NO20181551A1 - System and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process - Google Patents
System and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process Download PDFInfo
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- NO20181551A1 NO20181551A1 NO20181551A NO20181551A NO20181551A1 NO 20181551 A1 NO20181551 A1 NO 20181551A1 NO 20181551 A NO20181551 A NO 20181551A NO 20181551 A NO20181551 A NO 20181551A NO 20181551 A1 NO20181551 A1 NO 20181551A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
- G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
- G05B19/18—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form
- G05B19/19—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66D—CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS
- B66D1/00—Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans
- B66D1/28—Other constructional details
- B66D1/40—Control devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
- G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
- G05B19/04—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers
- G05B19/042—Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
- G05B19/0423—Input/output
- G05B19/0425—Safety, monitoring
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- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
- G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
- G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
- G05B19/18—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form
- G05B19/19—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path
- G05B19/21—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path using an incremental digital measuring device
- G05B19/23—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path using an incremental digital measuring device for point-to-point control
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Testing And Monitoring For Control Systems (AREA)
Description
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A POINT OF INTEREST OF A
COMPONENT IN AN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS
The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process, for example in an oil refinery.
Monitoring components in an industrial process plant is oftentimes necessary. In many cases, there are devices functioning continuously, as opposed to functioning in batches, at a steady state or nearly steady state for months to years. Monitoring tasks are necessary to guarantee safe and reliable operations as well as maintain the efficiency of the industrial processes.
An example of an industrial process plant is an oil refinery or petroleum refinery, in which crude oil is transformed and refined into products as petroleum naphtha, gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas, jet fuel and fuel oils. Oil refineries typically process a hundred thousand to several hundred thousand barrels of crude oil a day. At the same time, there needs to be a strong concern with safety.
There are many monitoring tasks in an industrial process plant. These may include checking whether a valve is correctly set, a meter displays an intended value, or a gas leak is detected. Other monitoring tasks may include measuring physical parameters at a certain location in the industrial process plant (eg. corrosion or temperature).
For example, in an oil refinery there may be a need to check whether several valves are correctly closed or opened and whether some pressure meters display a value within a predetermined range. These checks are to be performed over several components in one of the industrial processes, those devices being possibly positioned in a structure containing many other devices, all supported over three to five levels on top of each other within a rectangular area with 1000 square meters. Moreover, the devices forming the industrial process are connected to each other through pipes and ducts and many other components such as electric cables, stairs, and platforms for walking are present in the structure. Thus, the circumstances in which the monitoring tasks are carried out typically include a complex entanglement having many spaces that are not easily reachable.
Monitoring components in an industrial process can be challenging.
A known approach is to hire a team with several workers to go to various parts of the industrial process plant on a daily basis and do the monitoring tasks locally. In this approach, the main optimizations are achieved by developing and implementing strategies for improving the effectiveness of the monitoring tasks done by the workers. This approach typically requires hiring many workers, is prone to inefficiencies and human error, and can demand a lot of effort for its execution.
Another known approach includes installing a set of fixed sensors at specific locations in the industrial process plant, these sensors being adapted to measure and gather samples, such as a video sample in raw, infra-red, thermal or any other format, a temperature measurement, or other types of sensor samples. This approach can be quite expensive and require a lot of maintenance itself.
Yet, another more recent known approach is to use a drone including appropriate sensors for filming or estimating other parameters. The drone may be configured with a flight plan to be followed while in flight or it may be configured to respond to commands sent from a remote control being handled by a human operator. This technique improves on some aspects of traditional approaches, allowing an operator to quickly reach components positioned at high points in a structure, which would otherwise require him/her to climb the structure in order to reach that point. Nonetheless, the use of a drone has strong drawbacks. Many components in an industrial plant are usually in tight spaces and are difficult to reach.
For a human being, it can be easy to pass through a tight corridor; however, flying a drone within that tight corridor can be difficult, even for the most experienced operators. Also, this approach requires additional training in drone manoeuvring, depends on the battery life of the drone devices being used, and is prone to human error.
The present invention will now be disclosed.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor for capturing data related to the point of interest;
- a cable for transporting the at least one sensor;
- at least one winch for driving the cable; and
- a control unit for controlling the at least one winch and receiving the captured data from the at least one sensor,
wherein the control unit is configurable to control the at least one winch so that the cable transports the at least one sensor to a position for monitoring the point of interest.
