LT6392B - PRESSURE INDICATOR WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

This description provides a pressure vessel with an electronic monitoring and control system installed. The electronic system can be installed at the time of manufacture of the pressure vessel or at other times, but it is an integral part of the pressure vessel. The electronic system has sensors, a data processing and other computing device, execution devices, communication devices and other components. The electronic system is designed to monitor the state of the pressure vessel, to precisely locate it, to inform the emergency services or other technical services in the event of an emergency and to carry out appropriate operations automatically, such as stabilization, making a decision locally or remotely according to a predetermined algorithm. The electronic system ensures greater accident prevention possibilities, if necessary - allows more rapid response to the emergency services, informs about possible loss of material in the pressure vessel. The electronic system installed and the functions it performs or a combination thereof can also lead to other possibilities of using such a pressure vessel, and perform functions that are not described in this description.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of gas or liquid dispensing, more particularly to pressure vessels with additional functional elements for monitoring and controlling the physical and chemical parameters of the material in and around the pressure vessel.

TECHNICAL LEVEL

The object of the present invention is to increase the safety and ease of use of pressure vessels which may also contain high pressure liquids or gases. Safety is enhanced by attaching an electronic system to the pressure vessel which controls some of the material in the pressure vessel by measuring the internal and environmental parameters of the pressure vessel. Said electronic system can make management decisions, can use remote server decision-making system, has a location system - i.e.: can locate the system, can provide pressure vessel material parameters in the imaging device and pass these parameters to interested services, users, etc.

US20140195067A1 (published July 10, 2014) describes a system in which the pressure inside a pressure vessel is measured by sensors and then, using sophisticated calculation methods, determines the dynamic model of the vessel which is used to determine the operating parameters and modes of the pressure vessel. This system does not mention anything about the ability to use mobile communications to receive management instructions. Also, the control method described in this document is limited to high volume stationary industrial pressure vessels used in various manufacturing processes.

Patent application EP2339222A2 (published June 29, 2011) provides a solution for determining the amount of compressed gas contained within a pressure vessel. The system is designed for gas volume monitoring, but does not provide for the ability to actively control the parameters of the compressed gas inside.

Patent application WO2015023949A1 (published February 19, 2015) provides a pressure indicator for a material inside a pressure vessel that can provide pressure information, both visual and audible. This system does not realize the possibility of measuring other parameters of the material in the pressure vessel. There is also nothing about controlling the parameters of the material.

US20090140867A1 (published June 4, 2009) discloses a system for displaying parameters of a pressure vessel (and material therein). The system has at least two parts: an element attached to a pressure vessel which is capable of recording, storing and presenting data. In most cases, the information storage element is selected to accommodate a sufficient amount of information without the need for energy storage, i.e. so that the information can be stored for a long time (at least a year or more). Another indispensable element of the system is a device capable of retrieving and presenting that information in a human-friendly manner. The information is provided passively, requires an additional device, and nothing is mentioned about parameter control.

Patent Application VVO1999040553A1 (published August 12, 1999) provides a technical solution for measuring and providing information on a pressure vessel and the material contained therein by an alarm device. When the pressure in the material in the pressure vessel drops below the target pressure, the system informs you that the vessel must be replaced or refilled.

Most of the prior art evidence provided includes information on systems that are capable of measuring and in some way indicating the physical or chemical parameters of a pressure vessel and its material, but no information is available on:

pressure vessel environmental measurement systems;

systems capable of taking and implementing pressure vessel control decisions with respect to measured parameters;

the fact that the pressure vessel is provided with a positioning / positioning system which enables the pressure vessel to be located;

systems capable of transmitting measured information by mobile communication for both management decision making and alerting in the event of an abnormal emergency;

the ability to make pressure vessel control decisions in a remote decision center where, unlike the system that comes with the pressure vessel, decisions can be made using sophisticated mathematical methods, and the decision can be made by a person.

