Abstract:
An industrial or laboratory system that provides sufficient backup of all utilities for sufficient time to allow for orderly shut down of the industrial or laboratory supplied system or the re-establishment of normal utilities. The new backup system stores and uses the facility utilities and supplies the utilities as required to avoid abrupt and potentially damaging shutdown. The new backup system also monitors and regulates the supplied system as necessary and provides communication of backup events through automated telecommunication equipment. Changes in supplied system utilities are automatically logged into an event log to allow an operator to determine which utility has experienced a detectable service interruption, what type of interruption the utility has experienced and the action taken by the computer logic control.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates in general to supplying alternate systems operation utilities to computer operated, automated industrial and laboratory mechanical systems. In particular, this invention is directed to the supply of electric, gas, water, air and/or other critical operational supplies to an industrial or laboratory mechanical system in a specified amount, for a specified time period, in the event of a utility failure which would otherwise abruptly shut the mechanical system down.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,326 discloses a temporary water loop between a water main and one or more locations normally connected to the main.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The principal object of the present invention is to avoid abrupt and potentially damaging shutdown of important industrial or laboratory systems by providing sufficient backup of all utilities for sufficient time to allow for orderly shutdown of the laboratory or industrial system or the re-establishment of normal utilities.  
           [0006]    The Integrated Utility Backup System (IUBS), using standard facility utilities, supplies, monitors, regulates, provides uninterruptible process utilities, and provides communication of the event through automated telecommunication equipment. The IUBS maintains constant utility service, monitors for changes in standard facility utilities supplied to a process, provides a means of communication of these changes to a computer logic controller with remote telecommunications to designated operator(s), and allows for the systematic, automated shutdown of computer software and computer controlled equipment, in the event standard facility utilities are interrupted for a predetermined period of time. Changes in process utilities are electronically logged in an event log, to allow an operator to determine what utility has experienced a detectable service interruption, what type of interruption the utility has experienced, and the action taken by the computer logic control. The computer logic controller has software adjustable set points to allow the operator to define the limits under which the IUBS is to take action. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a generalized flow diagram of the new backup system  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a deionized water backup flow diagram  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a compressed air backup flow diagram  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a skid mount installation plan view of a deionized water and compressed air backup system  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    The regulation of standard electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic utility services supplied to computer controlled equipment to within operator defined limits not exceeding maximum limits based on the specific design parameters of the IUBS system. The system regulation is accomplished using Pressure Sensor  4  and  9 , Pressure Gauges  3  and  10 , Boost Pump  6  and Flow Regulator  7  in FIG. 1. Flow direction is maintained using Check Valves  5  and  8 .  
         [0012]    Supply uninterruptible standard utility service to computer controlled equipment to allow for operation during intermittent periods when standard utilities are temporarily not supplied, or of such quality the equipment being supplied would be unable to function properly. The duration of such uninterruptible supplies would be limited to operator defined limits not exceeding maximum limits based on the specific design parameters of the IUBS. Storage of adequate utility supplies is accomplished through use of Electricity Backup  14 , and Accumulator Tank  11 .  
         [0013]    Utilize a Computer with Control Software  15  in FIG. 1 to monitor, record, and maintain historic records of facility utility fluctuations, using operator definable limits not exceeding maximum limits based on the specific design parameters of the IUBS.  
         [0014]    Utilize a Computer with Control Software  15  in FIG. 1 to provide for the safe, systematic shutdown of computer controlled equipment in the event acceptable standard utilities are unavailable for a duration exceeding operator defined limits not exceeding maximum limits based on the specific design parameters of the IUBS.  
         [0015]    Remote monitoring of the utilities by a Computer with Control Software  15  in FIG. 1 capable of documenting the type and duration of the utility fluctuations, and providing a means of safe equipment shutdown if standard utility interruption is sustained beyond operator determined set points not exceeding maximum limits based on the specific design parameters of the IUBS.  
         [0016]    Using Event Notification via Telephone  16  in FIG. 1, remote operator notification of system fluctuations and shutdowns are accomplished at an operator defined frequency and duration.  
         [0017]    Preventative maintenance and repairs of equipment is facilitated by isolation valves, indicated on FIG. 1, used to allow isolated access to IUBS equipment.  
         [0018]    The operation of the IUBS, and its relationship to the standard utility supplies can be described as follows:  
         [0019]    Using FIG. 1, the Computer with Control Software  15  monitors the incoming supply to the Process Equipment  12  through Sensor  4  in the Utility Stream  2 . The Accumulator Tank  11  provides a finite amount of reserved utility, in the event the Utility Supply  1  is not available. Sensor  4  evaluates whether the incoming Utility Stream  2  from the Utility Supply  1  is available, or not available. Sensor  9  monitors the Utility Supply  1  also, but initiates Boost Pump  6  in the event Utility Supply  1  is lower than the required minimum set point established in the Computer and Control Software. If the utility is not available, Sensor  4  sends a signal through the Mechanical a Logic Control Circuit  13  to Computer with Control Software  15  and signals Boost Pump  6  to discontinue operation. Computer with Control Software  15  generates an historical data point in memory, indicating the nature of the Utility Stream  2  deficiency, for future use by the Operator. The Supply to Process Equipment  12  will continue to be supplied with the conditioned utility at the predefined set points.  