The system may further comprise at least one sheave for holding the cable. Also, the system may comprise an arrangement of the at least one sheave for adapting the cable to form a circuit comprising at least one change in direction.
The system may comprise a winch on each end of the cable. Also, the at least one sensor may be transportable to a position for monitoring the point of interest by loosening the tension in the cable. Moreover, the system may further comprise an object for adding weight to the at least one sensor.
In one embodiment, the at least one sensor comprises any of:
- a camera;
- a temperature sensor;
- a gas detector;
- a sound sensor;
- a distance sensor; and/or
- an acceleration sensor.
The at least one sensor may be rotatable in relation to the cable. Also, the at least one sensor may be rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the cable.
In another embodiment, the cable may comprise a communication medium in its core for the at least one sensor and the control unit to communicate between each other. Also, the communication medium may comprise an optical fibre.
Both the control unit and the at least one sensor may comprise a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between each other. Also, both the control unit and the at least one winch may comprise a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between each other.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a system according to the description above so that there is a position reachable by the cable from which the point of interest is monitorable by the at least one sensor;
- configuring the control unit with data related to a displacement of cable in each of the at least one winch for positioning the at least one sensor in the position;
- configuring the control unit to control the at least one winch so that the cable transports the at least one sensor to the position;
- configuring the control unit to receive data from the at least one sensor;
- activating the control unit.
When the system comprises at least one sensor that is rotatable in relation to the cable and also in which the at least one sensor is rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the cable, the method may further comprise the step of configuring the control unit to control the at least one sensor to rotate in relation to the cable so that the at least one sensor faces the point of interest.
Moreover, the step of configuring the control unit to control the at least one winch may comprise the step of configuring the control unit to control the at least one winch to loosen the cable so that the cable transports the at least one sensor to the position.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system embodiment monitoring a point of interest in a component of an industrial process;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of another system embodiment monitoring three points of interest in two components of the industrial process in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic top view of a further system embodiment in which three points of interest are being monitored, including an overlap of the moments in which each of the points of interest is being monitored;
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a system embodiment monitoring two points of interest on a component of an industrial process; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of another system embodiment monitoring points of interest of an industrial process in which two of its components are positioned in a structure.
Figure 1 shows a system embodiment 1 monitoring a point of interest 120 in a component 130.
The component 130 (shown on the right-hand side of Figure 1) is one of the many components of an industrial process in an industrial process plant. A fluid product is produced continuously in the stage of the industrial process that precedes the component 130, but it is consumed intermittently in the stage after the component 130. Thus, the component 130 stores the fluid product temporarily between the two stages of the industrial process. The component 130 includes a chamber for containing the fluid product.
The component 130 further includes a meter for indicating the amount of fluid product that is inside of the chamber. The meter is the point of interest 120 being monitored by the system embodiment 1, and it needs to be checked periodically to ensure that the amount of fluid product is kept within a safe range: the component 130 should neither contain a low amount of fluid product that is not sufficient for the intermittent consumption of the subsequent stage, nor should it contain a high amount that does not allow storing any new fluid product from the preceding stage.
The point of interest 120 is on one side of the component 130.
The system embodiment 1 (shown on the left-hand side of Figure 1) includes a sensor 102 capturing data related to the point of interest 120, a cable 100 transporting the sensor 102, a winch 101 driving the cable 100, and a control unit 103 controlling the winch 101 and receiving the captured data from the sensor 102.
The sensor 102 is a camera sensor for taking photographs or recording video of the point of interest 120. However, the sensor 102 could also be any other type of sensor if that would be suitable for capturing data related to other points of interest 120, such as a temperature sensor, a gas detector, a sound sensor, a distance sensor, and an acceleration sensor.
The cable 100 is set up so that the sensor 102 is transported through the region in space that is in front of the point of interest 120. The cable 100 could also be installed in any other manner as long as it would be possible to have the sensor 102 reach a position from which the point of interest 120 can be monitored. Moreover, the sensor 102 is being carried on a module 1021 holding more sensors. The module 1021 is a plastic container, but it could also be anything suitable for the carrying the sensor 102 on the cable 100 such as a metallic box. Notwithstanding, the sensor 102 could be transported by the cable 100 without using the module 1021, such as by being directly attached to the cable 100.