The present invention, the embodiments of which are described below, provides a solution without the above drawbacks.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE INVENTION

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the installation of an electronic system in pressure vessels. The electronic system may be installed during or at the time of production of the pressure vessel, but it is an integral part of the pressure vessel. The electronic system includes sensors, a computing device that processes information and performs other functions, actuators, communication means and other components. The electronic system is designed to monitor the condition of the pressure vessel, pinpoint its location and, in the event of an emergency, notify emergency response services and perform appropriate operations, such as stabilization, by default algorithm. The electronic system provides conditions for accident prevention, if necessary - enables a more rapid response to emergency response services, informs about the possible loss of material in the pressure vessel.

The installed electronic system and the functions it performs, or a combination thereof, may also result in other applications of such a pressure vessel, providing functions not provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 The principle diagram of an electronic pressure vessel is shown.

Fig. 2 illustrates the principle diagram of communication with an external system of a pressure vessel with an electronic system. In this figure, different types of lines are represented by different types of lines: solid line - the connection of the pressure vessel with electronic system to the positioning artificial satellites; dotted line - mobile; dotted line - data transmission to / from a remote data processing center.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This description discloses a pressure vessel (1) which, during manufacture, incorporates an electronic system (5). The electronic system (5) can be installed in the pressure vessel (1) and after its manufacture, but in all cases the electronic system (5) is an integral part of the pressure vessel (1). The purpose of the electronic system (5) is to measure, transmit, analyze the parameters of the material in the pressure vessel (1) and the environment of the vessel and, after making control decisions, to control the parameters of the material in the vessel.

The electronic system (5) has hardware and software components. The aforementioned hardware and software components function as a single system, pursuing common system-wide goals. The electronic system component shall comprise at least sensors for monitoring material (2) and medium (3) in an elegant container, a calculating device (7) with the necessary peripherals (hereinafter referred to as "the calculating device"), electronic actuating devices (4) ), suitable communication devices between these components and external devices (8), or others.

The sensors (2), (3) of the electronic system (5) are designed to monitor the parameters of the material contained in the elegant vessel (1) and the pressure vessel (1). Sensors (2), (3) are used to measure temperature, pressure, chemical concentration of the substance and other parameters. The sensor acts as a converter of a certain physical size (temperature, pressure, etc.) into an electrical signal, using a defined relationship between the measured value and the size of the electrical signal (voltage or current) output from the converter. The sensor output signal is transmitted for further processing to the calculating device (7). Depending on the type of output signal and signal destination device, the signal may be digital or analog.

The computing device (7) of the electronic system (5) is designed to perform logic operations on digital electrical signals. Typically, the computing device (7) comprises at least a processor and its memory connected to an additional read-only memory module storing operating instructions may record and store information about the parameters of the pressure vessel (1) used for other functions. The non-volatile memory module retains the recorded information regardless of the power supply. A processor may have one or more computing cores, devices. The calculating device (7) can perform one or more calculating operations simultaneously. Specifically in this case, the computing device (7) processes the information received from the sensors (2), (3) or other devices, makes decisions based on the existing computing algorithm, generates control signals according to said decisions, and transmits the control signals to the actuators (4).

In one embodiment, the processed signals (information) from the sensors (2), (3) are transmitted by the calculating device (7) to the mobile communication module (8), which transmits said information by mobile communication to a remote data monitoring and processing center Fig.2 (10). A remote data processing center (10) is a conventional data communication server with communication software installed.

Special software for remote data processing center (10) for generating control information for pressure vessel (1) control units and, if necessary, for transmitting the necessary information to emergency response, maintenance teams Fig. 2 (14), as well as perform other necessary functions to ensure proper storage, transportation, operation, accident prevention and response of pressure vessels. Based on the information contained in the aforementioned data processing center (10), decisions can also be taken by a duly qualified professional. Control commands are formed and transmitted via mobile communication to the computing device (7) of the electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1), which, if necessary, after processing the information, transmits the information to the control actuators (4) of the pressure vessel (1).

In another embodiment of the present invention, with respect to the information coming from the sensors (2), (3), the control commands are formed in the computing device (7) itself, without transmitting data over the cellular network. Once the control data is generated, it is transmitted to the control actuators (4) of the pressure vessels (1).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control commands may be formed by both the pressure vessel counting device (7) and the remote data processing center (10). The control commands may be distributed according to the characteristics of the situation, depending on whether the calculating device (7) is capable of solving the situation independently or on the basis of other parameters.

The pressure vessel (1) electronic system (5) further comprises a pressure vessel positioning, positioning device, module (8). In the present invention, the mobile communication and positioning functions are performed by the same device (8), but in other embodiments they may be two separate devices. Typically, such a device is tuned to receive signals from special purpose artificial satellites orbiting satellites orbiting the Earth (11). In order to accurately determine the position of the pressure vessel (1), the embedded positioning module (8) must receive signals from at least three artificial satellites (11). The positioning accuracy increases with the number of satellites (11) from which the positioning module (8) can receive signals. The position of the receiving positioning module (8) can be precisely determined from the received signals. GPS, Glonass, or other global positioning systems can operate on this principle and can be used in the present invention.

The aforesaid devices of communication of the electronic system (5) with the external systems, if the features of their use allow, may contribute to the positioning and positioning of the pressure vessel (1). This is the case, for example, with a mobile GSM connection.

The electronic system (5) can also be equipped with short-range mobile communication, which facilitates data transmission over short distances (up to several hundred meters). This connection enables data to be exchanged with neighboring systems of the same or similar nature. In special cases where the actuators (4) have lost their functionality but the rest of the electronic system (5) no longer functions, the adjacent system may, in an emergency, take over part of the non-functional system and force the actuators (4) to operate normally. In this case, it is possible to stop the crash, the chain reaction, other functions can be implemented.

The electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1) includes an information display device (graphical display, light indicators or the like). The imaging device is intended to provide the user with the necessary information in visual form. In one case, the amount of information displayed may be fixed and continuously displayed by a display device. For example, the imaging device continuously displays the pressure value inside the pressure vessel. In another embodiment, the nature of the information displayed may be selected in conjunction with the imaging device control means. In this case, it may be possible to output information to the imaging device and then to select other information output via controls. In this case, the output temperature inside the pressure vessel, followed by the pressure, or the history of said parameters, e.g. variation during the time the pressure vessel was transported, stored, etc.

The control data is generated either in the pressure vessel computing device (7) or in the remote data processing center (10) or distributed between the two decision systems. In all cases, after processing of the output data from sensors (2), (3) from the computing device (7), the software which forms part of the said computing device (7) is involved in shaping the decision content of the control data. The software uses logical functions, mathematical models, artificial intelligence tools, or other decision-making tools that can make decisions. The said decision-making tools may be implemented during the manufacturing of the electronic computing device (1) and be continuous, immutable, or by the use of artificial intelligence tools to improve its decision-making process. In the case of the present invention, considering that the sensor (2), (3) does not have a large amount of data and that the computing device (7) has a high throughput, it is more appropriate to use conventional, self-modifying computing methods. The calculation device (7) must be able to update, re-install said decision-making software.

The actuators (4) of the electronic system (5) are designed to implement control commands. Actuators (4) convert electrical energy into mechanical force. Occasionally electricity is converted into mechanical force through intermediate media: e.g. in the case of a hydraulic actuator, an electrical signal activates an electric compressor which increases or decreases the pressure in the working chamber, causing the working chamber piston to move by mechanical force. Another example of an intermediate medium is a solenoid valve. When a control signal is received on the solenoid valve coil control unit, an electrical current flows through the coil which generates an electromagnetic field that moves the valve closing or opening the valve cavity.

