Patents by Inventor Yibing ZHANG

Yibing ZHANG has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180163532
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a line comprising a line, such as a mooring line, umbilical, pipeline, or riser. connected to an offshore structure including a control processor located on the offshore structure, a wireless network comprising a plurality of communication nodes positioned along the line, and a plurality of measurement devices embedded within the communication nodes. When the line is being monitored, the output of each of the measurement devices is in continuous wireless communication with the wireless network via at least one of the communication nodes positioned along the line and the wireless network is in continuous communication with the control processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Yibing ZHANG, Limin SONG, Zhen LI
  • Publication number: 20180066510
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic housing including a cover including a first perimeter defining an open cover portion, the cover having a cover length, and a cover height, and a body including a second perimeter defining an open body portion, wherein either the first or second or both perimeters are chamfered, configured to receive one or more electrical components and to sealingly engage with the first chamfered perimeter, the body having a body length, a body height, and an under-surface, and the body including an engagement portion projecting from the under-surface and having an engagement length, an engagement height, and an engagement surface configured to engage an outer surface of a tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Katie M. Walker, Thomas M. Smith, Henry Alan Wolf, James S. Burns, Timothy R. Bragg, Mark M. Disko, Yibing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180058204
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium and include determining a major frequency of a received acoustic tone transmitted via the tone transmission medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William CLAWSON, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058203
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the methods include methods of communicating when the acoustic wireless network is spectrum-constrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058205
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating acoustically within a wellbore and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes methods of conserving power in the acoustic wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William CLAWSON, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058208
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-acoustic system for extending battery life of a downhole wireless telemetry system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Scott William Clawson, Katie M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180058209
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for in-situ zonal assessment of multiphase fluid flow in one or more production zones of a production well, including for at least one production zone sensing one or more fluid flow parameters via at least one sensor disposed in a production zone; at least one sensor communications node being in electrical communication with an associated sensor, the at least one sensor communications node positioned along a tubular body in the production zone proximate an associated at least one sensor, and receiving signals from the associated at least one sensor; sending the acoustic signals from the at least one sensor communications node to a receiver at a surface via a series of intermediate communications nodes, node-to-node, the signals being indicative of one or more fluid flow parameters, the series of intermediate communications nodes being spaced along the tubular and configured to transmit acoustic waves; assessing one or more fluid flow parameters for the one or more production z
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Mark M. Disko, Scott William Clawson, Katie M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180058206
    Abstract: Communication networks, relay nodes for communication networks, and methods of transmitting data among a plurality of relay nodes utilizing non-dispersive guided acoustic waves are disclosed herein. The communication networks include an elongate tubular body and a wireless data transmission network including a plurality of relay nodes. The relay nodes include an electro-acoustic transmitter array and an electro-acoustic receiver. The methods include inducing a first acoustic wave within the elongate tubular body with a first relay node, conveying the first acoustic wave along the elongate tubular body to a second relay node, and receiving the first acoustic wave with the second relay node. The methods further include inducing a second acoustic wave within the elongate tubular body with the second relay node, conveying the second acoustic wave along the elongate tubular body to a third relay node, and receiving the second acoustic wave with the third relay node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Mark M. Disko
  • Publication number: 20180058207
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic communications node system and method for downhole wireless telemetry, the system including a housing for mounting to or with a tubular body; a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member; a transmitter transducer and a processor, positioned within the housing and arranged to retransmit the acoustic waves to another acoustic receiver in a different housing, using the tubular member for the acoustic telemetry. In some embodiments, the transducers may be piezoelectric transducers and/or magnetostrictive transducers. Included in the housing is also a power source comprising one or more batteries. A downhole wireless telemetry system and a method of monitoring a hydrocarbon well are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Katie M. Walker, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 9880035
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting coking in a wash bed of a vacuum pipe still with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a first temperature profile at a plurality of sensor locations to determine a flow distribution. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element and the optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a second temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect coking by determining one or more properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the second temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Geoff Keiser, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Berne K. Stober, Patricia H. Kalamaras, Benjamin Santiago Umansky
  • Patent number: 9778115
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a deposit in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from a plurality of sensor locations and configured to measure, a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect a deposit by determining one or more properties of the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Geoff Keiser, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Berne K. Stober, Patricia H. Kalamaras
  • Patent number: 9746434
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the flow distribution of a fluid through a component with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the component. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the fluid exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to determine a flow of the fluid by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Geoff Keiser, Michael L. Hergenrother, Berne K. Stober, Patricia H. Kalamaras, Benjamin S. Umansky
  • Publication number: 20170219208
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using at least one sensor for monitoring a condition in a furnace are disclosed. The at least one sensor can be an optical fiber acoustic sensor. The at least one sensor can be coupled to at least one processor that can be configured to receive at least one measurement from the sensor, convert the at least one measurement into a digital format, and determine a condition associated with at least one burner based at least in part on the digital format. The digital format can be, for example, a sound waveform or a frequency spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9651415
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an operational condition of a tray of a distillation column with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array operatively coupled to an optical signal interrogator. An output of the sensing cable corresponding to at least one sensor location on the optical fiber sensor array is monitored. The output of the sensing cable is classified as one of a predetermined set of classifications including at least a stable condition classification and a unstable condition classification determined based upon the output relative to a predetermined threshold. A signal is generated when the output of the sensing cable is classified as the unstable condition classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9645002
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying the level of media in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from each of a plurality of sensor locations and measure a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to identify a level of each of media by determining properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Mohsen Shahmirzadi Yeganeh, Geoff Keiser, Zhen Li, Michael G. Starkey
  • Patent number: 9500554
    Abstract: System and method for detecting a leak in a pipeline with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element. At least one heat pulse is propagated through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and fluid exposed to the sensing cable. A temperature profile of the sensing cable corresponding to the heat pulse at each of a plurality of sensor locations on the optical fiber sensor array is measured over time. A leak in a pipeline is detected by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohan G. Kulkarni, Yibing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160091983
    Abstract: An input method and an electronic device are provided. The input method includes: detecting a presence of a first track set which corresponds to a first predetermined identifier, wherein the first track set comprises at least one track and is inputted into the electronic device; and if the first track set corresponds to the first predetermined identifier, associating a second track set with at least one second predetermined character that is related to the first predetermined identifier, wherein the second track set comprises at least one second track and is inputted into the electronic device after the first track set has been inputted. Recognition ability of the electronic device for the character is improved, and the input efficiency is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yibing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150268078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting coking in a wash bed of a vacuum pipe still with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a first temperature profile at a plurality of sensor locations to determine a flow distribution. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element and the optical signal interrogator is configured to measure a second temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect coking by determining one or more properties of the media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the second temperature profile corresponding thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Geoff Keiser, Michael Louis Hergenrother, Berne K. Stober, Patricia H. Kalamaras, Benjamin Santiago Umansky
  • Publication number: 20150177107
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an operational condition of a tray of a distillation column with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array operatively coupled to an optical signal interrogator. An output of the sensing cable corresponding to at least one sensor location on the optical fiber sensor array is monitored. The output of the sensing cable is classified as one of a predetermined set of classifications including at least a stable condition classification and a unstable condition classification determined based upon the output relative to a predetermined threshold. A signal is generated when the output of the sensing cable is classified as the unstable condition classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150175904
    Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the role played by the oil/bulk-resolved-water interface in the dehydration of the stabilized emulsion which forms in the desalter is recognized. The desalting process is improved by introducing the demulsifier and chemical high voltage electrodes. Water droplets in the mixture coalesce and settle towards the bottom of the vessel. A stabilized emulsion layer formed from the oil and the water with additives into the water phase and/or injecting chemical additives directly in the vicinity of the water/oil interface. This improved methodology that makes the rapid and effective delivery of chemical demulsifiers to the rag layer and/or oil/bulk-resolved-water interface possible. In operation, the desalting is carried out by mixing a crude oil to be desalted with water and passing the mixture of oil and water to the desalter vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen Shahmirzadi Yeganeh, Daniel Patrick CHERNEY, Robert P. LUCCHESI, Pawel L. PECZAK, Yibing ZHANG, Richard W. FLYNN