Also, the cable 100 includes an optical fibre in its core that is being used by the sensor 102 to transmit the data it captures. The data connection between the sensor 102 and the optical fibre in the core of the cable 100 can be carried out in any way known by a skilled person that allows the sensor 102 to transmit data through the optical fibre. For example, a portion of the cable 100 between one of the winches 1011 or 1012 and the sensor 102 can contain the optical fibre in its core, that optical fibre being used for transmitting sensor data; the other portion of the cable 100 connecting the sensor 102 and the opposite winch 1012 or 1011, respectively, can either contain a portion of optical fibre that is not being used or have no optical fibre at all. Another example is to connect the sensor 102 to the optical fibre in the core of the cable 100 so that the former broadcasts sensor data to both ends of the optical fibre extending to the two winches 1011 and 1012. The use of an optical fibre in the core of the cable 100 provides a simple way of transmitting data from the sensor 102 to elsewhere without requiring many additional features on the system embodiment 1. Also, the use of optical fibre is advantageous as it allows having the sensor 102 produce and transmit high amounts of data, such as a video stream with high quality, while the sensor 102 is transported by the cable 100.
The winch 101 is driving the cable 100 from one of its ends, and the end of the cable 100 that is opposite to the winch 101 (not shown in Figure 1) is being actuated so that the cable 100 is maintained stretched. That actuation is provided by a device applying tension on the cable 100 automatically, such as a spool rotatable by a spring or an independent winch operating in a feedback loop for maintaining constant tension on the cable 100. The winch configuration for driving the cable 100 could be achieved in many different ways, and some are mentioned below while describing the other figures.
The control unit 103 is a computational device connected to the winch 101, but it could also be any other device or system that would be suitable for controlling the winch 101, such as a programmable logic controller or an embedded system as part of the winch 101. Also, the control unit 103 is receiving the captured data that the sensor 102 is transmitting through the optical fibre in the core of the cable 100.
The system embodiment 1 monitors the point of interest 120 as follows. The control unit 103 is configured with data related to a displacement of the cable 100 in the winch 101, that displacement resulting in the sensor 102 being positioned in front of the point of interest 120. Then, the control unit 103 controls the winch 101 in accordance with the configured displacement, so that the cable 100 transports the sensor 102 to the position in front of the point of interest 120. Finally, the sensor 120 captures a photograph of the point of interest 120 and communicates it to the control unit 103 through the core of the cable 100.
Figure 2 shows another system embodiment 1 monitoring three points of interest 120, 121, and 122 in two components 130 and 131.
The two components 130 and 131 (shown in the bottom area of Figure 2) are part of the industrial process in Figure 1. The part of the industrial process that is shown includes a first component 130, which is the component for temporarily storing fluid product shown in Figure 1, and a second component 131 supplying newly produced fluid product to the component 130.
The three points of interest 120, 121, and 122 being monitored are on the two components 130 and 131. The first point of interest 120 is the one already shown in Figure 1, ie. the meter of the component 130. The second and third points of interest 121 and 122 are on the second component 131. The second point of interest 121 is a valve, and the third point of interest 122 is an electronic panel showing the current status of the second component 131 and the pressure of the fluid product that is being produced. The three points of interest 120, 121, and 122 need to be monitored periodically to ensure that: the amount of fluid product inside the first component 130 is kept within a pre-determined range; the valve in the second point of interest 121 is open; and the electronic panel in the third point of interest 122 indicates a pressure under a maximum amount.
The three points of interest 120, 121, and 122 are positioned side by side with each other, on the same side of the two components 130 and 131.
The system embodiment 1 (shown in the upper area of Figure 2) is installed above the two components 130 and 131, for example on a ceiling above the industrial process. Also, the system embodiment 1 is not positioned on top of the two components 130 and 131, but it is horizontally displaced in relation to them so that the system embodiment 1 has a line of sight with the points of interest 120, 121, and 122. The system embodiment 1 includes a sensor 102 capturing data related to the points of interest 120, 121, and 122, a cable 100 transporting the sensor 102, two winches 1011 and 1012 driving the cable 100, and a control unit 103 wirelessly controlling the two winches 1011 and 1012 and wirelessly receiving data captured by the sensor 102.
Similar to the sensor in Figure 1, the sensor 102 is a camera sensor for taking photographs or recording video of the points of interest 120, 121, and 122.
The cable 100 is set up so that the sensor 102 is transported through the upper part of the region in space that is in front of the points of interest 120, 121, and 122. Moreover, the sensor 102 is being carried on a module 1021. Also, the cable 100 includes an optical fibre in its core that is being used by the sensor 102 to transmit the data it captures. Alternatively, the sensor 102 could emit the data it captures wirelessly, and no communication medium would be needed in the core of the cable 100. In that case, the sensor 102 would require wireless communication means and a power source via a battery or via the cable 100.
The two winches 1011 and 1012 are driving the cable 100 synchronously. Each of the winches 1011 and 1012 is provided on one end of the cable 100, allowing the cable 100 to be maintained stretched while being paid out from one winch and paid in into another. The winches 1011 and 1012 include a wireless communication means through which they receive controlling signals on how to drive the cable 100. The use of more winches to drive the cable provides a stronger and more precise manoeuvring of the cable 100, and the sensor 102 can be transported faster for monitoring the points of interest 120, 121, and 122.
The control unit 103 is equipped with a wireless communication interface with which it controls the winches 1011 and 1012 and obtains data from the sensor 102. The overall use of wireless communication between the control unit 103 and the other elements of the system embodiment 1 makes the installation of the latter easier. Moreover, the control unit 103 obtains the captured data transmitted by the sensor 102 from one of the winches 1011 and 1021, which is relaying the captured data that the sensor 102 transmits through the optical fibre in the core of the cable 102. However, the control unit 103 could also obtain this data directly from the sensor 102 if the latter were provided with its own wireless means.
The system embodiment 1 monitors each of the three points of interest 120, 121, and 122 similarly to how it is described for Figure 1. In particular, the control unit 103 is configured to repeat three times the steps of transporting the sensor 102 to a position 1201, 1211, and 1221, having the sensor 102 capture data related to the point of interest 120, 121 and 122 that is closer to it, and obtaining the captured data from the sensor 102. The control unit 103 is configured with data about three displacements of the cable 100 at each winch 1011 and 1012 so that the sensor 102 is positioned at one of the three positions 1201, 1211, and 1221.
Figure 3 shows a top view of a further system embodiment 1 monitoring three points of interest 123, 124, and 125. The figure shows an overlap of three moments in which each of three points of interest 123, 124, and 125 is being monitored individually.
The points of interest 123, 124, and 125 are on three components 132, 133, and 134 of an industrial process. The components 132, 133, and 134 have their base on the same floor. However, the situation shown is different from the one in Figure 2 in that, although there are also three points of interest, each point of interest 123, 124, and 125 has its own position and orientation, and they are neither colinear nor parallel in orientation.
The system embodiment 1 is similar to the embodiments in Figures 1 and 2, but it includes a sensor 102 that is rotatable in relation to the cable 100, a winch 101 for driving the cable 100, and four sheaves 104 for changing the direction of the cable 100. The system embodiment 1 also includes a control unit 103 controlling the winch 101, controlling the rotation of the sensor 102 relative to the cable 100, and communicating with the sensor 102 in order to obtain data from it. The control unit 103 communicates directly with the winch 101 and communicates wirelessly with the sensor 102.
The four sheaves 104 change the direction of the cable 100 so that the later forms a closed loop being driven by the winch 101. The four sheaves 104 are positioned in a rectangle and have their rotation axis oriented vertically. The sheaves 104 make it possible to drive the cable 100 using only the winch 101, at the same time the cable 100 is maintained stretched.
Each of the sheaves 104 is a typical sheave implemented as a grooved wheel for holding the cable 100. The groove has sufficient clearance for holding the cable 100 and also for manoeuvring the connection attaching the sensor 102 and module 1021 to the cable 100. In practice, it has been verified that this approach for adapting the cable 100 so that it comprises at least one change in direction is sufficient to achieve a working system 1.
The feature of rotating the sensor 102 in relation to the cable 100 allows correcting the orientation of sensor 102 so that it points in the right direction. Without the feature of the sensor 102 being rotatable relative to the cable 100, it would also be possible to design and install a system embodiment 1 for monitoring the points of interest 123, 124, and 125 using only a system of sheaves 104. However, the system formed by the sheaves 104 and the cable circuit formed by it would be more complicated in order to compensate for the different orientations of the points of interest 123, 124, and 125. Thus, the feature of the sensor 102 being rotatable relative to the cable 100 minimizes the need for changes in the direction of the cable 100 and makes both the use of sheaves 104 and the circuit formed by the cable 100 simpler.
