SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEAK RATE THROUGH AN OPENING USING ACOUSTICAL SENSORS
First Claim
1. A method of determining the leak rate of a fluid or gas through at least one opening in a structure comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one acoustical signal from at least one acoustical sensor positioned a known distance from a structure, the acoustical signal being associated with a leak through the at least one opening in the structure;
receiving a low frequency component and a high frequency component of the acoustical signal;
calculating a ratio of the low frequency component to the high frequency component; and
identifying a leak rate associated with the calculated ratio.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are various implementations of systems and methods for improving the process and accuracy of converting acoustical signals to leak rates through a structure, such as a closed valve or coupling, using filtering techniques and modal analysis. These systems and methods may be useful for verifying the accuracy of the conventional approaches and inventive processes and systems for improving leak rate quantification using acoustic emissions. For example, a testing apparatus for simulating a leak through a structure and methods for correlating an acoustical signal with a leak rate are disclosed. The information gathered from the testing apparatus and/or correlation methods may be used in the field to determine more accurately the leak rate of a fluid or gas through the structure.
18 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of determining the leak rate of a fluid or gas through at least one opening in a structure comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one acoustical signal from at least one acoustical sensor positioned a known distance from a structure, the acoustical signal being associated with a leak through the at least one opening in the structure; receiving a low frequency component and a high frequency component of the acoustical signal; calculating a ratio of the low frequency component to the high frequency component; and identifying a leak rate associated with the calculated ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An acoustical sensor and computer system comprising:
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at least one acoustical sensor, the acoustical sensor configured for being disposed adjacent a structure; and a computing device comprising a processor in communication with the at least one acoustical sensor and a memory, the processor configured for; receiving at least one acoustical signal from the at least one acoustical sensor, the acoustical signal comprising a low frequency component and a high frequency component, calculating a ratio of the low frequency component and the high frequency component, and identifying a leak rate associated with the calculated ratio. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of correlating an acoustical signal with a leak rate of a fluid or gas through at least one opening in a structure, the steps comprising:
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receiving at least one acoustical signal from at least one acoustical sensor positioned a known distance from a structure; receiving a low frequency component and a high frequency component of the acoustical signal; calculating a ratio of the low frequency component to the high frequency component; associating the ratio with a known leak rate through the structure; and storing the associated ratio and the known leak rate in a memory of a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A testing apparatus comprising:
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a leak simulator disposed between a high pressure conduit and a low pressure conduit, the leak simulator comprising at least one leakage insert that defines at least one leak path, the at least one leak path being in communication with the high pressure conduit and the low pressure conduit; and a processor in communication with at least one acoustical sensor, the processor configured for; receiving at least one acoustical signal from the at least one acoustical sensor, the at least one acoustical signal comprising a low frequency component and a high frequency component, calculating a ratio of the low frequency component and the high frequency component, associating the calculated ratio with the leak rate through the leak path, and storing the ratio and the leak rate in a memory of a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification