present mechanism. The multifunctional dust trap 200 comprises the
top part 202, and the bottom part 204. The top part 202 may
comprise the inlet 206, the outlet 208, and the upper chamber 210.
The frame 216 having the cavity 246 may be provided to fixedly hold
the filter mat 124, in an embodiment of the present mechanism.
Further, the frame 216 may comprise the upper conductive grid 218,
and the lower conductive grid 220 sandwiching the filter mat 124.
The upper conductive grid 218 and the lower conductive grid 220 may
be further connected to the power source that may be capable of
enabling the upper conductive grid 218 and the lower conductive
grid 220 to generate an electrostatic charge. The generated
electrostatic charge may be used to generate data representing an
amount of the micro-dust particles collected by the filter mat 124.
The upper conductive grid 218 and the lower conductive grid 220
sandwiching the filter mat 124 may form the capacitance that may
enable a capacitive measurement of the amount of the micro-dust
particles collected by the filter mat 124. The frame 216 may
further comprise the cover 222 that may be fixedly attached onto
the upper conductive grid 218 to hold the upper conductive grid 218
in place, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. The bottom
part 204 may comprise the locking mechanism 240 that may be capable
of fixedly engaging with the protrusions 242 provided on the upper
chamber 210 to attach the bottom part 204 with the top part
202.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating components of the
processing unit 106, according to an embodiment of the present
mechanism. The processing unit 106 comprises an input module 300, a
data processing module 302, a report generation module 304, an
output module 306, and a notification module 308.
[0043] The input module 300 may be configured to receive the data
associated with the parameters of the gas meter 102. The input
module 300 may be configured to collect the data of the parameters
of the gas meter 102 from the data collection unit 104, according
to an embodiment of the present mechanism. The parameters may be,
but not limited to, a temperature inside the gas meter 102, a time
of the gas meter 102 in a field, an accumulated volume of a flow,
an amplitude of a signal, a shape of the signal, a gain
amplification from automatic-gain-control, a resonance frequency,
and so forth. The input module 300 may further be configured to
collect the data of the parameters of the gas meter 102 from the
upper conductive grid 144 and the lower conductive grid 146 to
measure the parameter, i.e., the capacity of the filter mat 124 and
the resistance of the filter mat 124, according to an embodiment of
the present mechanism. Further, the input module 300 may be
configured to transmit the received data to the data processing
module 302.
[0044] The data processing module 302 may be configured to process
the data received from the input module 300. The data processing
module 302 may be configured to calculate a numerical value of each
of the parameters of the gas meter 102. Further, the data
processing module 302 may be configured to compare the calculated
numerical value of each of the parameters with a predefined upper
range of values corresponding to each of the parameters and a
predefined lower range of values associated with each of the
parameters. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the
predefined upper range of values and the predefined lower range of
values may be stored in the memory device 107. The data processing
module 302 may further be configured to determine a reason for a
fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102 based on the compared
numerical values. In an embodiment of the present mechanism, the
data processing module 302 may be configured to process the
received data associated with the parameters of the gas meter 102
to generate an amplitude time graph 400 (as shown in FIG. 4A) for a
wave package transmitted by the first transducer 130 and captured
by the second transducer 132. In another embodiment of the present
mechanism, the data processing module 302 may process the received
data associated with the parameters of the gas meter 102 to
generate an amplitude time graph (not shown) for a signal
transmitted by the second transducer 132 and captured by the first
transducer 130.
[0045] Further, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
determine a numerical value of the amplification from the automatic
gain control required to adjust an amplitude of the wave package to
a desired value, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. In an
embodiment of the present mechanism, if the determined numerical
value of the amplification from the automatic gain control is high
that represents that the received amplitude of the signal is
decreased, then the data processing module 302 may be configured to
determine that the reason for the fault in the gas meter 102 is the
dust in the gas meter 102 and/or the ageing of the gas meter.
[0046] The data processing module 302 may receive the time of the
gas meter 102 in the field, in an embodiment of the present
mechanism. Further, the data processing module 302 may be
configured to compare the received time with the predefined upper
range of values of the time in the field and the predefined lower
range of values of the time in the field. In case, the received
time is within the upper range of values of the time in the field,
then the data processing module 302 may be configured to determine
that the reason for the decreased amplitude of the signal and the
reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102 is due
to ageing of the gas meter 102. In case, the received time is
within the lower range of values of the time in the field, then the
data processing module 302 may be configured to determine that the
decreased amplitude of the signal and the reason for the fault in
the measurement of the gas meter 102 is due to the presence of dust
in the gas meter 102.
[0047] Further, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
calculate the numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow
through the flow tube 114 by calculating a time of flight upstream
(TOF UPS) of the acoustic waves from a wave package upstream
received by the second transducer 132 from the first transducer 130
and a time of flight downstream (TOF DNS) of the acoustic waves
from a wave package downstream received by the first transducer 130
from the second transducer 132. Further, the data processing module
302 may be configured to determine a time difference (dTOF) between
both TOF UPS and TOF DNS. The data processing module 302 may be
configured to calculate a flowrate using the dTOF, TOF UPS, and TOF
DNS, in an embodiment of the present mechanism. Further, the data
processing module 302 may be configured to calculate the numerical
value of the accumulated volume of the flow through the flow tube
114 using the calculated flow rate and a time of propagation.
Furthermore, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
compare the calculated numerical value of the accumulated volume of
the flow with the predefined upper range of values of the
accumulated volume of the flow and the predefined lower range of
values of the accumulated volume of the flow. In case, the
calculated numerical value of the accumulated volume of the flow is
within the upper range of values of the accumulated volume of the
flow that may be equal to 1 Million Cubic Feet on a counter (not
shown) of the gas meter 102, then the data processing module 302
may be configured to determine that the reason for the fault in the
measurement of the gas meter is due to the presence of dust and/or
the ageing of the gas meter 102. In case, the calculated numerical
value of the accumulated volume of the flow is within the lower
range of values of the accumulated volume of the flow, then the
data processing module 302 may be configured to determine that the
reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102 is due
to the presence of dust and/or a defect in the first transducer 130
and/or a defect in the second transducer 132.
[0048] Further, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
compare the calculated temperature within the gas meter 102
received from the data collection unit 104 with the predefined
upper range of values of the temperature and the predefined lower
range of values of the temperature. In case, the calculated
temperature is within the upper range of values of the temperature,
then the data processing module 302 may be configured to determine
that the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter
102 is due to the ageing of the gas meter 102. In case, the
calculated temperature is within the lower range of values of the
temperature, then the data processing module 302 may be configured
to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of
the gas meter 102 is due to the presence of dust.
[0049] Furthermore, the data processing module 302 may be
configured to calculate the capacity of the filter mat 124 and the
resistance of the filter mat 124 based on the received data from
the upper conductive grid 144 and the lower conductive grid 146.
Further, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
compare the calculated capacity of the filter mat 124 and
resistance of the filter mat 124 with the predefined upper range of
values of the capacity and the predefined upper range of values of
the resistance and the predefined lower range of values of the
capacity and the predefined lower range of values of the
resistance. In case, the calculated capacity of the filter mat 124
and the resistance of the filter mat 124 is within the upper range
of values of the capacity and the resistance, then the data
processing module 302 may be configured to determine that the
reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102 is due
to the presence of the dust. In case, the calculated capacity of
the filter mat 124 and the resistance of the filter mat 124 is
within the lower range of values of the capacity and the
resistance, then the data processing module 302 may be configured
to determine that the reason for the fault in the measurement of
the gas meter 102 is due to the ageing of the gas meter 102.
[0050] In another embodiment of the present mechanism, the data
processing module 302 may be configured to calculate the resonance
frequency based on the received data representing the wave package
received at the second transducer 132 from the first transducer 130
by using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). In an embodiment of the
present mechanism, the data processing module 302 may be configured
to generate a graph of a FFT for the wave package upstream received
at the second transducer 132 from the first transducer 130 to
calculate the resonance frequency and an amplitude drop. According
to an embodiment of the present mechanism, a sampling frequency of
the FFT may be increased to achieve more accurate results. In an
exemplary scenario, the data processing module 302 may be
configured to generate a graph 404 (as shown in FIG. 4C) of a FFT
for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer 132
with the presence of the dust to calculate the resonance frequency.