Moreover, the feature of rotating the sensor 102 in relation to the cable 100 can be implemented in many ways known to the skilled person. For example, the module 1021 may include an electrical battery for providing power locally, including for powering a servo motor for controlling the rotation of the module 1021 and sensor 102 relative to the cable 100. Also, the rotation can be easily carried out in any known manner to the skilled person, such as by implementing the rotation shown in Figure 3, in which the sensor 102 is rotatable around a perpendicular axis relative to the cable 100. Any other rotation axis relative to the cable 100 can also be implemented, such as a longitudinal or a transversal axis, or a combination of axes. A known implementation can make use of a so-called pan-tilt camera to implement the module 1021 and sensor 102.
The system embodiment 1 monitors the three points of interest 123, 124, and 125 by having the cable 100 form a circuit which passes through three positions 1231, 1241, and 1251 from which the points of interest 123, 124, and 125 are monitorable. Due to the different positions and lack of parallelism between the orientation of the points of interest 123, 124, and 125, the rotation necessary at each position 1231, 1241, and 1251 for the sensor 102 to be able to monitor the closest point of interest 123, 124, and 125 varies. When the sensor 102 is transported by the cable 100 to the second position 1241 after coming from the first position 1231, it must rotate in relation to the cable 100 in order to face the point of interest 123 in the right direction. The same needs to happen when the sensor 102 is transported from the second position 1241 to the third position 1251.
Figure 4 shows a system embodiment 1 monitoring two points of interest 126 and 127 on a component 135 of an industrial process.
The industrial process includes many components and only the component 135 is shown in Figure 4.
The points of interest 126 and 127 are a meter and a valve. The meter indicates the amount of fluid inside the component 135, and the valve regulates the flow of fluid entering the component 135. The two points of interest 126 and 127 need to be checked periodically. The point of interest 126 of the meter needs to be checked to see that the component 135 is not empty and has fluid inside. As for the point of interest 127 of the valve, it needs to be checked to see that the latter is not closed and there is fluid inside the component 135.
The two points of interest 126 and 127 are vertically positioned along the same side of the component 135. The point of interest 127 of the valve is at a lower position than the point of interest 126 of the meter.
The system embodiment 1 is installed above the component 135, having its components fixed to the ceiling above the industrial process of which the component 135 is part. The system embodiment 1 includes: a sensor 102 for monitoring the points of interest 126 and 127, a cable 100 transporting the sensor 102, two winches 1011 and 1012 driving the cable 100, a control unit 103 controlling the two winches and receiving data from the sensor 102, and two sheaves 104 holding the cable 100 while the latter runs on them.
The two sheaves 104 are similar to the ones shown in Figure 3, except that these have their rotation axis inclined in relation to the horizontal plane. The two sheaves 104 hold the cable 100 above them and are positioned between the two winches 1011 and 1012, spaced apart from each other. When the cable 100 is stretched forming a line between the two winches 1011 and 1012, the sheaves 104 do not change the direction of the cable 100 and the sensor 102 can pass by without being blocked against them. If the cable 100 is loosened while the sensor 102 is between the winches 1011 and 1012, the sheaves 104 will catch the cable 100 and hold it above them at their positions. Thus, the sensor 102 can be transported to further positions at a lower height in the region between the two sheaves 104 by loosening the cable 100 between the winches 1011 and 1012, similarly to how a Spidercam operates in a football stadium.
Each of the sheaves 104 is a typical sheave implemented as a grooved wheel for holding the cable 100, the groove having sufficient clearance for holding the cable 100 and also for manoeuvring the connection attaching the sensor 102 and module 1021 to the cable 100. In practice, it has been verified that this approach for adapting the cable 100 is sufficient to achieve a working system 1.
The system embodiment 1 monitors the two points of interest 126 and 127 by transporting the sensor 102 to the region between the two sheaves 104 while maintaining the cable 100 stretched and then loosening the cable 100 between the winches so that the sensor 102 descends to two positions 1261 and 1271 at a lower height. Each of the positions 1261 and 1271 at a lower height is in front of a point of interest 126 and 127. From each of the lower positions 1261 and 1271, the sensor 102 takes a photograph or films the point of interest in front of it and sends the data collected to the control unit 103.
