System and method for detecting leaks

• US 8,380,448 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Pressure Testing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative Pressure Testing, LLC
• Inventors: Franklin, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US12/833,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 702/51, 702/50, 73/492, 732/99
• US Class Current: 702/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3263 using a differential pressure detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence

Abstract

A leak detection system includes a pressure system that requires leak and/or pressure testing. A pressure sensor coupled to the pressure system senses a first pressure at time₀, after which fluid pumping system provides a selected volume of test fluid to the pressure system. The pressure sensor senses a test pressure at time₁ and at selected intervals ‘n’ to time_(n+1) and transmits a signal reflect of the pressures at each time to a general purpose computer for recording and storage on a computer readable medium. An operating program is configured to calculate a leak detection value, which is a function of a ratio of the first pressure at time₀ and the test pressure at time₁; the test pressure at time₁ and the test pressure at time₂; and so on to a test pressure at the time_n and the test pressure at the time_(n+1). A graphical output is configured to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

Claims

1. A leak detection system comprising:

a pressure system configured to hold a first volume of a fluid at a first pressure at time₀;

a fluid pumping unit coupled to said pressure system, said fluid pumping unit configured to supply a selected volume of a test fluid to said pressure system, said pressure system holding said first volume and said selected volume at a test pressure at time₁, said test pressure at time₁ being greater than said first pressure at time₀;

a general purpose computer configured to accept and store an operating program and data as a function of time;

at least one pressure sensor coupled to said pressure system and said general purpose computer, said pressure sensor being configured to sense said first pressure at time₀, said test pressure at time_n, and said time_(n+1), and said pressure sensor being configured to transmit a signal reflective of said first pressure and said test pressure at each of said time_n and time_(n+1) to said general purpose computer;

said operating program configured to calculate a leak detection value, said leak detection value being a function of a variance of said test pressure at time₁ and said test pressure at time₂; and

said test pressure at time₃;

through said test pressure at said time_n and said test pressure at said time_(n+1); and

a graphical output operably coupled to said general purpose computer, said graphical output configured to display said leak detection value as a function of time.

2. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein said first volume is zero.

3. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein said test pressure decreases over a time interval time_n to a time_(n+1).

4. The leak detection system of claim 3, wherein said test fluid is supplied at a first temperature at said first pressure, and wherein said test fluid decreases in temperature causing said test pressure to decrease.

5. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein said test fluid is essentially incompressible.

6. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection value is determined using the formula:

7. A leak detection system for detecting a leak in a fluid system defining a volume holding said fluid at a pressure, said leak detection system comprising:

a pressure sensor associated with said first volume to continuously sense the pressure of said fluid in said first volume and to continuously supply signals reflective of said pressure over time including time₁ following time₀;

a fluid pumping unit coupled to said fluid system to supply said fluid to fill said volume at a first pressure at time₀;

a computer connected to said pressure sensor to continuously receive signals reflective of said pressure in said volume, said computer being configured to store data reflective of said pressure at time₀ and said pressure at time₁, said computer being configured to continuously calculate a leak detection value that is the ratio of said pressure at time₀ and said pressure at time₁ subtracted from unity and multiplied by 100 and generate a leak detection signal reflective of said leak detection value; and

a graphical display operably coupled to said computer to receive said leak detection signal, said graphical output being configured to display said leak detection value as a function of time.

8. The leak detection system of claim 7, wherein said pressure decreases from said time₀ to said time₁.

9. The leak detection system of claim 8, wherein said test fluid is supplied at a first temperature at said first pressure, and wherein said test fluid decreases in temperature causing said pressure to decrease.

10. The leak detection system of claim 8, wherein said fluid is essentially incompressible.

11. The leak detection system of claim 8, wherein said fluid is compressible.

12. A method of detecting a leak in a pressure system, comprising:

supplying a volume of a fluid to a pressure system at time₀, said pressure system holding said fluid at a first pressure;

sensing said first pressure with a pressure sensor configured to generate and transmit a signal reflective of said first pressure to a computer coupled to said pressure sensor and configured to store data reflective of said first pressure;

sensing a second pressure of said fluid at a times with said pressure sensor, said pressure sensor generating and transmitting a signal reflective of said second pressure to said computer;

operating said computer to calculate a leak detection value that is the ratio of said first pressure at time₀ and said second pressure at time₁ subtracted from unity and multiplied by 100 and to generate a leak detection signal reflective of said leak detection value;

displaying said leak detection value as a function of time on a graphical output operably coupled to said computer to receive said leak detection signal.

