Patents by Inventor Richard B. Vilim

Richard B. Vilim 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: 11914357
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing faults includes receiving a description of a component of a thermal hydraulic system, where the description also indicates one or more sensors of the component. The method also includes constructing, based on a physical conservation law and using the description, a physics-based model describing operation of the component, the physics-based model including one or more unknown parameters. The method further includes calibrating the physics-based model by calculating the one or more unknown parameters using historical measurements to produce a calibrated model. Further, the method includes receiving sensor measurements captured by the one or more sensors, and calculating residuals corresponding to differences between measurements predicted by the calibrated model and the sensor measurements. The method also includes determining, based on the calculated residuals, a fault of the component or of a sensor of the one or more sensors, and generating an alert indicating the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Tat Nghia Nguyen, Richard B. Vilim, Roberto Ponciroli
  • Patent number: 11740157
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing faults includes receiving a system description of a thermal hydraulic system, the system description indicating a plurality of components and sensors. The method also includes constructing, based on physical conservations laws and using the system description, a plurality of physics-based models for the plurality of components, each of the plurality of physics-based models including unknown parameters. The method further includes receiving historical measurements and calibrating the physics-based models by calculating the unknown parameters of each of the physics-based models using the historical measurements to produce calibrated models. The method also includes receiving sensor measurements of the sensors, and calculating residuals corresponding to differences between measurements predicted by the plurality of calibrated models and the sensor measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Tat Nghia Nguyen, Richard B. Vilim, Roberto Ponciroli
  • Patent number: 10217536
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear plant in which the power of a nuclear reactor is controlled via demand of a connected electric grid. A naturally circulating nuclear reactor coolant loop is linked to a water/steam loop by means of a steam generator. The water/steam loop consists of an electric power generating unit and a water recirculating and steam control system. The generator is coupled to an external power grid. As power requirements of the grid change, a controller linked to the generator and a three way valve divides steam flow between the expansion turbine and a feedwater heater to boost or retard the power output. Altering the steam flow changes the pressure and temperature in the water/steam system and thus the coolant flow rate. The change in coolant flow allows the reactor core to regulate its reactivity to reach a state of equilibrium to the demand for electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard B Vilim
  • Publication number: 20190032519
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear plant in which the power of a nuclear reactor is controlled via demand of a connected electric grid. A naturally circulating nuclear reactor coolant loop is linked to a water/steam loop by means of a steam generator. The water/steam loop consists of an electric power generating unit and a water recirculating and steam control system. The generator is coupled to an external power grid. As power requirements of the grid change, a controller linked to the generator and a three way valve divides steam flow between the expansion turbine and a feedwater heater to boost or retard the power output. Altering the steam flow changes the pressure and temperature in the water/steam system and thus the coolant flow rate. The change in coolant flow allows the reactor core to regulate its reactivity to reach a state of equilibrium to the demand for electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventor: Richard B. Vilim
  • Publication number: 20180262278
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for transmitting a signal. The signal uses at least one metallic transmission medium to which at least a pair of transducers is attached. Each transducer contains an interface and connection to an external signal capable of sending and receiving a signal. Each transducer converts the external signal to an ultrasonic version to be sent over the medium and also converts a received ultrasonic version back to an external signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Heifetz, Richard B. Vilim, Sasan Bakhtiari
  • Patent number: 9574903
    Abstract: A method and system for performing transient multivariable sensor evaluation. The method and system includes a computer system for identifying a model form, providing training measurement data, generating a basis vector, monitoring system data from sensor, loading the system data in a non-transient memory, performing an estimation to provide desired data and comparing the system data to the desired data and outputting an alarm for a defective sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Alexander Heifetz
  • Patent number: 9212905
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the shielding thickness of a detected radiation source. The gamma ray spectrum of a radiation detector is utilized to estimate the shielding between the detector and the radiation source. The determination of the shielding may be used to adjust the information from known source-localization techniques to provide improved performance and accuracy of locating the source of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond T. Klann, Richard B. Vilim, Sergio de la Barrera
  • Publication number: 20150177030
    Abstract: A method and system for performing transient multivariable sensor evaluation. The method and system includes a computer system for identifying a model form, providing training measurement data, generating a basis vector, monitoring system data from sensor, loading the system data in a non-transient memory, performing an estimation to provide desired data and comparing the system data to the desired data and outputting an alarm for a defective sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Alexander Heifetz
