Patent ID: 7110903

Claim:
Apparatus for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the system with time in space comprising: (a) a monitor for monitoring a preselected place in the system for collecting data indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least one variable related to system wash-in and wash-out behavior; (b) first data processor responsive to the monitor for receiving the collected data and processing same; (c) a selector for controlling the monitor for setting parameters of data collection, and for receiving inputs of system parameters including said system parameter and a plurality of time points correlated to a system event; (d) a second data processor including: (1) a first divider for dividing the space defined by at least two variables, each ranging from a minimum to a maximum, into a grid; (2) first determiner for determining for each grid location a calculated value and intensity function indicative of the wash-in of the parameter being monitored for each time point; (3) first normalizer for determining a grid location of maximum intensity and normalizing all grid locations with reference to the maximum; (4) first colorizor for coloring all grid locations one of a plurality of colors based on a color function indicative of wash-out behavior; (5) an arranger for arranging all grid locations for all time points into a composite to develop a calibration map of the grid with each grid location correlated to a color hue/color intensity; (6) an analyzer for analyzing the calibration map to determine if the attributes of the calibration map meet a preselected standard, if not, to implement the plurality of time points or a system parameter and iterate until the resultant calibration map meets said standard; (e) said first data processor receiving as further inputs the plurality of time points and the maximum of the intensity function as determined in the second data processor and further including: (1) a second divider for spatially dividing the preselected place in the system into spatial units; (2) a second determiner for determining for each spatial unit a value and intensity function indicative of wash-in behavior based on the collected data for each time point; (3) a second normalizer for normalizing the intensity of each spatial unit based on maximum intensity obtained from the first normalizing means; (4) a second colorizor for coloring all spatial units one of a plurality of colors based on the color function indicative of wash-out behavior of said first colorizing means; (5) a second arranger for arranging all spatial units for all time points into a composite of the preselected space with each spatial unit correlated to a color hue/color intensity.