Apparatus and method for recovery and recycle of tracer gas from leak testing process with randomly varying demand
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01M-003/02
G01M-003/20
G01M-003/22
출원번호
US-0351771
(2003-01-27)
발명자
/ 주소
Micke, Andr?
Shedletsky, Igor
출원인 / 주소
The BOC Group, Inc.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
7인용 특허 :
9
초록▼
An apparatus and method for recovering and recycling a tracer gas from a leak testing process. The apparatus comprises a leak testing section, a gas recovery/blending section, and a gas analysis/recycle section. The leak testing section operates to perform various leak testing functions and comprise
An apparatus and method for recovering and recycling a tracer gas from a leak testing process. The apparatus comprises a leak testing section, a gas recovery/blending section, and a gas analysis/recycle section. The leak testing section operates to perform various leak testing functions and comprises a plurality of test parts, a plurality of gas supply valves, and a plurality of gas discharge valves. The gas recovery/blending section functions to blend gases together and comprises a virgin gas storage means associated with a flow control means and a recovered gas storage means having a pressure analysis means and recovered gas analysis means. The gas analysis/recycle section operates to analyze, store, and deliver a tracer gas and comprises compressor, blended gas storage means, blended gas analysis means, pressure analysis/adjustment means, and temperature analysis means. In preferred embodiments, the gas analysis/recycle section also includes a vent, compressor bypass loop, and a recycled gas analysis means.
대표청구항▼
1. A method for recovering and recycling a tracer gas from one or more test parts, the method comprising:A. providing an apparatus comprising: (1) one or more test parts, each test part in fluid communication with a gas supply valve and a gas discharge valve; (2) a recovered tracer gas storage means
1. A method for recovering and recycling a tracer gas from one or more test parts, the method comprising:A. providing an apparatus comprising: (1) one or more test parts, each test part in fluid communication with a gas supply valve and a gas discharge valve; (2) a recovered tracer gas storage means in fluid communication with the one or more test parts through their respective gas discharge valves; (3) at least one of a first pressure analysis means and a first gas composition analysis means in fluid communication with the recovered tracer gas storage means; (4) a compressor in fluid communication with the recovered tracer gas storage means, a virgin tracer gas storage means, and a second gas composition analysis means; (5) a blended tracer gas storage means in fluid communication with the compressor and the one or more test parts; (6) at least one of a second pressure analysis means, a temperature analysis means, and a second gas composition analysis means in fluid communication with the blended tracer gas storage means; and (7) a by-pass loop in fluid communication with the blended tracer gas storage means and the compressor, B. introducing a tracer gas into the one or more test parts through the gas supply valve that is in fluid communication with the test part; C. evacuating at least a portion of the tracer gas from the one or more test parts through the gas discharge valve that is in fluid communication with the test part and into the recovered tracer gas storage means; D. analyzing the recovered tracer gas with at least one of the first pressure analysis means and the first gas composition analysis means to determine at least one of pressure and contaminant concentration of the recovered tracer gas; E. evacuating at least a portion of the recovered tracer gas from the recovered tracer gas storage means, adding virgin tracer gas from the virgin tracer gas storage means to the recovered and analyzed tracer gas to produce a blended tracer gas, and analyzing a quality of the blended tracer gas using the second gas composition analysis means to determine the contaminant concentration of the blended tracer gas; F. delivering the blended tracer gas to the blended tracer gas storage means, and further determining the quality of the blend tracer gas by measuring the pressure, temperature and contaminant concentration of the blended tracer gas using the second pressure analysis means, the temperature analysis means, and the second gas composition analysis means, respectively; and G. returning the blended tracer gas from the blended tracer gas storage means to the one or more test parts; wherein (i) blended tracer gas continuously circulates within the apparatus regardless of whether the gas supply and discharge valves to the test parts are open or closed, (ii) movement of the tracer gas throughout the apparatus is a result of the operation of the compressor, and (iii) if the gas supply valve to a test part is closed, then at least a portion of the blended tracer gas is recycled backed to the blended tracer gas storage means through the by-pass loop. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracer gas is helium.3. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracer gas is a mixture of helium and at least one or other gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide.4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises performing a leak testing process with the tracer gas introduced into the one or more test parts.5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method includes the additional steps of (i) providing an exhaust vent in fluid communication with the compressor, and (ii) withdrawing through the vent a portion of the recovered and analyzed tracer gas to maintain the quality of the blended tracer gas at the pre-determined pressure or the contaminant concentration below a pre-determined concentration.6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure of the blended tracer gas is adjusted to the pre-determined pressure by controlling the flow of the blended tracer gas through the by-pass loop.7. A method for recovering and recycling a tracer gas simultaneously from at least two randomly operated test parts, the method comprising:A. Providing an apparatus comprising: (1) at least two randomly operated test parts, each test part in fluid communication with a gas supply valve and a gas discharge valve; (2) a recovered tracer gas storage means in fluid communication with the at least two randomly operated test parts through their respective gas discharge valves; (3) at least one of a first pressure analysis means and a first gas composition analysis means in fluid communication with the recovered tracer gas storage means; (4) a compressor in fluid communication with the recovered tracer gas storage means, a virgin tracer gas storage means, and a second gas composition analysis means; (5) a blended tracer gas storage means in fluid communication with the compressor and the at least two randomly operated test parts; (6) at least one of a second pressure analysis means, a temperature analysis means, and a second gas composition analysis means in fluid communication with the blended tracer gas storage means; and (7) a by-pass loop in fluid communication with the blended tracer gas storage means and the compressor, B. introducing a tracer gas into the at least two randomly operated test parts through the gas supply valves that are in fluid communication with each test part; C. evacuating at least a portion of the tracer gas from the at least two randomly operated test parts through the gas discharge valve that is in fluid communication with each test part and into the recovered tracer gas storage means; D. analyzing the recovered tracer gas with at least one of the first pressure analysis means and the first gas analysis means to determine at least one of pressure and contaminant concentration of the recovered tracer gas; E. evacuating at least a portion of the recovered tracer gas from the recovered tracer gas storage means, adding virgin tracer gas from the virgin tracer gas storage means to the recovered and analyzed tracer gas to produce a blended tracer gas, and analyzing the quality of the blended tracer gas using the second gas composition analysis means to determine the contaminant concentration of the blended tracer gas; F. delivering the blended tracer gas to the blended tracer gas storage means, and further determining the quality of the blend tracer gas by measuring the pressure, temperature and contaminant concentration of the blended tracer gas using the second pressure analysis means, the temperature analysis means, and the second gas composition analysis means, respectively; and G. returning the blended tracer gas from the blended tracer gas storage means to the at least two randomly operated test parts; wherein (i) blended tracer gas continuously circulates within the apparatus regardless of whether the gas supply and discharge valves to the test parts are open or closed, (ii) movement of the tracer gas throughout the apparatus is a result of the operation of the compressor, and (iii) if the gas supply valve to a test part is closed, then at least a portion of the blended tracer gas is recycled backed to the blended tracer gas storage means through the by-pass loop.8. The method of claim 7 in which the tracer gas is helium.9. The method of claim 7 wherein the tracer gas is a mixture of helium and at least one or other gas selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide.10. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises performing a leak testing process with the tracer gas introduced into the at least two test parts.11. The method of claim 7 wherein the method includes the additional steps of (i) providing an exhaust vent in fluid communication with the compressor, and (ii) withdrawing through the vent a portion of the recovered and analyzed tracer gas to maintain the quality of the blended tracer gas at the pre-determined pressure or the contaminant concentration below a pre-determined concentration.12. The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure of the blended tracer gas is adjusted to the pre-determined pressure by controlling the flow of the blended tracer gas through the by-pass loop.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
Mallet Ronald J. (5218 Monceaux Rd. Rayne LA 70578), Appparatus for pressure testing of tubulars.
Flosbach Rudolf,DEX ; Klein Joachim,DEX ; Nothhelfer Markus,DEX, Method and apparatus for recovering helium after testing for leaks in a sample holder.
Schulte Thomas R. (Grand Island NY) Heim Carl J. (Amherst NY) Gorjaczkowski Vladimir T. (Williamsville NY) Giglia Salvatore (Norwood MA), Pressurizing with and recovering helium.
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