Methodology of monitoring a device to ascertain gas leakage therefrom

• US 7,540,183 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiaulics, Inc.
• Inventors: Komninos, Nikolaos I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gissel; Gunnar J
• Application Number:
  US11/378,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,172 Days
• Field of Search: 73/407, 73/405.A
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

Provided is a method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of the gas there from. An area in the vicinity of the gas is illuminated with ultraviolet light, thereby causing the gas or its residue to fluoresce. A gas sensor is exposed to the gas whereby it generates the gas detection input signal, which is then processed to produce at least one output signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of a gas therefrom, comprising:

a. providing a gas sensor that is operative upon exposure to the gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal;

b. illuminating an area in a vicinity of the gas with ultraviolet light, thereby to cause the gas or its residue to fluoresce;

c. exposing said gas sensor to the gas whereby said gas sensor generates said gas detection input signal;

d. processing said gas detection input signal to produce at least one output signal in response thereto;

e. providing an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor that is operative upon exposure to airborne sound emanating from the device that is attendant with leakage of the gas to generate a corresponding sound detection input signal; and

f. exposing said AE sensor to the gas whereby said AE sensor generates said sound detection input signal.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising displaying perceptible output in response to said output signal.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising processing both said gas detection input signal and said sound detection input signal to produce said output signal.

4. A method according to claim 1 whereby said sound detection input signal and said gas detection input signal are parallel processed.

5. A method according to claim 1 whereby said gas detection input signal and said sound detection input signal are processed by at least one processing component selected from a group consisting of a microprocessor, a microcontroller and a digital signal processor (DSP).

6. A method according to claim 1 comprising detecting fluorescence of the gas or its residue with one or more detectors.

7. A method according to claim 6 whereby said fluorescence is detected with one or more photodiodes.

8. A method according to claim 6 whereby said fluorescence is detected with one or more CCDs.

9. A method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of a gas therefrom, comprising:

a. providing a gas sensor that is operative upon exposure to the gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal;

b. providing an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor that is operative upon exposure to airborne sound emanating from the device that is attendant with leakage of the gas to generate a corresponding sound detection input signal;

c. illuminating an area in a vicinity of the gas with ultraviolet light, thereby to cause the gas or its residue to fluoresce;

d. exposing said gas sensor to the gas whereby said gas sensor generates said gas detection input signal;

e. passing the gas through a hydrophilic filter that is interposed between said gas sensor and said AE sensor;

f. exposing said AE sensor to the gas whereby said AE sensor generates said sound detection input signal; and

g. processing said gas detection input signal to produce at least one output signal in response thereto.

10. A method according to claim 9 including monitoring said hydrophilic filter in order to produce a blocked filter indication (BFI) signal for processing if efficacy of said hydrophilic filter is reduced below a selected threshold.

11. A method of monitoring a device to ascertain leakage of a gas therefrom, comprising:

a. providing a gas sensor that is operative upon exposure to the gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal;

b. providing an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor that is operative upon exposure to airborne sound emanating from the device that is attendant with leakage of the gas to generate a corresponding sound detection input signal; and

c. illuminating an area in a vicinity of the gas with ultraviolet light, thereby to cause the gas or its residue to fluoresce;

d. drawing the gas along a gas flow passageway from an upstream location that is in a vicinity of a suspected leak towards a downstream location whereby the gas encounters said gas sensor;

e. exposing said gas sensor to the gas whereby said gas sensor generates said gas detection input signal;

f. exposing said AE sensor to the gas whereby said AE sensor generates said sound detection input signal;

g. processing said gas detection input signal to produce at least one output signal in response thereto.

12. A method according to claim 11 including visibly illuminating an area in a vicinity of said upstream location.