         [0020]    In the event the Utility Supply Stream  2  is discontinued, the Mechanical and Logic Control Circuit  13  will facilitate communication between Sensor  4  and  9 , and shut down the Boost Pump  6 . The Computer with Control Software  15  initiates a timed countdown that is defined by the Operator, to a maximum not to exceed the time necessary for the Process Equipment  12  to successfully complete its operation, whereby tee Process Equipment can be safely shutdown. The Accumulator Tank  11  will continue to supply the Process Equipment  12  with the necessary utility for the amount of time necessary to complete its operation.  
         [0021]    The IUBS System is fitted wit a Secondary Containment Device FIG. 4 item  45  designed to provide a controlled method of disposal of leakage, in the event the supplied utilities include liquids (e.g. Water).  
         [0022]    An example of how a IUBS System can be used is described below as follows: Referring to FIG. 2, Process Analyzer  12  requires a deionized water supply with a constant pressure. Utilizing an existing Plant Deionized Water Supply  17 , deionized water is feed into the IUBS via Valve  18 . Pressure Gauge  19  provides an instantaneous pressure reading of Plant Deionized Water Supply pressure. Pressure Sensor  20  monitors the incoming Plant Deionized Water Supply  17 , and provides logic control to the Computer with Control Software. Pressure Sensor  21  is a normally open operational control for Boost Pump  23 . Pressure from Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  forces the Pressure Sensor  21  to close, allowing the pump control circuit to operate. Deionized water flow direction is controlled by Check Valve  22  and  25 , to insure that if the Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  pressure drops lower than the output pressure of Boost Pump  23 , the higher pressure will be directed to Process Analyzer  12  only. So long as Pressure Sensor  21  is satisfied, should Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  line pressure fall below the set point of Pressure Sensor  26 , Boost Pump  23  will come on, raising the line pressure going to the Process analyzer  12  and the pressure in the Accumulator Tank  28 . The Process Analyzer  12  is rated to consume deionized water at a rate that is less than the Boost Pump  23  can provide. Flow Regulator  24  is used to control the speed at which the Accumulator Tank  28  is allowed to build pressure, eliminating Boost Pump  23  from overheating due to short cycling of the pump motor. The Accumulator Tank  28  is sized to provide an adequate amount of deionized water necessary to allow Process Analyzer  12  to complete one full analysis of the longest duration at a pressure consistent with the lowest pressure Accumulator Tank  28  experiences prior to Boost Pump  23  coming on. In the event the Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  completely shuts down, an adequate volume of deionized water at a pressure acceptable to the Process Analyzer  12  would be available to complete one entire analysis front the Accumulator Tank  28 . Pressure Sensor  21  would detect the Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  is no longer available, would open the circuit controlling the operation of Boost Pump  23 , preventing the pump from running dry. Pressure Sensor  20  will also detect the loss of Plant Deionized Water Supply  17 , providing Computer with Control Software  15  with information that will systematically close the control software after a pried time frame. The time frame can be set at the Computer with Control Software  15  by the Operator to a time frame which is not less than the time required for the Process Analyzer  12  to complete its longest analysis. Adjustment to this time frame allows for short interruptions to Plant Deionized Water Supply  17  to occur without automatically shutting down the Process Analyzer  12 . The Computer with Control Software  15  and the Process Analyzer  12  are equipped with auxiliary power backup in the event a power loss is experienced. In the event of power loss, the auxiliary power backup will maintain operation of the Process Analyzer  12  for a duration not less than the time required for the Process Analyzer  12  to complete an analysis of longest duration. The Computer with Control Software  15  will systematically close the control software after a predetermined time frame not less than the time required for the Process Analyzer  12  to complete its longest analysis. In the event the Computer with Control Software  15  has determined a shutdown is to occur, Event Notification via Telephone  16  is made. Event Notification via Telephone can be made in a form definable by the Operator. Preventative maintenance and equipment repair can be accomplished by utilizing any Isolation Valves ( 2   a ,  18   a ,  30   a ) and Drain Valves ( 2   b ,  18   b ,  30   b ).  
         [0023]    The FIG. 3 system demonstrates the structure of a Compressed Air Supply System, it operates in a similar fashion as FIG. 2, the deionized water supply system, the difference in these two system structures would be FIG. 3 , Plant Supply Compressed Air  29 , can utilize surrounding air to supply the compressor pump. In FIG. 2, Plant Supply Deionized Water  17  is required to be operational for the Boost Pump  23  to increase deionized water pressure required by the Process Analyzer  12 .  
         [0024]    The FIG. 4 is a skid mount  46  installation plan view of a deionized water and compressed air backup system with secondary containment  45 . The footprint included provides an example of the amount of floor space required for a typical system. Dimensional information will vary based on utility demands.