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Positive displacement pump apparatus and methods for detection of leaks in pressurized pipeline systems

  • US 5,090,234 A
  • Filed: 08/30/1990
  • Issued: 02/25/1992
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pressurized pipeline system containing a liquid product by measuring the change in flow rate while compensating for thermally-induced volume changes, comprising:

  • (a) displacement means for displacing a known volume of product in said pipeline system by adding or removing a known volume of product from said pipeline system;

    (b) storage means for storing product removed from or added to said pipeline system;

    (c) connection means for connecting said displacement means to said pipeline system such that the pressure within said pipeline system can be held at an approximately constant pressure;

    (d) pressure adjustment means for adjusting the pressure within the pipeline system so that the apparatus can be operated at multiple pressures;

    (e) pressure regulating means for maintaining approximately constant pressure within the pipeline system at each pressure that the apparatus is operated;

    (f) sensing system means for measuring a first volume change at a first approximately constant pressure and for measuring a second volume change at a second approximately constant pressure; and

    (g) comparison means for comparing said volume changes at said first and said second pressures, whereby a leak is determined to be present if the difference between said volume changes exceeds a predetermined threshold.

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