A suitable example of an actuator (4) may be a pressure valve, which would normally be closed, but upon reaching a certain temperature or pressure in the pressure vessel (1), or a combination of temperature and pressure values, said valve would release and preventing a potential emergency. In this case of a pressure valve, the whole principle of the present invention could be illustrated. The pressure and temperature sensors (2), (3) in the pressure vessel (1) transmit information about the measured physical parameters to the calculating device (7) with some regularity. The calculating device (7) determines whether the complexity of the situation does not exceed the decision limits of the calculating device (7) according to the given algorithm (there may be a different criterion for selecting a solution system). If the limits are exceeded and the calculating device (7) cannot solve the situation independently, information about the measured parameters is transmitted via a mobile connection to a remote data processing center (10). The remote data center (10) makes a control decision and sends control information back to the pressure vessel counting device (7). In the event of an emergency, the remote data center (10) informs the nearest emergency response or maintenance team (14). The exact position of the emergency pressure vessel (1) is provided by the positioning module (8) of the electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1). If the measured data and their combination do not exceed the computational complexity of the pressure vessel (1) computing device (7), the computation device (7) itself makes the decision according to the given algorithm. The control signals formed in the calculating device (7) or remote data processing center (10) are transmitted to specific actuators (4), such as a pressure valve. The pressure valve opens, which must result in a pressure drop in the pressure vessel, or a combination of pressure and temperature parameters. The new pressure vessel (1) parameters are again measured by the sensor (2), (3), their information is processed by decision means, the required control signal is transmitted to the pressure valve. If the pressure and temperature values are no longer safe, the pressure valve is closed. The pressure, temperature and other parameters are recorded and stored in the memory of the electronic system (5), and if necessary displayed on the imaging device.

All the electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1) and the components comprising it are electrically powered by an accumulator (6). The battery (6) can be charged during maintenance, storage or other periods of the pressure vessel. The battery (6) may also be charged by other power generating devices which, provided they do not interfere with the normal operation of the pressure vessel and increase the likelihood of an accident, may be mounted near or on the housing of the electronic system (5). Such generating devices may be photovoltaic solar panels, fuel cells, etc.

The purpose of this system is to provide the necessary conditions for the safe storage, transportation and use of the material by measuring and partially controlling the parameters of the material in the pressure vessel and by measuring the environmental parameters of the vessel. The system also allows other additional functions, such as the representation of the parameters of the material in the pressure vessel in a device attached to the pressure vessel, or other functions.

The terms "signal", "information", "data", "command" are used in this description. The term "signal" means an electrical pulse of a certain shape, the voltage or current of which has a predetermined value. A set of signals, some of which is used to encode information and the remainder to be used to encode information, is called "information" or "data". Information or data that is specific to one device or another and is instructive (i.e., one or another device supporting it performs an action) may be referred to as a "command".

In order to illustrate and describe the present invention, the following is a description of the most preferred embodiments. It is not a detailed or restrictive description intended to determine the exact form or embodiment. The description above should be viewed as an illustration rather than a limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. An embodiment is selected and described so that those skilled in the art will best understand the principles of the invention and their best practical application for different embodiments with different modifications suitable for a particular application or application. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the appended definition and its equivalents, in which all the foregoing terms have the widest possible meaning, unless otherwise stated.

Embodiments described by those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following definition.

Claims (7)

DEFINITION DEFINITION A pressure vessel for accommodating liquids, or mixtures thereof, larger than or equal to atmospheric pressure, further comprising an integrated electronic monitoring and control system (5), which is an integral part of the pressure vessel (1), and which measures the physical and / or chemical parameters of a substance in a pressure vessel or its environment by analyzing and accepting pressure vessel control solutions which are automatically executed directly in the said electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1). 2. A pressure vessel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic system (5) of the pressure vessel (1) has a positioning, positioning module for accurate positioning. 3. Pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has actuating means for implementing control commands, for example mechanical / hydraulic pressure or solenoid valves. 4. A pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, according to a predetermined criterion or algorithm, the control solution can be received by an electronic system calculating device or a remote data processing center. Pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that the electronic system (5) has a mobile communication module (8) for transmitting and receiving data. Pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the solution is distributed between two decision-making systems, such as a calculating device (7) and a remote processing center (10). 7. A pressure vessel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-6, characterized in that said electronic system (5) comprises means of near-mobile communication which transmit data at a distance of up to several hundred meters, where such a connection is provided. ensure the exchange of data with adjacent or similar systems.