Abstract: A system and method of monitoring operating parameters of a reciprocating compressor are provided. The system includes a piston head assembly including a piston head body, at least one sensor positioned within the piston head body, and an electrical power source positioned within the piston head body. The electrical power source is configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one sensor.

Abstract: Optical-based apparatus and method for sensing parameters in connection with an asset, such as a pipeline, are provided. At least two sites in an optical fiber may include a respective fiber grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum having a distinguishing feature indicative of a value of a respective local parameter at a respective grating site. The two fiber gratings may be further arranged to form, in combination with a respective portion of the optical fiber which extends between the two sites, respective optical backscatter portions that when combined with one another are effective to sense an optical change in the fiber portion between the sites indicative of a value of a distributed parameter. This is a parameter modality different from a parameter modality of the respective local parameters at the respective grating sites.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring operating parameters of a reciprocating compressor are provided. The system includes a piston head assembly including a piston head body, at least one sensor positioned within the piston head body, and an electrical power source positioned within the piston head body. The electrical power source is configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of wireless sensors are disclosed. The system may generally include a plurality of wireless sensor nodes communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensing devices. Additionally, the system may include a paging device configured to wirelessly transmit a page command to at least one of the wireless sensor nodes. Further, the paging device may receive a position indicator as a text string indicating a location of at least one of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes.

Abstract: A system includes a first unitary measurement strip configured to be secured about a rotational component at a first axial location. The first unitary measurement strip includes a first set of one or more windows, each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to correspond to a first respective tangential location of the rotational component at the first axial location, and each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to be detectable via a first sensor.

Abstract: A system includes a first unitary measurement strip configured to be secured about a rotational component at a first axial location. The first unitary measurement strip includes a first set of one or more windows, each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to correspond to a first respective tangential location of the rotational component at the first axial location, and each window of the first set of one or more windows is configured to be detectable via a first sensor.

Abstract: A generator airgap monitoring system includes a first proximity sensor disposed in a first location of a stator and configured to transmit a first signal representative of a first distance between the first proximity sensor and a plurality of rotor poles of a rotor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor. The controller is configured to derive a first plurality of instantaneous airgaps based on the first signal and to determine a difference between a first instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps and a second instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of instantaneous airgaps. The first plurality of instantaneous airgaps includes a first plurality of measurements of airgaps between the stator and the plurality of rotor poles when the rotor is rotating. The first instantaneous airgap and the second instantaneous airgaps include measurements for respective rotor poles.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a communications interface between a monitoring apparatus and one or more equipment monitoring components is disclosed. The equipment monitoring components are designed to physically and/or electrically interface with each other while in proximity to equipment being monitored. Each of these components has a proximately disposed unique associated machine readable code. A set of configuration information is also associated with the machine readable code. The codes are scanned and mapped to the configuration information in order to automate configuration of communication between the monitoring apparatus and equipment monitoring components.

Abstract: A system includes a first proximity sensor and a controller. The first proximity sensor is disposed in a first location of a stator and configured to transmit a first signal representative of a first distance between the first proximity sensor and a plurality of rotor poles. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first proximity sensor. The controller is configured to derive a first plurality of instantaneous airgaps based on the first signal and to determine a difference between a first instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of airgaps and a second instantaneous airgap of the first plurality of airgaps. The first plurality of instantaneous airgaps includes a first plurality of measurements of gaps between the stator and the plurality of rotor poles when the rotor is rotating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein use an output of an energy harvester as an indication of the operating state of the machine, device, or process the energy harvester is associated with. In one aspect, a system is described. The system is comprised of at least one of a machine or process, a processor, and an energy harvesting device associated with the machine or process. The processor is configured to use an output of the energy harvesting device created by the machine or process to determine whether the machine or process is in a first operating state or a second operating state.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of wireless sensors are disclosed. The system may generally include a plurality of wireless sensor nodes communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensing devices. Additionally, the system may include a paging device configured to wirelessly transmit a page command to at least one of the wireless sensor nodes. Further, the paging device may receive a position indicator as a text string indicating a location of at least one of the plurality of wireless sensor nodes.