13. The method of detecting a leak in a pressure system of claim 12, wherein said first pressure at said time₀ decreases to said second pressure at said time₁.

14. A leak detection system comprising:

a pressure system configured to hold a volume of a fluid at a first pressure;

a pump coupled to said pressure system to supply test fluid thereto, said pump being operable to supply said test fluid to said pressure system to fill said volume at about said first pressure at time₀, said pressure system being configured to hold said test fluid at about said first pressure up to time₁, said time₁ being larger than time₀, and said pump being configured to supply volume signals reflective of the total amount of said test fluid supplied to said pressure system at time₀ and time₁;

at least one pressure sensor coupled to said pressure system to sense said first pressure of said test fluid in said volume at time₀

and to sense said second pressure of said test fluid in said first volume at time₁, said at least one pressure sensor being configured to transmit pressure signals reflective of said pressure at time₀ and time₁; and

a graphical display having benchmark indicia of the pressure system without leaks and coupled to receive said volume signals from said pump at time₀ and time₁ and to receive pressure signals from said at least one pressure sensor at time₀ and time₁, said graphical display being configured to display indicia visible to the user reflective of one of said volume signals and said pressure signals at time₀ and time₁ proximate said benchmark indica to show the presence of a leak.

15. The leak detection system of claim 14 wherein further including a general purpose computer, said general purpose computer being configured to receive and store as test data said volume signals and said pressure signals, at time₀ and at time₁, said general purpose computer being further configured to manipulate said test data as a function of time and generate output signals reflective of a leak detection value, said leak detection value being reflective of the difference of said first test pressure at time₀ and said second test pressure at time₁.

16. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein said graphical display is operably coupled to said general purpose computer, and wherein said graphical display is configured to visibly display said leak detection value as a function of time.

17. The leak detection system of claim 16, wherein said test fluid is incompressible.

18. The leak detection system of claim 17, wherein said general purpose computer is configured to calculate a variance which is the pressure ratio of pressure at time₀ divided by the pressure at time₁ and then to subtract the said pressure ratio from the number 1 to create a pressure result that is supplied as said leak detection value.

19. A leak detection system for detecting a leak in a fluid system defining a volume holding fluid at a pressure, said leak detection system:

a pressure sensor associated with a first volume to continuously sense the pressure of fluid in said first volume and to continuously supply signals reflective of said pressure over time including time₀ and time₁ following time₀;

a fluid pumping unit coupled to said fluid system to supply said fluid to fill said volume at a first pressure at time₀;

a computer connected to said pressure sensor to continuously receive signals reflective of said pressure in said volume, said computer being configured to store data reflective of said pressure at time₀ and said pressure at time₁, said computer being configured to continuously calculate a leak detection value that is the ratio of said pressure at time₀ and said pressure at time₁ subtracted from unity and to generate a leak detection signal reflective of said leak detection value; and

a graphical display operably coupled to said computer to receive said leak detection signal, said graphical output being configured to display said leak detection value as a function of time.

20. A leak detection system comprising:

a pressure system configured to hold a first volume of a fluid at a first pressure at time₀;

a pumping device coupled to said pressure system, said pumping device being configured to supply a selected volume of a test fluid to said pressure system, said pressure system holding said selected volume at a test pressure at time₁, said test pressure at time₁ being different from said first pressure at time₀;

a computer configured to accept and store an operating program and data as a function of time;

at least one pressure sensor coupled to said pressure system and said computer,

said pressure sensor being configured to sense said first pressure at time₀, said test pressure at time_n, and time_(n+1), and said pressure sensor being configured to transmit a signal reflective of said first pressure and said test pressure at said time_n and time_(n+1) to said computer;

said operating program configured to calculate a leak detection value, said leak detection value being a function of a variance of said test pressure at said time_n and said test pressure at said time_(n+1); and

a graphical output operably coupled to said computer, said graphical output being configured to display said leak detection value as a function of time.

21. The leak detection system of claim 20 wherein said computer is an application specific computer.

22. The leak detection system of claim 20 wherein said test pressure at time₁ is greater than said first pressure at time₀.

23. The leak detection system of claim 20, wherein the leak detection value is determined using the formula:

24. The leak detection system of claim 20, wherein the leak detection value is determined using the formula: