WO2008062205A2 - Système de contrôle des gaz - Google Patents

Système de contrôle des gaz Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008062205A2
WO2008062205A2 PCT/GB2007/004479 GB2007004479W WO2008062205A2 WO 2008062205 A2 WO2008062205 A2 WO 2008062205A2 GB 2007004479 W GB2007004479 W GB 2007004479W WO 2008062205 A2 WO2008062205 A2 WO 2008062205A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gas
consumption
welding
controller
gas consumption
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2007/004479
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2008062205A3 (fr
Inventor
Kim Peter Hastings
Christopher John Cathles
Original Assignee
The Validation Centre (Tvc) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The Validation Centre (Tvc) Limited filed Critical The Validation Centre (Tvc) Limited
Publication of WO2008062205A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008062205A2/fr
Publication of WO2008062205A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008062205A3/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
    • F17D5/00—Protection or supervision of installations
    • F17D5/02—Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss
    • F17D5/06—Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss using electric or acoustic means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to systems to monitor the use of a gas in a factory or laboratory gas distribution system, to detect leaks, system malfunctions, and inappropriate system settings.
  • the invention has particular application in monitoring the use of inert gases in m u lti -station welding systems.
  • the invention provides:
  • apparatus to monitor the use of gas in a gas distribution system having one. or more individual gas consuming units within the system comprising: an inlet gas consumption monitor; and a controller configured to: receive information on the expected gas consumption in the system; receive a measure of gas consumption from said inlet gas consumption monitor; calculate the difference between said expected and measured gas consumption over a given monitored period; and raise an alarm if said difference is outside predetermined limits.
  • apparatus in a second aspect: apparatus according to the first aspect wherein said information comprises the operating periods of the welding system in which said expected gas consumption is essentially zero and said monitored period is within one or more of said operating periods.
  • apparatus in a third aspect: apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising shut-off valves within the gas distribution system, said valves being controllable by a signal from said controller; and wherein said controller is further configured, on detection of gas consumption from said gas consumption monitor during a period of expected non- consumption of gas, to sequentially shut off said valves and thereby isolate or determine the location of any gas leakage.
  • shut-off valves within the gas distribution system, said valves being controllable by a signal from said controller; and wherein said controller is further configured, on detection of gas consumption from said gas consumption monitor during a period of expected non- consumption of gas, to sequentially shut off said valves and thereby isolate or determine the location of any gas leakage.
  • apparatus in any preceding aspect further comprising gas flow meters at individual gas consuming units and wherein said controller is further configured to: receive a measure of gas consumption at the or each gas consuming unit; receive information on the expected gas consumption at the or each gas consuming unit; calculate the difference between said measured and expected gas consumption at the or each gas consuming unit; and raise an alarm if said difference is outside predetermined limits.
  • apparatus in a fifth aspect wherein said gas distribution system comprises a multi-station welding system, and said gas consuming units comprise welding stations, said apparatus further comprising means to measure a parameter at a welding station bearing a known relationship to gas consumption, and wherein said controller is further configured to calculate the expected gas consumption at the or each welding station from said parameter.
  • apparatus in a sixth aspect: apparatus according to the fifth aspect wherein said parameter comprises the rate of welding wire consumption.
  • apparatus in a seventh aspect: apparatus according to aspect 5 wherein said parameter comprises the duty time of an arc welding station.
  • apparatus according to aspect 5 wherein said parameter comprises a measure of gas concentration within or surrounding the system or monitored unit thereof.
  • the scope of the invention also includes a gas monitoring method in which predicted gas consumption within a factory gas distribution system, drawn from known or demanded performance of one or more individual gas consuming units within a gas distribution system, is logged and in which actual gas consumed from a gas supply inlet is subsequently measured; and the difference between the two - if any - dictates whether the gas consumption over a given monitored period is to be regarded as normal or as abnormal.
  • the scope of the invention also includes: A gas monitoring system or method in which predicted gas consumption, drawn from know or demanded performance of one or more individual gas consuming units within the system, is logged and in which actual gas consumed from a gas supply inlet is subsequently measured; and the difference between the two - if any - dictates whether the gas consumption over a given monitored period is to be regarded as normal or as abnormal.
  • the performance of the gas consuming units in the system is monitored as those units operate and is fed to a controlling means which co-ordinates the resultant information.
  • the controlling means compares its information, obtained from the expected and/or demanded and/or operationally logged performance information with that which the controller is simultaneously or substantially simultaneously measuring by way of gas actually consumed; and raises an alarm if the compared difference between the two fails to satisfy acceptable parameters.
  • the controlling means monitors in real-time the performance of an individual unit within the system - for example a welding unit - and determines whether or not gas - for example shielding gas - is flowing adequately or at all and compares that observation with information stored and/or with gas being supplied to the unit; and decides whether or not an alarm is to be raised.
  • the controlling means makes its decision on the basis of a comparison of gas being consumed or expected to be consumed, and another parameter whose rate of consumption bears a known relationship to gas consumption.
  • the other parameter comprises the rate of welding wire consumption. More preferably also, the rate of welding wire consumption is determined by measuring the change in weight of the drum of wire as it is consumed.