Abstract: Optical-based apparatus and method for sensing parameters in connection with an asset, such as a pipeline, are provided. At least two sites in an optical fiber may include a respective fiber grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum having a distinguishing feature indicative of a value of a respective local parameter at a respective grating site. The two fiber gratings may be further arranged to form, in combination with a respective portion of the optical fiber which extends between the two sites, respective optical backscatter portions that when combined with one another are effective to sense an optical change in the fiber portion between the sites indicative of a value of a distributed parameter. This is a parameter modality different from a parameter modality of the respective local parameters at the respective grating sites.

Abstract: A monitoring system for use with a system is provided. The monitoring system includes a data management system that includes a database configured to store data representative of at least one operating characteristic of at least one machine. A portable display assembly is coupled to the data management system and includes at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of the machine within a predefined distance from a portion of the display assembly. The display assembly also includes a communication interface that is coupled to the data management system and is configured to receive the data. Moreover, the display assembly includes a display media that is coupled to the communication interface for presenting an output representative of the data to a user of the display assembly such that the user is enabled to view historical data of the machine and/or monitor the machine in real-time.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of wireless sensors are disclosed. The system may generally include a plurality of wireless sensor nodes communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensing devices. Additionally, the system may include a paging device configured to wirelessly transmit a page command to at least one of the wireless sensor nodes. Further, the at least one wireless sensor node may be configured to produce a position indicator upon receipt of the page command.

Abstract: Inspection systems and methods are described that can correlate different types of data and, more particularly, can associate data displayed visually on gauges with data collected by sensors disposed on an asset. In one embodiment, the inspection system comprises a camera that is positioned to capture an image of the gauge. The inspection system is further configured to identify a gauge value that is displayed by the gauges and captured in images. The inspection system is still further configured to generate an output signal to a data acquisition device, which uses the output signal to correlate the gauge value with data collected by the sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a communications interface between a monitoring apparatus and one or more equipment monitoring components is disclosed. The equipment monitoring components are designed to physically and/or electrically interface with each other while in proximity to equipment being monitored. Each of these components has a proximately disposed unique associated machine readable code. A set of configuration information is also associated with the machine readable code. The codes are scanned and mapped to the configuration information in order to automate configuration of communication between the monitoring apparatus and equipment monitoring components.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring clearance in a rotary machine are provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method for monitoring clearance between a rotatable member and a stationary member in a rotary machine. The method may include providing a flex circuit capacitance sensor. The flex circuit capacitance sensor may include at least one capacitance sensing layer, at least one shielding layer adjacent to the capacitance sensing layer, at least one ground layer adjacent to the shielding layer, and a set of conducting leads connected to the capacitance sensing layer. Further, the method may include mounting the capacitance sensor between a portion of the rotatable member and a portion of the stationary member. Clearance may be determined between the rotatable member and the stationary member based at least in part on a capacitance indication from the capacitance sensor.

Abstract: A power harvesting device for use with a machine that includes a fluid intake path is described. The power harvesting device includes at least one blade and a shaft that is coupled to the at least one blade. The shaft and the at least one blade are positioned within the fluid intake path of the machine. The power harvesting device is configured to harvest energy from a fluid flowing through the fluid intake path of the machine.

Abstract: A monitoring system for use with a system is provided. The monitoring system includes a data management system that includes a database configured to store data representative of at least one operating characteristic of at least one machine. A portable display assembly is coupled to the data management system and includes at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of the machine within a predefined distance from a portion of the display assembly. The display assembly also includes a communication interface that is coupled to the data management system and is configured to receive the data. Moreover, the display assembly includes a display media that is coupled to the communication interface for presenting an output representative of the data to a user of the display assembly such that the user is enabled to view historical data of the machine and/or monitor the machine in real-time.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for use in a system is provided. The sensor assembly includes at least one probe for detecting the presence of a material within the system, wherein the probe includes a microwave emitter. The microwave emitter generates at least one electromagnetic field from at least one microwave signal, wherein a loading is induced to the microwave emitter when the material interacts with the electromagnetic field. A data conduit is coupled to the microwave emitter, wherein at least one loading signal representative of the loading is reflected within the data conduit from the microwave emitter. At least one signal processing device is coupled to the microwave emitter via the data conduit. The signal processing device is configured to receive the loading signal and to generate an electrical output that is representative of the presence of the material, wherein the electrical output is usable by an operator and/or the system.