Apparatus and method for quantifying fluid loss in a closed system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01M-003/28
F16J-015/32
출원번호
US-0013212
(2016-02-02)
등록번호
US-9958353
(2018-05-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Daniels, Christopher
출원인 / 주소
The University of Akron
대리인 / 주소
Renner Kenner Greive Bobak Taylor & Weber
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for quantification of fluid loss from a nominally closed system using a pressure decay with mass point leak rate analysis methodology, which avoids the need for repetitive testing due to test configuration incomp
In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for quantification of fluid loss from a nominally closed system using a pressure decay with mass point leak rate analysis methodology, which avoids the need for repetitive testing due to test configuration incompatibilities and allows for real time analysis and test control based upon desired results. The novel apparatus and methods of the present invention utilize a control system to maintain a desired pressure differential across the test article throughout the test by automatically raising or lowering the downstream pressure as the fluid leaks through the test article. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method of the present invention improves the efficiency of existing test methods by shortening otherwise long test durations, right-sizing the amount of data collected, providing quantifiable and controllable measurement uncertainty, reducing statistical variance, and eliminating post-process data analysis.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus for determining a rate of fluid loss from a nominally closed system across a test article comprising: a test article having a high pressure side and a low pressure side;a nominally closed system containing a fluid having a first pressure and one or more sensors for measuring a temper
1. An apparatus for determining a rate of fluid loss from a nominally closed system across a test article comprising: a test article having a high pressure side and a low pressure side;a nominally closed system containing a fluid having a first pressure and one or more sensors for measuring a temperature inside said nominally closed system,wherein said nominally closed system is in fluid communication with the high pressure side of said test article;a pressure controlled system having a second pressure, wherein said pressure controlled system is in fluid communication with the low pressure side of said test article, and said second pressure is lower than said first pressure, thereby creating a predetermined pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure; anda means for controlling said second pressure to maintain the predetermined pressure differential as the fluid is lost from said nominally closed system across said test article. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said test article comprises one or more seal, gasket, O-ring, bottle, chamber, piping, or combinations thereof. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nominally closed system further comprises: a vessel having a known internal volume;one or more transducers for measuring the pressure inside said nominally closed system; anda hermetic valve. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure controlled system comprises a pressure regulator, a vent, and/or a vacuum pump. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the second pressure comprises: a microcontroller programmed to maintain a predetermined pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure;a differential pressure transducer operatively connected to both the nominally closed system and the pressure controlled system, said differential pressure transducer providing an output signal to said microcontroller indicative of a measured pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure;a pressure regulator in fluid communication with said pressure controlled system, wherein said pressure regulator is operatively connected to and controlled by said microcontroller; anda pump for increasing or decreasing said second pressure; said pump operatively connected to and controlled by said pressure regulator. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the second pressure comprises: a microcontroller programmed to maintain a predetermined pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure;a first pressure sensor for measuring said first pressure, wherein said first pressure sensor is operatively connected to both said nominally closed system and said microcontroller and provides an output signal to said microcontroller indicative of said first pressure;a second pressure sensor for measuring said second pressure, wherein said second pressure sensor is operatively connected to both said pressure controlled system and said microcontroller and provides an output signal to said microcontroller indicative of said second pressure;a pressure regulator in fluid communication with said pressure controlled system, wherein said pressure regulator is operatively connected to and controlled by said microcontroller; anda pump for increasing or decreasing said second pressure; said pump operatively connected to and controlled by said pressure regulator. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid is an ideal gas, a two-phase (fluid/gas) separation, or a compressible liquid. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises: an ideal gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, xenon, radon, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air; a compressible fluid selected from the group consisting of ethyl ether, hexane, and heptane; or a two-phase (fluid/gas) separation consisting of water and air or oil and argon. 9. A method for determining a rate of fluid loss from a nominally closed system across a test article comprising: A. providing a test article having a high pressure side and a low pressure side;B. providing a nominally closed system containing a fluid at a first pressure, wherein said nominally closed system is in fluid communication with the high pressure side of said test article and said nominally closed system is hermetically sealed except for said test article, through which said fluid may leak;C. providing a pressure controlled system having a second pressure that is lower than said first pressure, wherein said pressure controlled system is in fluid communication with the low pressure side of said test article;D. measuring and recording said first pressure as fluid leaks from said nominally closed system across said test article;E. adjusting said second pressure to maintain a predetermined pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure as the fluid leaks from said nominally closed system across said test article; andF. calculating the rate of loss of said fluid from said nominally closed system based upon a rate of change in said first pressure as the fluid leaks from said nominally closed system across said test article. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fluid is an ideal gas, a two-phase (fluid/gas) separation, or a compressible liquid. 11. The method of claim 9 wherein said fluid comprises: an ideal gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, neon, argon, xenon, radon, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, air; a compressible fluid selected from the group consisting of ethyl ether, hexane, and heptane; and/or a fluid/gas separation consisting of water and air or oil and argon. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of measuring is performed using one or more pressure transducers. 13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of recording and the step of calculating are performed using a microcontroller. 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the rate of loss of said fluid is calculated continuously or at regular intervals of from about 0.1 second to about 1 hour. 15. The method of claim 9 further comprising: G. measuring the temperature of the fluid in said nominally closed system; andH. calculating the measurement uncertainty from the measured temperature and the measured first pressure. 16. The method of claim 9 further comprising: I. programming the microcontroller to automatically stop the test when specific predetermined criteria have been reached. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said specific predetermined criteria comprises a measurement uncertainty value. 18. The method of claim 9 further comprising: J. storing a target pressure differential in a microcontroller;K. measuring the pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure and sending an output signal indicative of said measured pressure differential to said microcontroller;L. providing a means for adjusting said second pressure that is operatively connected to said microcontroller;M. comparing said measured pressure differential to said target pressure differential;N. if the measured pressure differential is different from the target pressure differential, calculating a revised second pressure value that provides said target pressure differential and sending a signal to said means for adjusting said second pressure indicative of said revised second pressure value; andO. adjusting said second pressure until it equals said revised second pressure value, thereby maintaining the target pressure differential. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said means for adjusting said second pressure comprises a pressure regulator, a vent, and a vacuum pump. 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of measuring the pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure further comprises: P. providing a differential pressure transducer that is in fluid communication with both said nominally closed system and said controlled pressure system and in operative communication with said microcontroller; andQ. measuring the pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure using said differential pressure transducer. 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of measuring the pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure further comprises: R. providing a first pressure sensor that is in fluid communication with said nominally closed system and in operative communication with said microcontroller;S. providing a second pressure sensor that is in fluid communication with said pressure controlled system and in operative communication with said microcontroller;Q. measuring said first pressure using said first pressure sensor and providing an output signal to said microcontroller indicative of the measured first pressure;R. measuring said second pressure using said second pressure sensor and providing an output signal to said microcontroller indicative of the measured second pressure; andS. calculating said measured pressure differential based upon the input signals of said first pressure sensor and said second pressure sensor. 22. The method of claim 18 wherein the rate of loss of said fluid is calculated continuously or at regular intervals of from about 0.1 second to about 1 hour. 23. In a method for determining a rate of fluid loss from a nominally closed system through and/or around a test article having a high pressure side and low pressure side of a type using a pressure decay method with mass point leak rate analysis, an improvement test comprising: providing a controlled pressure system in fluid communication with the low pressure side of the test article;establishing a desired pressure differential between the nominally closed system and the controlled pressure system;maintaining the desired pressure differential as the fluid leaks from the nominally closed system through and/or around the test article;recording a temperature and pressure of the nominally closed system as the fluid leaks from the nominally closed system through and/or around the test article and periodically calculating the leak rate and measurement uncertainty; andterminating the test when either a predetermined measurement uncertainty level or test duration is reached. 24. An apparatus for determining a rate of fluid loss from a nominally closed system across a test article comprising: a test article having a high pressure side and a low pressure side;a microcontroller;a nominally closed system containing a fluid that has a first pressure and is in fluid communication with the high pressure side of said test article, wherein said nominally closed system further comprises: one or more pressure transducers in electrical or data communication with said microcontroller for measuring the pressure inside said nominally closed system and sending a signal to said microcontroller indicative of the pressure inside said nominally closed system; andone or more temperature sensors in electrical and/or data communication with said microcontroller for measuring a temperature inside said nominally closed system, wherein said nominally closed system is in fluid communication with the high pressure side of said test article;a pressure controlled system having a second pressure, wherein said pressure controlled system is in fluid communication with the low pressure side of said test article, and said second pressure is lower than said first pressure, thereby creating a predetermined pressure differential between said first pressure and said second pressure; anda means for controlling said second pressure to maintain the predetermined pressure differential as the fluid is lost from said nominally closed system across said test article,wherein said microcontroller calculates the rate of fluid loss across said test article based upon changes in said first pressure at said predetermined pressure differential and the temperature inside said nominally closed system.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Lukens, Peter C., Leak detection system with controlled differential pressure.
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