Temperature compensated methods for detection of leaks in pressurized pipeline systems
First Claim
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1. A method for measuring the change in the temperature-compensated flow rate produced by a leak while compensating for 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 with measurement means 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 with said measurement means those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period;
(c) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume from the changes of volume during said measurement periods; and
(d) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume.
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Abstract
The apparatus and method for detection of leaks in pressurized pipelines disclosed herein measures thermally compensated leak rates. The apparatus uses an acoustic sensor and fiducial reference system to precisely determine leak rates.
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12 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 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 with measurement means 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 with said measurement means those changes in the volume of product in said pipeline that are required to maintain approximately constant pressure over a second measurement period; (c) computing the temperature-compensated change of volume from the changes of volume during said measurement periods; and (d) computing the rate of change of temperature-compensated volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification