Method for sealing remote leaks in an enclosure using an aerosol
First Claim
1. A method for sealing leaks in a fluid enclosure comprising the steps of:
- a) pressurizing the enclosure using a fluid flowing at a particular fluid flow rate from a fluid injection location to and through leaks in said enclosure and providing a particular differential pressure across the leaks;
b) providing particles in a size range, such that a substantial portion of said particles in said size range are transported by said particular fluid flow from said injection location through said enclosure to said leaks without contacting the surfaces of said enclosure until said particles reach a location at or adjacent to said leaks; and
c) introducing said particles into said fluid flowing to and through said leaks,wherein said particles substantially retain their shape and adhere to the enclosure wall and to each other at impact at locations adjacent to the leaks to build up a bridge of particles to span between the boundaries of each of said leaks.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method and device for sealing leaks remotely by means of injecting a previously prepared aerosol into the enclosure being sealed according to a particular sealing efficiency defined by the product of a penetration efficiency and a particle deposition efficiency. By using different limits in the relationship between penetration efficiency and flowrate, the same method according the invention can be used for coating the inside of an enclosure. Specifically the invention is a method and device for preparing, transporting, and depositing a solid phase aerosol to the interior surface of the enclosure relating particle size, particle carrier flow rate, and pressure differential, so that particles deposited there can bridge and substantially seal each leak, with out providing a substantial coating at inside surfaces of the enclosure other than the leak. The particle size and flow parameters can be adjusted to coat the interior of the enclosure (duct) without substantial plugging of the leaks depending on how the particle size and flowrate relationships are chosen.
25 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for sealing leaks in a fluid enclosure comprising the steps of:
-
a) pressurizing the enclosure using a fluid flowing at a particular fluid flow rate from a fluid injection location to and through leaks in said enclosure and providing a particular differential pressure across the leaks; b) providing particles in a size range, such that a substantial portion of said particles in said size range are transported by said particular fluid flow from said injection location through said enclosure to said leaks without contacting the surfaces of said enclosure until said particles reach a location at or adjacent to said leaks; and c) introducing said particles into said fluid flowing to and through said leaks, wherein said particles substantially retain their shape and adhere to the enclosure wall and to each other at impact at locations adjacent to the leaks to build up a bridge of particles to span between the boundaries of each of said leaks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A The method for sealing leaks in a fluid enclosure comprising the steps of:
-
a) pressurizing the enclosure using a fluid flowing at a particular fluid flow rate from a fluid injection location to and through leaks in said enclosure and providing a particular differential pressure across the leaks; b) providing particles in a size range, such that a portion of said particles in said size range are transported by said particular fluid flow from said injection location through said enclosure to said leaks without contacting the surfaces of said enclosure until said particles reach a location at or adjacent to said leaks; and c) introducing said particles into said fluid flowing to and through said leaks, wherein said particles substantially retain their shape and adhere to the enclosure wall and to each other at impact at locations adjacent to the leaks to build up a bridge of particles to span between the boundaries of each of said leaks wherein when calculating the numeric relationship among said particles in said size range, said particular fluid flow rate, and said particular differential pressure across the leaks for said fluid flowing through a particular set of leaks, a set of solutions consistent with the method define the value of the sealing efficiency to be 0.5% or greater; wherein the sealing efficiency is the product of a penetration efficiency, P, and a deposition efficiency, η
, as calculated from the particle size range, particular fluid flow rate, and particular differential pressure parameters for a particular set of leaks. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for sealing leaks in a fluid enclosure comprising the steps of:
-
a) pressurizing the enclosure using a fluid flowing at a particular fluid flow rate from a fluid injection location to and through leaks in said and providing a particular differential pressure across the leaks; b) providing particles; c) introducing said particles into said fluid from said fluid injection location; wherein said particles begin to harden immediately upon introduction into said fluid flowing from said fluid injection location and substantially retain their shape and adhere to the enclosure wall and to each other at impact at locations adjacent to the leaks to build up a bridge of particles to span between the boundaries of each of said leaks. - View Dependent Claims (27)
-
Specification