| TECO Energy, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110010123 | Method of Pressure Testing - A computer-based method for pressure testing. The method can include determining physical characteristics of a system of conduits. Additionally, the method can include determining a pressure limit associate with the system based on the physical characteristics. The method can also include identifying a target portion of a conduit in the system that may have a thermal gradient and positioning a probe for measuring temperature along a middle portion of the target portion. The method can include determining an average rate of temperature change along the target portion based on the temperature data from the probe for a period of time and determining a thermal mixing zone between the probe and another probe in the system based on a type of substance between the probes. Furthermore, the method can include determining a thermal model for the target portion based on the determined average rate of temperature change, a volume of the target portion, and the determined thermal mixing zone. Moreover, the method can include obtaining pressure data for the target portion by pressure testing the identified target portion, and adjusting the obtained pressure data based on the thermal model. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110010115 | System for Pressure Testing - A computer-based system for pressure testing. The system can include a sensor operably coupled to a target portion of a conduit susceptible to having a thermal gradient, wherein the sensor obtains pressure data and temperature data associated with the conduit. The system can also include a processor operably coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a pressure limit associated with the conduit, obtain temperature data associated with the target portion from the sensor at a defined rate for a designated period of time, determine an average rate of temperature change along the target portion based on the obtained temperature data, generate a thermal model for the target portion based on at least one of the average rate of temperature change, a volume of the target portion, and a thermal mixing zone between the sensor and another sensor associated with another target portion of the conduit, obtain the pressure data for the target portion from the pressure gauge based on a pressure test conducted within the pressure limit, and adjust the pressure data based on the thermal model. | 01-13-2011 |