Moreover, the system embodiment 1 has some similarities with the embodiments mentioned above when describing Figures 1 to 3. For example: the two winches 1011 and 1012 are positioned at each end of the cable 100; the cable 100 includes a core with optical fibre for establishing a communication link between the control unit 103 and the sensor 102; the control unit 103 controls the winches 1011 and 1012 through a cable connection; the sensor 102 is a camera for taking photographs or capturing video; and the data from the sensor 102 is transmitted through the core of the cable 100 to one of the winches 1011 and 1012, which then relays the sensor data to the control unit 103.
Figure 5 shows a further system embodiment monitoring points of interest on two components 136 and 137 of an industrial process that are installed inside a structure 2.
The structure 2 supports many components of the industrial process over several floors stacked vertically (only part of the structure 2 is shown in Figure 5). The structure 2 is of a kind of structure typically seen in industrial process plants such as oil refineries and oil rigs, being made of a metallic material and occupying 1000 square meters on its base. It also supports many pipes, ducts, and other elements connecting the components of the industrial process, being crowded with machinery and having tight spaces in-between.
The two components 136 and 137 are the only components of the industrial process that are shown in Figure 5. Both components 136 and 137 have points of interest that need to be monitored; some periodically, others occasionally. The two components 136 and 137 and the points of interest are similar to the ones already described for the embodiments mentioned above when describing Figures 1 to 4.
The two components 136 and 137 are on two different floors of the structure 2, one of the components 137 being positioned on a floor above the other component 136. The component 136 on the bottom floor of the structure 2 is in vertical alignment with the component 137 on the upper floor. Thus, the points of interest on the two components 136 and 137 are spread over the two floors.
Some elements of the system are not shown for the purposes of simplifying Figure 5. The system embodiment includes a cable transporting a sensor (not shown), two winches 1011 and 1012 driving the cable 100, and various sheaves (not shown) changing the direction of the cable 100 so that the latter forms a circuit spanning over the bottom and the upper floors and spiralling around the two components 136 and 137. Each of the two winches 1011 and 1012 is on one end of the cable 100. One winch 1011 is positioned on the bottom floor and the other winch 1012 is on the upper floor. The circuit formed by the cable 100 includes: one end being driven by the winch 1011 on the bottom level, a bottom region spiralling around the component 136 on the bottom floor, a crossing region crossing through the upper floor, an upper region spiralling around the component 137 on the upper floor, and the other end being driven by the winch 1012 on the upper floor. The crossing region can be implemented on the outside of the structure 2 or by having the cable 100 go through an allow passage in the upper floor.
Similarly to what has been described above for Figures 3 and 4, each of the sheaves being used (not shown) is a typical sheave implemented as a grooved wheel for holding the cable 100, the groove having sufficient clearance for holding the cable 100 and also for manoeuvring the connection attaching the sensor and module 1021 to the cable 100. In practice, it has been verified that this approach for forming a cable circuit is sufficient to achieve a working system 1.
The system embodiment monitors points of interest on the two components 136 and 137 from three positions 1281, 1291, and 1292 on the circuit formed by the cable 100. The first position 1281 is on the bottom region spiralling around the component 136 on the bottom floor. The other two positions 1291 and 1292 are on the upper region spiralling around the component 137 on the upper floor.
Embodiments of the invention may have some or all of the following advantages:
● simple solution for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process
● few components and easy to maintain
● allows using sensors with high quality
● efficient approach for carrying various monitoring tasks
● easy access to tight spaces where it would be difficult to manoeuvre a drone
● allows automating the whole process of performing monitoring tasks ● allows obtaining data about points of interest over time for creating time lapses and other analysis on the trends shown in the collected data
Generally, the terms used in this description and claims are interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Notwithstanding, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. These terms are not interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or integers. Furthermore, the indefinite article “a” or “an” is interpreted openly as introducing at least one instance of an entity, unless explicitly stated otherwise. An entity introduced by an indefinite article is not excluded from being interpreted as a plurality of the entity.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with the embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (16)
1. A system (1) for monitoring a point of interest (120 to 127) of a component (130 to 137) in an industrial process, the system (1) comprising:
- at least one sensor (102) for capturing data related to the point of interest (120 to 127);
- a cable (100) for transporting the at least one sensor (102);
- at least one winch (101, 1011, 1012) for driving the cable (100); and - a control unit (103) for controlling the at least one winch (101, 1011, 1012) and receiving the captured data from the at least one sensor (102), wherein the control unit (103) is configurable to control the at least one winch (101, 1011, 1012) so that the cable (100) transports the at least one sensor (102) to a position (1201, 1211, 1221, 1231, 1241, 1251, 1261, 1271, 1281, 1291, 1292) for monitoring the point of interest (120 to 127).
