초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for testing a fluid conduit system for leaks. The apparatus is connected to an isolated section of a domestic fuel gas system which is suspected of leaking. The apparatus determines over recorded time periods the pressure drop in the system as a result of the actual gas leak a

A method and apparatus for testing a fluid conduit system for leaks. The apparatus is connected to an isolated section of a domestic fuel gas system which is suspected of leaking. The apparatus determines over recorded time periods the pressure drop in the system as a result of the actual gas leak and subsequently the pressure drop in the system as a result of an actual leak plus the leakage through an introduced artificial and calibrated orifice provided by the apparatus. The data is used in an equation for calculating the actual leakage rate from the system. This method avoids the need to repressurize the system between pressure drop measurements or having to know or assume the volume of the system being tested.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of determining the rate of leakage of fluid from a leaking fluid containing system, the method comprising pressurising the system, terminating the pressurisation, monitoring from a start time (T.sub.o) and pressure (P.sub.o) a first drop in pressure in the system

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of determining the rate of leakage of fluid from a leaking fluid containing system, the method comprising pressurising the system, terminating the pressurisation, monitoring from a start time (T.sub.o) and pressure (P.sub.o) a first drop in pressure in the system and the time, determining the time taken (T.sub.1) for the pressure in the system to drop by a predetermined pressure drop (.DELTA.P.sub.1) to pressure P.sub.l, or where .DELTA.P.sub.1 has not been reached in a time less than a predetermined time (T.sub.2), determining pressure drop (.DELTA.P.sub.2) to pressure P.sub.L over the predetermined time T.sub.2, and then, without repressurising the system, monitoring from a new start time which substantially coincides with the end of the time period (T.sub.1) or the predetermined time period (T.sub.2), the time taken (T.sub.3) for a second drop in the pressure in the system (.DELTA.P.sub.3) through the actual leak in the system and a calibrated leak introduced into the system combined, where .DELTA.P.sub.3 =(.DELTA.P.sub.1 or .DELTA.P.sub.2).times.K, whichever of .DELTA.P.sub.1 and .DELTA.P.sub.2 was determined initially being applicable and K being a constant, and calculating the actual leakage rate according to the following formula ]EQU10 ] where C is a constant.