Systems and methods for testing for a gas leak through a gas flow component
First Claim
1. A method of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state, the method using a tracer gas and a carrier gas different from the tracer gas, the method comprising:
- circulating the carrier gas through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from said outlet zone;
monitoring, using a plasma emission detector downstream of the outlet zone, a spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the tracer gas purged from the outlet zone;
upon said monitoring indicating that a residual amount of said tracer gas has been purged from the outlet zone, introducing a test flow of the tracer gas in the inlet zone of the gas flow component;
increasing an inlet pressure of the gas flow component for at least one pressure increment; and
determining a presence of a gas leak between the inlet zone and outlet zone of the gas flow component upon detecting a step variation in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of said pressure increments in the inlet pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state are provided. Different tracer and carrier gases are used. The carrier gas is circulated through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from this outlet zone. A spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the purged tracer gas is monitored. A test flow of the tracer gas is introduced in the inlet zone of the gas flow component, and the inlet pressure is increased for successive pressure increments. The presence of a gas leak is determined upon detecting an intensity step variation in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of the pressure increments in the inlet pressure.
25 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state, the method using a tracer gas and a carrier gas different from the tracer gas, the method comprising:
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circulating the carrier gas through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from said outlet zone; monitoring, using a plasma emission detector downstream of the outlet zone, a spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the tracer gas purged from the outlet zone; upon said monitoring indicating that a residual amount of said tracer gas has been purged from the outlet zone, introducing a test flow of the tracer gas in the inlet zone of the gas flow component; increasing an inlet pressure of the gas flow component for at least one pressure increment; and determining a presence of a gas leak between the inlet zone and outlet zone of the gas flow component upon detecting a step variation in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of said pressure increments in the inlet pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A leak testing system for testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state using a tracer gas and a carrier gas different from the tracer gas, the system comprising:
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a pressurizing unit connectable to the gas flow component so as to be in fluid communication with the inlet zone of the gas flow component, the pressurizing unit being configured to be fed with the tracer gas and to deliver a test flow of said tracer gas into the inlet zone of the gas flow component, the pressurizing unit being operable to increase an inlet pressure of the gas flow component for successive pressure increments; a carrier gas flow control assembly connectable to the gas flow component so as to be in bidirectional fluid communication with the outlet zone of the gas flow component, the carrier gas flow control assembly being configured to receive an input carrier gas flow and circulate the same through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from said outlet zone, resulting in an output carrier gas flow; a monitoring device connectable to the carrier gas flow control assembly so as to receive the output carrier gas flow, the monitoring device comprising a plasma emission detector and being configured to monitor a spectroscopic emission from the output carrier gas flow indicative of an amount of the tracer gas purged from the outlet zone; and a processing device in communication with the monitoring device to receive the monitored spectroscopic emission therefrom, the processing device being configured to allow a determination of a presence of a gas leak between the inlet zone and outlet zone of the gas flow component upon detecting an intensity variation pattern in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of said pressure increments in the inlet pressure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state, the method using a tracer gas and a carrier gas different from the tracer gas, the method comprising:
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exposing the inlet zone of the gas flow component to the tracer gas; circulating the carrier gas through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from said outlet zone according to a constant volume flow rate; monitoring, using a plasma emission detector downstream of the outlet zone, a spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the tracer gas purged from the outlet zone; upon said monitoring indicating that a residual amount of said tracer gas has been purged from the outlet zone, decreasing the volume flow rate of the carrier gas for at least one flow rate decrement; and determining a presence of a gas leak between the inlet zone and outlet zone of the gas flow component upon detecting a step in the monitored spectroscopic emission following one of said volume flow rate decrement. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of testing for a gas leak between an inlet zone and an outlet zone of a gas flow component in a shut state, the method using a tracer gas and a carrier gas different from the tracer gas, the method comprising:
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circulating the carrier gas through the outlet zone of the gas flow component to purge the tracer gas from said outlet zone; exposing the inlet zone of the gas flow component to the tracer gas; parallelly monitoring, using a plasma emission detector downstream of the outlet zone, a spectroscopic emission from the carrier gas indicative of an amount of the tracer gas purged from the outlet zone at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength respectively sensitive to a first range and a second range of the tracer gas concentration in the outlet zone of the component. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification