Method and Apparatus for Monitoring, Communicating, and Analyzing the Amount of Fluid in a Tank

Abstract

A device for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank includes a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be attached to an outlet of the tank and to receive fluid from the tank. A flow meter measures a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank. At least one processor is configured to determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during at least one measurement period, determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on an initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank, and generate, based on the mass of the fluid remaining, an indication.

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;   (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) determining, with the at least one processor, a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on an 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; and   (d) 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining, with the at least one processor, the estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty based at least partially on the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, and the average value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure and/or temperature of the fluid is assumed, predetermined, or measured, wherein the density of the fluid at the pressure and/or temperature is assumed or predetermined, and wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is assumed, predetermined, or measured. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a pressure in the tank with the at least one processor and a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor; and   determining, with the at least one processor, the initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on the pressure in the tank and a known, assumed, or determined volume of the tank.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 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;   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; and   determining 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, wherein the indication further comprises the volume of the tank.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: determining a plurality of volumes of the tank, wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is determined using an average value of the plurality of calculated volumes of the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the rate of change of the pressure in the tank is determined by conducting a plurality of pressure measurements of the tank at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each flow rate measurement comprises a rolling mean of a plurality of flow rates. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: communicating the indication to a remote system or device, the indication further comprising information identifying the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: communicating the indication to a remote system or device, wherein the remote system or device comprises at least one of the following: a robot, a software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: communicating the indication to at least one automated valve connected to at least a second tank, wherein the at least one automated valve is configured to open or close based on the indication. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: a visual representation on a display device or graphical user interface, a change in an appearance of a warning light, an audible alarm, an electronically generated voice, a release of a scented gas, an electronic alert, an electronic signal, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A device for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank, comprising:
 a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be attached to an outlet of the tank and to receive fluid from the tank;   a flow meter configured to measure 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   at least one processor in communication with the flow meter, the at least one processor programmed or configured to:
 determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on: an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements; 
 determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on an 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; and 
 generate, 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. 
   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine the estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty based at least partially on the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, and the average value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine a pressure in the tank with a pressure sensor; and   determine the initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on the pressure in the tank and a known, assumed, or calculated volume of the tank.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor, the pressure sensor configured to periodically or continuously measure a pressure inside the tank, resulting in pressure data,   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive the pressure data; 
 determine 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; and 
 determine 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, wherein the indication further comprises the volume of the tank. 
   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine a plurality of volumes of the tank, wherein the initial mass of the fluid in the tank is determined using an average value of the plurality of determined volumes of the tank. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the rate of change of the pressure in the tank is determined by conducting a plurality of pressure measurements of the tank at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the flow meter is configured to measure flow rate by calculating a rolling mean of a plurality of flow rates. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising: a display device disposed in or attached to the housing, the display device configured to display a visual representation based on the indication. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled)