Patent ID: 9435675
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: F17C,G01F,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank, comprising: (a) measuring, with a flow meter in communication with at least one processor, a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval, and wherein the flow meter is disposed in a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be connected to an outlet of the tank such that the flow meter measures the plurality of flow rate measurements after the fluid leaves the tank and flows through a pressure regulator; (b) determining, with the at least one processor, a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on: (i) an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, (ii) a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and (iii) the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements; (c) periodically or continuously measuring, with the at least one processor and a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor, a pressure inside the tank, resulting in pressure data; (d) determining, with the at least one processor, a rate of change of the pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on the pressure data; (e) determining, with the at least one processor, a volume of the tank based at least partially on the rate of change in pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; (f) determining, with the at least one processor, an initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on an initial pressure in the tank and the volume of the tank; (g) determining, with the at least one processor, a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on the initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period; (h) generating, with the at least one processor and based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following: a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof; and (i) communicating the indication to a remote system or device, wherein the remote system or device comprises at least one of the following: a robot, an automated valve configured to open or close based on the indication, a software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers, or any combination thereof.