  • the other parameter is a measure of atmospheric conditions within or surrounding the system or any monitored unit thereof.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention and showing a range of sensors, control elements and input-output devices.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-station welding facility, generally indicated by 1.
  • shielding gases are used to protect the piece to be welded from the action of atmospheric gases such as nitrogen and oxygen.
  • atmospheric gases such as nitrogen and oxygen.
  • Various inert gases may be ' used such as argon and helium (for non-ferrous welding).
  • Inert gas mixtures may also be used, such as argon-helium.
  • there is a particularly desirable rate of gas flow depending primarily on the weld, the type of shielding gas employed as well as the operational parameters of the welding operation itself such as electric current and the overall speed of the welding operation.
  • the shielding gas is used at an optimal rate to ensure good quality welds.
  • the welding station 2 comprises a supply of welding wire 3 and shielding gas flow meter 4, a manually-operable flow control valve 5, a welding arc detector 6 and an environmental gas monitor 7.
  • the welding gas is fed from a central storage location through a total gas flow meter 8 and distributed to a number of welding stations via a pipework system.
  • Each welding station, or group of welding stations, may be isolated from the system by means of a welding station shut-off valve 9.
  • the controller 10 may be conveniently implemented in software using e.g. an industrial microcomputer, or may be conveniently implemented using programmable logic controllers.
  • Information 11 concerning the shielding gas requirements in relation to the welding operation, details of the times of operation of the welding station and other key matters is loaded onto the controller 10.
  • the various elements of the welding facility send or receive information to or from the controller by means of appropriate transducers and control signals.
  • the main shielding gas flow meter 8 may have the form of a mass flow meter to transmit output reading 28 to the controller 10.
  • the flow meter 4 at each welding station may transmit its measured flow rate 24 to the controller 10.
  • the periodic use of welding wire may readily be monitored by e.g.
  • a welding current or spark detector 6 maybe employed to determine the intervals of welding operations; alternatively a direct measure of the welding current may be made. In either case the signal quantifying the welding duty time 26 may be readily transmitted to the controller 10.
  • the gas monitoring system acts by logging the daily gas consumption by the factory. This gas consumption can be compared to the information 11 stored in the controller 10 and the two figures compared to determine whether the gas consumption is normal or abnormal.
  • the system is also capable of carrying out simple gas leak detection.
  • the operating periods of the welding facility are programmed into the controller 10. This information could comprise e.g. the operating hours and shut down breaks of the welding operators. For example, if the welding facility operates two shifts per day then the information 11 provided to the controller 10 might indicate that the factory will be shut down between the hours of 10.00pm and 6.00am.
  • the controller can log the gas flow through the main flow meter 8 by means of its transmitted signal 8; if any gas flow should occur during this time the controller can raise an alarm condition to indicate a gas leak in the system.
  • the information 11 provided to the controller 10 might detail the rest or meal breaks in operation in the factory so that the controller 10 can carry out the leak detection during those periods.
  • one or more solenoid shut-off valves 9 may be installed at pre-set places within the gas pipework system.
  • the valve, or valves, 9 may be controlled by a signal 29 from the controller 10.
  • a sequence of commands within the controller 10 may sequentially isolate sections of the gas distribution pipework by means of the shut-off valve, or valves, 9 in order to isolate and/or determine the location of any gas leakage.
  • the shut-off valve, or valves, 9 In factories using explosive fuel gases (rather than shielding gases in the welding example) the safety benefits of such a system would be extremely useful.
  • welding stations 2 are provided with a flow meter 4 to measure the flow of shielding gas at the station, and to transmit a signal 24 indicative of the flow rate to the controller 10.
  • Information 11 is supplied to the controller to indicate a desired upper and lower limit to the gas flow rate at each welding station. Should the welding gas flow rate deviate from the desired bounds (e.g. because an operator has manually set the flow rate incorrectly, or as a result of a fault on the system) the controller 10 can be programmed to indicate an alarm condition.
  • welding stations 2 are provided with a welding arc detector set that transmits a signal 26 to the controller 10, the signal being indicative of whether a welding operation is in process.
  • start or stop signals from the controller might be sent when a welding arc is struck and when the welding current ceases respectively.
  • the signal 26 might comprise a measure of the welding current being employed.
  • the controller 10 may readily monitor the welding set to determine whether shielding gas is flowing when there is no welding arc and so detect gas leaks between the outlet and the welding torch. Again, an alarm condition can be raised by the controller 10 if such a condition arises.
  • the consumption of welding wire 3 may be measured at the welding station 2. This may be conveniently effected by e.g. measuring the change in weight of the drum containing the welding wire 3 and the measurement 23 transmitted to the controller 10.
  • the ratio of welding wire consumption to shielding gas consumption will be a known parameter of the welding process, as will the range over which this ratio may vary, and this information 11 can be loaded into the controller 10.
  • the controller may be readily programmed to determine whether the gas usage falls out of the desired parameter range, and again trigger an alarm condition should this be the case.
  • an environmental gas detector 7 is also provided.
  • the gas monitor 7 may comprise an oxygen monitor atmospheric oxygen concentrations does not fall significantly below around 21%. A measured reading below this would be indicative of a leak of inert shielding gas, and the controller 10 can readily be programmed to detect this and to either raise an alarm, or shut off the gas supply to that particular welding station 2 by means of the solenoid shut-off valve 9.
  • the gas detector 7 might comprise an acetylene monitor, again to directly detect a gas leakage..

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé ou un système de contrôle des gaz dans lequel on reporte la consommation de gaz prévisible, déduite des performances connues ou requises d'une ou de plusieurs unités individuelles consommant du gaz dans le système et dans lequel on mesure postérieurement le gaz actuellement consommé à partir d'une entrée d'alimentation en gaz; et la différence entre ces deux valeurs détermine, le cas échéant, si la consommation de gaz sur une période de contrôle donnée doit être considérée comme normale ou anormale.
PCT/GB2007/004479 2006-11-23 2007-11-23 Système de contrôle des gaz WO2008062205A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0623288A GB2444080B (en) 2006-11-23 2006-11-23 Gas monitoring system
GB0623288.8 2006-11-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008062205A2 true WO2008062205A2 (fr) 2008-05-29
WO2008062205A3 WO2008062205A3 (fr) 2008-09-25

Family

ID=37636319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2007/004479 WO2008062205A2 (fr) 2006-11-23 2007-11-23 Système de contrôle des gaz

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2444080B (fr)
WO (1) WO2008062205A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011146908A1 (fr) * 2010-05-21 2011-11-24 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Système et procédé de détection de fuite de gaz de soudage

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2472860A (en) * 2009-08-21 2011-02-23 Gm Global Tech Operations Inc Method of detecting at least one malfunctioning high-pressure gas tank
IT1397772B1 (it) * 2009-11-17 2013-01-24 Sesia Sistema e procedimento di controllo del consumo idrico di utenze, in particolare di impianti di autolavaggio.
CN105699596B (zh) * 2016-01-05 2018-05-18 济南市大秦机电设备有限公司 一种报警器检测装置及其方法
WO2020136476A1 (fr) * 2018-12-27 2020-07-02 Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap Procédé de détermination et de surveillance de la consommation de gaz dans un réseau de gaz sous pression ou sous vide et réseau de gaz
BE1026966B1 (nl) * 2018-12-27 2020-08-13 Atlas Copco Airpower Nv Werkwijze voor het bepalen en opvolgen van het gasverbruik in een gasnetwerk onder druk of onder vacuüm en gasnetwerk

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3209845A1 (de) * 1982-03-18 1983-09-29 Küppersbusch AG, 4650 Gelsenkirchen Fluessigkeitsfoerdereinrichtung mit einem sensor
US6105607A (en) * 1998-06-15 2000-08-22 Caise; Robert F. Microprocessor controled water shut-off device

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3019895B2 (ja) * 1992-12-14 2000-03-13 松下電器産業株式会社 ガス供給設備異常監視装置
US6987448B2 (en) * 2001-08-20 2006-01-17 Hill-Rom Services, Inc. Medical gas alarm system
JP2003062075A (ja) * 2001-08-27 2003-03-04 Yazaki Corp 医療用ガス供給監視システム

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3209845A1 (de) * 1982-03-18 1983-09-29 Küppersbusch AG, 4650 Gelsenkirchen Fluessigkeitsfoerdereinrichtung mit einem sensor
US6105607A (en) * 1998-06-15 2000-08-22 Caise; Robert F. Microprocessor controled water shut-off device

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011146908A1 (fr) * 2010-05-21 2011-11-24 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Système et procédé de détection de fuite de gaz de soudage
US9056366B2 (en) 2010-05-21 2015-06-16 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Welding gas leak detection system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0623288D0 (en) 2007-01-03
WO2008062205A3 (fr) 2008-09-25
GB2444080A (en) 2008-05-28
GB2444080B (en) 2008-10-08

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