Further, the data processing module 302 may be configured to
compare the calculated resonance frequency with a standard
resonance frequency determined from a graph 402 (as shown in FIG.
4B) of a FFT for the wave package upstream received at the second
transducer 132 without the presence of the dust. In case, the data
processing module 302 determines a shift in the calculated
resonance frequency from the standard resonance frequency, then the
data processing module 302 may be configured to determine that the
reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102 is due
to the presence of dust. Further, the data processing module 302
may be configured to calculate a slope from a minimum wave to a
maximum wave of the signal to calculate the shape of the signal.
Furthermore, the calculated shape of the signal may be compared
with a standard signal shape, in an embodiment of the present
mechanism.
[0051] The report generation module 304 may be configured to
generate a report based on the processed data from the data
processing module 302. The generated report may comprise the
determined reason of the fault in the measurement of the gas meter
102. Further, the report may comprise the calculated numerical
values of each of the parameters. In an embodiment of the present
mechanism, the report generation module 304 may be further
configured to generate a notification comprising the generated
report and an alert signal. Further, the report generation module
304 may be configured to transmit the generated notification to the
output module 306 and the notification module 308.
[0052] The output module 306 may be configured to display the
generated report through the display 138, in an embodiment of the
present mechanism. In another embodiment of the present mechanism,
the alert signal may enable the output module 306 to generate an
alarm using a buzzer (not shown) installed in the gas meter
102.
[0053] Further, the notification module 308 may be configured to
transmit the generated notification to the user device 108 of the
user. In another embodiment of the present invention, the
notification module 308 may be configured to transmit the
notification to a head-end system. The alert signal of the
notification may be capable of generating an alarm at the head-end
system to alert the administrator about the detected reason for the
fault in the measurement of the gas meter 102.
[0054] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the amplitude time graph
400 for the wave package transmitted by the first transducer 130
and captured by the second transducer 132 of the flow tube 114. The
graph 400 depicts an amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave
package when the first transducer 130 has a layer of accumulated
dust particles and an amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave
package when the first transducer 130 is dust free.
[0055] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the graph 402 of the FFT
for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer 132
(as shown in the FIG. 1A) without the presence of the dust.
[0056] FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating the graph 404 of the FFT
for the wave package upstream received at the second transducer 132
(as shown in the FIG. 1A) with the presence of the dust. The
amplitude of the acoustic waves of the wave package received at the
second transducer 132 may be decreased as compared to the amplitude
of the acoustic waves of the wave package received at the second
transducer 132 without the presence of the dust.
[0057] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method 500 for an ageing
and dust detection in the gas meter 102 within the ageing and dust
detection system 100.
[0058] At step 502, the ageing and dust detection system 100 may
receive data of the parameters associated with the gas meter 102.
The parameters may be, but not limited to, the temperature inside
the gas meter 102, the time of the gas meter 102 in the field, the
accumulated volume of the flow, the amplitude of the signal, the
shape of the signal, the resonance frequency, the capacity of the
filter mat 124, the resistance of the filter mat 124, and so
forth.
[0059] At step 504, the ageing and dust detection system 100 may
calculate the numerical value of the parameters based on the
received data, as discussed above.
[0060] Next, at step 506, the ageing and dust detection system 100
may compare the calculated numerical value of the parameters with a
corresponding predefined higher range of values for each of the
parameters, and a corresponding predefined lower range of values
for each of the parameters.
[0061] At step 508, the ageing and dust detection system 100 may
determine the reason for the fault in the measurement of the gas
meter 102 based on the compared numerical values.
[0062] Further, at step 510, the ageing and dust detection system
100 may generate a report comprising the reason for the fault in
the measurement of the gas meter 102 and the calculated numerical
values of the parameters. The ageing and dust detection system 100
may further generate a notification that may comprise the report
and an alert signal.
[0063] At step 512, the ageing and dust detection system 100 may
transmit the generated notification to the user device 108 of the
user and to the head-end system for alerting the user such as, but
not limited to, a meter operator.
[0064] Any publication or patent document that may be noted herein
is hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each
individual publication, or patent document was specifically and
individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
[0065] In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a
hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner
or tense.
[0066] Although the present system and/or approach has been
described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many
variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the
intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as
possible in view of the related art to include all such variations
and modifications.
* * * * *