LEAK LOCATION DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20150068288A1
• Filed: 03/28/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (Government of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (Government of Canada)
• Inventors: Gaudet, Michel, Clough, Malcolm, Jones, Kristopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/40.7
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/04 by means of a signalling fluid enclosed in a double wall
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/22 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

The present application pertains to a method of detecting and locating leaks in pipes having a secondary containment vessel. More particularly, the present application pertains to a method of leak detection whereby a tracer gas is introduced into the secondary containment vessel and detected in the primary pipe to determine the location of a leak in a primary pipe.

Claims

1. A method for detecting at least one leakage site in a primary pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end, the primary pipe being at least partially within a secondary containment vessel having an internal gas pressure greater than the internal gas pressure in the primary pipe, the method comprising:

introducing a tracer gas into the secondary containment vessel;

establishing a flow of gas from the inlet end to the outlet end of the primary pipe; and

detecting the presence of the tracer gas at the outlet end of the primary pipe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary containment vessel is a coaxial pipe.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracer gas is diluted with a carrier gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracer gas is helium or argon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow of gas is established in the primary pipe by introducing a carrier gas at the inlet end of the primary pipe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow of gas is established in the primary pipe by applying a vacuum to the outlet end of the primary pipe.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two leakage sites are detected.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary pipe is a hazardous material transport system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hazardous material is a hydrocarbon fuel, hazardous waste material, coolant, and/or radioactive liquid waste.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary pipe is in an active drainage system (ADS) or similar system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracer gas is helium, and the helium is detected with a helium sniffer probe.

6. The method of claim 6, wherein the carrier gas is air or nitrogen.

13. (canceled)