2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sheave for holding the cable.
3. A system according to claim 2, comprising an arrangement of the at least one sheave for adapting the cable to form a circuit comprising at least one change in direction.
4. A system according to any of the previous claims, the system comprising a winch on each end of the cable.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is transportable to a position for monitoring the point of interest by loosening the tension in the cable.
6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising an object for adding weight to the at least one sensor.
7. A system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one sensor comprises any of:
- a camera;
- a temperature sensor;
- a gas detector;
- a sound sensor;
- a distance sensor; and/or
- an acceleration sensor.
8. A system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one sensor is rotatable in relation to the cable.
9. A system according to the claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the cable.
10. A system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the cable comprises a communication medium in its core for the at least one sensor and the control unit to communicate between each other.
11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the communication medium comprises an optical fibre.
12. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein both the control unit and the at least one sensor comprise a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between each other.
13. A system according to any of the previous claims, wherein both the control unit and the at least one winch comprise a wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating between each other.
14. A method for monitoring a point of interest (120 to 127) of a component (130 to 137) in an industrial process, the method comprising the steps of: - installing a system (1) according to any of the previous claims so that there is a position (1201, 1211, 1221, 1231, 1241, 1251, 1261, 1271, 1281, 1291, 1292) reachable by the cable (100) from which the point of interest (120 to 127) is monitorable by the at least one sensor (102);
- configuring the control unit with data related to a displacement of cable in each of the at least one winch for positioning the at least one sensor in the position;
- configuring the control unit (103) to control the at least one winch (101, 1011, 1012) so that the cable (100) transports the at least one sensor (102) to the position (1201, 1211, 1221, 1231, 1241, 1251, 1261, 1271, 1281, 1291, 1292);
- configuring the control unit (103) to receive data from the at least one sensor (102);
- activating the control unit (103).
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the system is in accordance with any of the claims 8 to 9, the method further comprising the step of:
- configuring the control unit to control the at least one sensor to rotate in relation to the cable so that the at least one sensor faces the point of interest.
16. A method according to any of the claims 14 to 15, wherein the step of configuring the control unit to control the at least one winch comprises the step of:
- configuring the control unit to control the at least one winch to loosen the cable so that the cable transports the at least one sensor to the position.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO20181551A NO345897B1 (en) | 2018-12-03 | 2018-12-03 | System and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO20181551A NO345897B1 (en) | 2018-12-03 | 2018-12-03 | System and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| NO20181551A1 true NO20181551A1 (en) | 2020-06-04 |
| NO345897B1 NO345897B1 (en) | 2021-10-04 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO20181551A NO345897B1 (en) | 2018-12-03 | 2018-12-03 | System and method for monitoring a point of interest of a component in an industrial process |
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| Country | Link |
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| NO (1) | NO345897B1 (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5224426A (en) * | 1991-11-13 | 1993-07-06 | Cablecam Systems Ltd. | Aerial cableway and method for filming subjects in motion |
| WO2007030665A2 (en) * | 2005-09-07 | 2007-03-15 | Ablaze Development Corporation | Aerial support structure and method for image capture |
-
2018
- 2018-12-03 NO NO20181551A patent/NO345897B1/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5224426A (en) * | 1991-11-13 | 1993-07-06 | Cablecam Systems Ltd. | Aerial cableway and method for filming subjects in motion |
| WO2007030665A2 (en) * | 2005-09-07 | 2007-03-15 | Ablaze Development Corporation | Aerial support structure and method for image capture |
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO345897B1 (en) | 2021-10-04 |
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Owner name: AMAR INNOTECH AS, NO |
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