Passive leak detection devices and systems for detecting gas leaks

• US 8,020,430 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Jared Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzgerald; John
• Application Number:
  US12/248,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20100089127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 73/405.R, 340/438
• US Class Current: 73/40.50R
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04104 Regulation of differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04686 of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A passive leak detection device may include a pressure switch, a check valve and a balance valve. The pressure switch may include an electric input lead, an electric output lead, a balance chamber and an inlet chamber. A pressure differential between the balance chamber and the inlet chamber may be operable to couple the electric input lead to the electric output lead. The inlet chamber may be fluidly coupled to a fluid port. The balance chamber may be fluidly coupled to the fluid port with a check valve disposed there between. The balance chamber may be fluidly coupled to a balance valve. When the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing out of the fluid port, the pressure differential from the inlet chamber to the balance chamber is operable to couple the electric output lead to the electric input lead thereby indicating of a leak.

Claims

1. A passive leak detection device comprising a pressure switch, a check valve and a balance valve wherein:

the pressure switch comprises an electric input lead, an electric output lead, a balance chamber and an inlet chamber, wherein a pressure differential between the balance chamber and the inlet chamber is operable to close the pressure switch and is further operable to electrically couple the electric input lead to the electric output lead;

the inlet chamber is fluidly coupled to a fluid port;

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to the fluid port with a check valve disposed between the balance chamber and the fluid port such that fluid flowing from the fluid port to the balance chamber passes through the check valve, wherein the check valve is oriented to prevent fluid flow from the balance chamber to the fluid port; and

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to a balance valve, wherein;

when the balance valve is open, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electric input lead is not electrically coupled to the electric output lead;

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing into the fluid port, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electric input lead is not electrically coupled to the electric output lead; and

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing out of the fluid port, the pressure differential from the inlet chamber to the balance chamber is positive and the electric input lead is electrically coupled to the electric output lead thereby providing an electrical signal indicative of a leak.

2. The passive leak detection device of claim 1 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to the fluid port such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the fluid port and the balance chamber through the balance valve thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

3. The passive leak detection device of claim 1 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to a downstream pressure source such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the balance chamber and the downstream pressure source thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

4. The passive leak detection device of claim 1 further comprising a warning indicator electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the warning indicator is activated.

5. The passive leak detection device of claim 1 further comprising an active leak sensor electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the active leak sensor is powered on.

6. The passive leak detection device of claim 1 further comprising an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the electronic control unit is powered on.

7. The passive leak detection device of claim 6 wherein the electronic control unit is electrically coupled to at least one active leak sensor and the electronic control unit is programmed to activate the active leak sensor when the electronic control unit is powered on.

8. A system for detecting gas leaks from a pressurized fluid system comprising a passive leak detection device, an active leak sensor and a voltage source, wherein:

the passive leak detection device comprises an electrical output lead, an electrical input lead and a fluid port for fluidly coupling the passive leak detection device to the pressurized fluid system, wherein the passive leak detection device is operable to detect a leak in the pressurized fluid system without the application of electrical power;

the voltage source is electrically coupled to the electric input lead of the passive leak detection device; and

the active leak sensor is electrically coupled to the electric output lead of the passive leak detection device, wherein, when the passive leak detection device detects a leak, the electric input lead is electrically coupled to the electric output lead thereby activating the active leak sensor.

9. The system for detecting leaks of claim 8 wherein the active leak sensor is electrically coupled to the electric output lead of the passive leak detection device via an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to activate the active leak sensor when the passive leak detection device detects a leak.

10. The system for detecting leaks of claim 8 wherein the passive leak detection device further comprises a pressure switch, a check valve and a balance valve, wherein:

the pressure switch comprises a balance chamber and an inlet chamber, wherein a pressure differential between the balance chamber and the inlet chamber is operable to close the pressure switch thereby electrically coupling the electric input lead to the electric output lead;

the inlet chamber is fluidly coupled to the fluid port;

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to the fluid port with the check valve disposed between the balance chamber and the fluid port such that fluid flowing from the fluid port to the balance chamber passes through the check valve; and

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to the balance valve, wherein;

when the balance valve is open, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electric input lead is not electrically coupled to the electric output lead;

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing into the fluid port, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electric input lead is not electrically coupled to the electric output lead; and

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing out of the fluid port, the pressure differential from the inlet chamber to the balance chamber is positive and the electric input lead is electrically coupled to the electric output lead thereby providing an electrical signal indicative of a leak.

11. The system for detecting leaks of claim 10 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to the fluid port such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the fluid port and the balance chamber through the balance valve thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

12. The system for detecting leaks of claim 10 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to a downstream pressure source such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the balance chamber and the downstream pressure source thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

13. A hydrogen fuel cell vehicle comprising a hydrogen gas storage tank and a passive leak detection device, wherein:

the hydrogen gas storage tank generally defines an interior volume;

the passive leak detection device comprises a pressure switch, a fluid port, a check valve and a balance valve wherein;

the pressure switch comprises an electric input lead, an electric output lead, a balance chamber and an inlet chamber, wherein a pressure differential between the balance chamber and the inlet chamber is operable to close the pressure switch and is further operable to electrically couple the electric input lead to the electric output lead;

the inlet chamber is fluidly coupled to the fluid port;

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to the fluid port with a check valve disposed between the balance chamber and the fluid port such that fluid flowing from the fluid port to the balance chamber passes through the check valve, wherein the check valve is oriented to prevent fluid flow from the balance chamber to the fluid port;

the balance chamber is fluidly coupled to a balance valve;

the fluid port of the passive leak detection device is fluidly coupled to the interior volume of the hydrogen gas storage tank, wherein;

when the balance valve is open, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electrical input lead is not electrically coupled to the electrical output lead;

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing into the fluid port from the interior volume of the hydrogen gas storage tank, the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber is zero and the electrical input lead is not electrically coupled to the electrical output lead; and

when the balance valve is closed and fluid is flowing out of the fluid port and into the interior volume of the hydrogen gas storage tank, the pressure differential from the inlet chamber to the balance chamber is positive and the electrical input lead is electrically coupled to the electrical output lead thereby providing an electrical signal indicative of a leak.

14. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to the fluid port such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the fluid port and the balance chamber through the balance valve thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

15. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 wherein the balance valve is also fluidly coupled to a downstream pressure source such that, when the balance valve is open, fluid may flow between the balance chamber and the downstream pressure source thereby reducing the pressure differential between the inlet chamber and the balance chamber.

16. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 wherein the balance valve is an inlet/outlet valve of the hydrogen gas storage tank.

17. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a warning indicator electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the warning indicator is activated.

18. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a hydrogen gas sensor electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the hydrogen gas sensor is powered on.

19. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 13 further comprising an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the electric output lead such that, when the electric output lead is electrically coupled to the electric input lead, the electronic control unit is powered on.

20. The hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of claim 19 wherein the electronic control unit is electrically coupled to at least one active leak sensor and the electronic control unit is programmed to activate the active leak sensor when the electronic control unit is powered on.