Methods for detection of leaks in pressurized pipeline systems
First Claim
1. A method for measuring the change in the temperature-compensated flow rate produced by a leak while compensating for the thermally induced volume changes in a pressurized pipeline system containing a liquid product, comprising:
- (a) pressurizing said pipeline system to a first pressure and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a first measurement period;
(b) changing the pressure in said pipeline to a second pressure and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period equal in duration to the first measurement period;
(c) changing the pressure in said pipeline until it is equal to the pressure during the first measurement period over a period equal in duration to the time required to change the pressure to the second pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a third measurement period equal in duration to the first measurement period;
(d) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume by subtracting the change of volume during the second measurement period from the average change of volume during the first and third measurement periods; and
(e) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume an dividing by the duration of the first measurement period.
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Abstract
A method of determining the presence and temperature compensated volumetric flow rate of leaks in fluid pressurized pipelines. The pipeline is maintained at a first pressure and the fluid volume change per unit time is calculated. The pressure is then maintained at a second different pressure and a second fluid volume change per unit time is calculated. The system is then maintained at the first pressure while a third fluid volume change per unit time is calculated. The first and third rates are combined with the second rate to obtain a temperature compensated leak volumetric flow rate.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for measuring the change in the temperature-compensated flow rate produced by a leak while compensating for the thermally induced volume changes in a pressurized pipeline system containing a liquid product, comprising:
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(a) pressurizing said pipeline system to a first pressure and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a first measurement period; (b) changing the pressure in said pipeline to a second pressure and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period equal in duration to the first measurement period; (c) changing the pressure in said pipeline until it is equal to the pressure during the first measurement period over a period equal in duration to the time required to change the pressure to the second pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a third measurement period equal in duration to the first measurement period; (d) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume by subtracting the change of volume during the second measurement period from the average change of volume during the first and third measurement periods; and (e) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume an dividing by the duration of the first measurement period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8, 9)
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4. A method for measuring the temperature-compensated flow rate produced by a leak while compensating for the thermally induced volume changes in a pressurized pipeline system containing a liquid product, comprising:
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(a) pressurizing said pipeline system to a first pressure which is above atmospheric pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a first measurement period; (b) changing the pressure in said pipeline to a second pressure which is approximately atmospheric pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period of equal duration to the first measurement period; (c) changing the pressure in said pipeline until it is equal to the first pressure over a period equal in duration to the time required to change the pressure to the second pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a third measurement period of equal duration to the first measurement period; (d) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume by subtracting the change of volume during the second measurement period from the average change of volume during the first and third measurement periods; and (e) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume and dividing by the duration of the first measurement period. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for measuring the temperature-compensated flow rate produced by a leak while compensating for the thermally induced volume changes in a pressurized pipeline system containing a liquid product, comprising:
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(a) pressurizing said pipeline system to a first pressure which is approximately atmospheric pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a first measurement period; (b) changing the pressure in said pipeline to a second pressure which is above atmospheric pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period of equal duration to the first measurement period; (c) changing the pressure in said pipeline until it is equal to the first pressure over a period equal in duration to the time required to change the pressure to the second pressure, and measuring those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a third measurement period of equal duration to the first measurement period; (d) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume by subtracting the change of volume during the second measurement period from the average change of volume during the first and third measurement periods; and (e) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume and dividing by the duration of the first measurement period. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification