Patents by Inventor Patrick March

Patrick March 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).

  • Patent number: 5953227
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for monitoring performance parameters of a hydroelectric power generation facility and determining economic impact of operating the facility at levels other than predetermined reference levels. Optimal or desired levels of parameters of interest are stored in a memory circuit coupled to a central processing circuit. Actual values for the parameters of interest are sensed and communicated to the central processing circuit. Various monitoring circuit modules may be created for specific parameters of interest. The monitoring circuit modules compare the reference values to corresponding actual values and determine deviations from the desired parameter levels. A costing circuit applies an economic impact factor to the deviation values to determine the economic impact of the deviation. The technique may be used to evaluate past or present performance, predict future performance, schedule maintenance, predict payback for plant improvements and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Patrick March, Frank Adkins, R. Keith Jones, Paul J. Wolff
  • Patent number: 5800077
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring fouling of a trash rack for a hydroelectric power generation facility. The trash rack monitoring system includes sensors for detecting head upstream and downstream of a trash rack as well as the flow through an inlet conduit downstream of the rack. The head and flow values are used to generate a trash rack loss coefficient that reflects actual losses across the trash rack independent of flow rate. A corresponding coefficient may be calculated when the rack is clean and used as a reference value for determining the additional loss across the rack due to fouling. The loss value may be converted to an economic loss value. The coefficient and economic loss values may be displayed on an operator interface and may serve as the basis for an alarm indicating the need to clean the rack or the potential for rack failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventor: Patrick March