System and method for detecting leaks

• US 8,756,022 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• 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:
  US13/769,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 702/51
• 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 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 computing device to execute a leak detection program and store data as a function of time; and

a pressure sensor coupled to a pressure system and the computing device, the pressure sensor to;

sense a first pressure at time₀ and a test pressure of the pressure system at time and time_(n+1), the test pressure indicating a pressure value of the pressure system after a selected volume of test fluid is applied by a fluid pumping unit to the pressure system; and

transmit a signal indicative of the first pressure and the test pressure at each of time_n and time_(n+1) to the computing device;

wherein the leak detection program calculates a leak detection value;

wherein the leak detection value is a function of a variance of the test pressure at time and the test pressure at time_(n+1).

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

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

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

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

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

7. A leak detection system for detecting a leak in a fluid system having a volume being filled by a fluid pumping unit and holding a fluid at a pressure, the leak detection system comprising:

a pressure sensor to sense the pressure of the fluid in the volume and to supply signals indicative of the pressure over time, including a time₁ following a time₀; and

a computing device coupled to the pressure sensor, the computing device to;

receive signals indicative of the pressure in the volume;

store data indicative of the pressure at time₀ and the pressure at time₁; and

calculate a leak detection value comprising a ratio of the pressure at time₀ and the pressure at time₁; and

send the leak detection value to a graphical display to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

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

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

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

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

sensing, by a pressure sensor, a first pressure of a fluid supplied by a fluid pumping unit in a pressure system at a time₀;

generating and transmitting, by the pressure sensor, a signal indicative of the first pressure to a computing device coupled to the pressure sensor;

sensing, by the pressure sensor, a second pressure of the fluid at a time₁;

generating and transmitting, by the pressure sensor, a signal indicative of the second pressure to the computing device;

storing, in a memory of the computing device, data indicative of the pressure at time₀ and the pressure at time₁;

calculating, by the computing device, a leak detection value comprising a ratio of the pressure at time₀ and the second pressure at time₁; and

sending the leak detection value to a graphical display to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first pressure at time₀ decreases to the second pressure at time₁.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the fluid is supplied at a first temperature at the first pressure, and wherein the fluid decreases in temperature causing the first pressure to decrease.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the fluid is compressible.

15. A leak detection system comprising:

a pressure sensor coupled to a pressure system having a volume being filled by a fluid pumping unit, the pressure sensor to;

sense a first pressure of a test fluid in the volume at a time₀ and to sense a second pressure of the test fluid in the volume at a time₁; and

transmit signals indicative of the first and second pressures to a computing device; and

a computing device to;

store a benchmark indication of the pressure system without leaks;

receive volume signals from a pump indicating a total amount of test fluid supplied to the pressure system at time₀ and time₁;

receive the signals from the pressure sensor at time₀ and time₁;

store the volume signals and the pressure signals as test data; and

generate output signals based on the test data as a function of time, the output signals indicative of a leak detection value that indicates the difference of the first pressure and the second pressure.

16. The leak detection system of claim 15 further comprising a graphical display coupled to the computing device, the graphical display to display one of the volume signals and pressure signals at time₀ and time₁, proximate the benchmark indication, to show the presence of a leak.

17. The leak detection system of claim 15 further comprising a graphical display coupled to the computing device, the graphical display to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

18. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein the test fluid is essentially incompressible.

19. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein the computing device:

calculates a variance that is the ratio of the first pressure divided by the second pressure; and

subtracts the ratio from 1 to create a result that is the leak detection value.

20. A leak detection system for detecting a leak in a fluid system having a volume being filled by a fluid pumping unit and holding fluid at a pressure, the leak detection system comprising:

a pressure sensor associated with the volume of the fluid system to sense the pressure of fluid in the volume and to supply signals indicative of the pressure over time, including time₀ and time₁;

a computing device coupled to the pressure sensor, the computing device to;

receive the signals indicative of the pressure in the volume;

store data reflective of the pressure at time₀ and the pressure at time₁; and

calculate a leak detection value comprising a ratio of the pressure at time₀ and the pressure at time₁ subtracted from unity; and

send the leak detection value to a graphical display to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

21. The leak detection system of claim 20 further comprising a graphical output coupled to the computing device, the graphical output to display the leak detection value as a function of time.

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