Methodology of monitoring a device to ascertain gas leakage therefrom

• US 20060174696A1
• Filed: 03/18/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Inventors: Komninos, Nikolaos I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

Provided is a method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of the gas there from. An area in the vicinity of the gas is illuminated with ultraviolet light, thereby causing the gas or its residue to fluoresce. A gas sensor is exposed to the gas whereby it generates the gas detection input signal, which is then processed to produce at least one output signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of a gas there from,:

comprising;

a. providing a gas sensor that is operative upon exposure to the gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal;

b. illuminating an area in a vicinity of the gas with ultraviolet light, thereby to cause the gas or its residue to fluoresce;

c. exposing said gas sensor to the gas whereby said gas sensor generates said gas detection input signal;

d. processing said gas detection input signal to produce at least one output signal in response thereto.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising displaying perceptible output in response to said output signal.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising:

a. providing an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor that is operative upon exposure to airborne sound emanating from the device that is attendant with leakage of the gas to generate a.corresponding sound detection input signal; and

b. exposing said AE sensor to the gas whereby said AE sensor generates said sound detection input signal.

4. A method according to claim 3 comprising processing both said gas detection input signal and said sound detection input signal to produce said output signal.

5. A method according to claim 3 whereby said sound detection input signal and said gas detection input signal are parallel processed.

6. A method according to claim 3 whereby said gas detection input signal and said sound detection input signal are processed by at least one processing component selected from a group consisting of a microprocessor, a microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP).

7. A method according to claim 3 including passing the gas through a hydrophilic filter that interposed between said gas sensor and said .AE sensor.

8. A method according to claim 7 including monitoring said hydrophilic filter in order to produce a blocked filter indication (BFI) signal for processing if efficacy of said hydrophilic filter is reduced below a selected threshold.

9. A method according to claim 1 comprising detecting fluorescence of the gas or its residue with one or more detectors.

10. A method according to claim 9 whereby said fluorescence is detected with one or more photodiodes.

11. A method according to claim 9 whereby said fluorescence is detected with one or more CCDs.

12. A method according to claim 1 comprising drawing the gas along a gas flow passageway from an upstream location that is in a vicinity of a suspected leak towards a downstream location whereby the gas encounters said gas sensor.

13. A method according to claim 12 including visibly illuminating an area in a vicinity of said upstream location.