  • Patent number: 8930165
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a probability of the location of an illicit radiation source within an environment based on directional detectors. An embodiment includes a plurality of directional radiation detectors distributed about the environment and integrated with a processing unit adapted to determine the probability of the source location based on the radiation count data received from the plurality of detectors. The processing unit is further adapted to output information indicative of the location of the radiation source within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Raymond T. Klann
  • Publication number: 20120116720
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the shielding thickness of a detected radiation source. The gamma ray spectrum of a radiation detector is utilized to estimate the shielding between the detector and the radiation source. The determination of the shielding may be used to adjust the information from known source-localization techniques to provide improved performance and accuracy of locating the source of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Raymond T. KLANN, Richard B. VILIM, Sergio de la BARRERA
  • Publication number: 20110246137
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a probability of the location of an illicit radiation source within an environment based on directional detectors. An embodiment includes a plurality of directional radiation detectors distributed about the environment and integrated with a processing unit adapted to determine the probability of the source location based on the radiation count data received from the plurality of detectors. The processing unit is further adapted to output information indicative of the location of the radiation source within the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Raymond T. Klann
  • Publication number: 20110063447
    Abstract: A system for overlaying location information of a radiation source onto a current image of an area being monitored. The system is capable of integrating data from various detectors and cameras has been developed to aid in tracking a radiation source. Location information, derived from various detectors, is integrated with near real-time videos of an area being monitored to show clearly where a radiation source is likely located within the area being monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. VILIM, Raymond T. Klann, Peter L. Vilim
  • Patent number: 7465924
    Abstract: A system for detecting unsecured nuclear materials. Whereas current portal monitors rely in part on physical prominence to deter materials from entering the country, their application at intra-modal transport points may actually serve to divert the movement of nuclear materials rather than aid in interception. A flexible and low-profile system has been developed for unobtrusive detection and tracking of radioactive sources in transit suited for deployment at traffic choke points such as rest stops, toll collection plazas, truck stops, and bridges. The system includes gamma radiation detectors, networking for linking these detectors, signal processing algorithms, and a central processing and control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Klann, Richard B. Vilim, Young Soo Park
  • Publication number: 20080302967
    Abstract: A system for detecting unsecured nuclear materials. Whereas current portal monitors rely in part on physical prominence to deter materials from entering the country, their application at intra-modal transport points may actually serve to divert the movement of nuclear materials rather than aid in interception. A flexible and low-profile system has been developed for unobtrusive detection and tracking of radioactive sources in transit suited for deployment at traffic choke points such as rest stops, toll collection plazas, truck stops, and bridges. The system includes gamma radiation detectors, networking for linking these detectors, signal processing algorithms, and a central processing and control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Raymond Klann, Richard B. Vilim, Young Soo Park
  • Patent number: 6353815
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a process involve development and application of a statistically qualified neuro-analytic (SQNA) model to accurately and reliably identify process change. The development of the SQNA model is accomplished in two stages: deterministic model adaption and stochastic model modification of the deterministic model adaptation. Deterministic model adaption involves formulating an analytic model of the process representing known process characteristics, augmenting the analytic model with a neural network that captures unknown process characteristics, and training the resulting neuro-analytic model by adjusting the neural network weights according to a unique scaled equation error minimization technique. Stochastic model modification involves qualifying any remaining uncertainty in the trained neuro-analytic model by formulating a likelihood function, given an error propagation equation, for computing the probability that the neuro-analytic model generates measured process output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Humberto E. Garcia, Frederick W. Chen
  • Patent number: 5745382
    Abstract: A method and system for performing surveillance of transient signals of an industrial device to ascertain the operating state. The method and system involves the steps of reading into a memory training data, determining neural network weighting values until achieving target outputs close to the neural network output. If the target outputs are inadequate, wavelet parameters are determined to yield neural network outputs close to the desired set of target outputs and then providing signals characteristic of an industrial process and comparing the neural network output to the industrial process signals to evaluate the operating state of the industrial process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: ARCH Development Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Vilim, Kenneth C. Gross, Stephan W. Wegerich