Network manageable advanced gas sensor apparatus and method

摘要

Mechanical, electronic, algorithmic, and computer network facets are combined to create a highly integrated advanced gas sensor. A sensor is integrated into switchgear housings. These sensors integrated into high voltage switchgear products, deployed by electric utility end users in replacement and expansion cycles, function to detect and mitigate atmospheric pollution caused by leaking SF6. As its associated gas insulated tank is charged with 10 to 350 lbs. of SF6, each gas sensor monitors its local cache of gas, accurately sensing and computing fractional percentage losses (emissions) and gains (maintenance replacement) in SF6 mass, storing data in onboard data logs, and communicating data when triggered by detection events or in response to remote requests over a hierarchical communications network, a process that continues without labor until a fractional leak is automatically detected and reported creating the opportunity for early leak mitigation.

主权项

1. A gas sensor apparatus, comprising:
a flange; a bellows; said bellows supported by said flange; a port, said port communicating gas with and to said bellows urging said bellows in a vertical direction; a base plate, said base plate supported by said flange; a bellows coupling, said bellows coupling includes a pivot portion; a vertically movable lever; said bellows residing between said flange and said bellows coupling; said bellows coupling residing between said bellows and said lever, said pivot portion of said bellows coupling engaging said vertically movable lever in a vertical direction in response to the temperature and pressure of said gas; an adjustable bias mechanism, said bias mechanism engages said lever; a bimetallic element, said bimetallic element affixed to said lever and to said base plate; an electronic distance sensor, said electronic distance sensor includes a first element affixed to said lever and vertically movable therewith, and a second element that is stationary with respect to said base plate; an electronic microcontroller in communication with said electronic distance sensor; said electronic distance sensor detecting said distance between said first element and said second element of, said electronic distance sensor outputting a first signal representative of said distance between said first and second elements to said microcontroller; a temperature sensor, said temperature sensor outputting a second signal representative of said temperature of said gas to said electronic microcontroller; said microcontroller determining a temperature compensated pressure of said gas; and, said microcontroller determining the gas density.