FLUID LEAK AND MICROLEAK DETECTOR AND METHOD OF DETECTING LEAKS AND MICROLEAKS

Abstract

Disclosed is a fluid leak and microleak detector that incorporates three aligned elements: the first element being a solenoid valve (4) that is aligned to the direction of flow, which is followed by a flowmeter (5) and finally a pressure switch (6). These items are managed and connected to an electronic board (7) which contains a computer application with two complementary routines; a routine that detects microleaks (13) for fluid losses greater than 0.15 l/h which is linked to the pressure switch (6) and the solenoid valve (4), and another routine that detects leaks (12) for fluid losses of around 3 l/h and greater, which is linked to the flowmeter (5) and the solenoid valve.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A fluid leak and microleak detector, of the type that is comprised of a flow meter, a pressure switch and a solenoid valve, the flow meter (5), the pressure switch (6) and the solenoid valve (4) being aligned with the household inlet water pipework (2) after the water meter (3) arranged first with the solenoid valve in the direction of flow (4) followed by the flow meter (5) and finally the pressure switch (6), these elements being operatively connected to an electronic board (7), programmable logic controller (PLC) or similar element, which contains a computer application with two complementary routines: a routine that detects microleaks (13) for fluid losses above 0.15 l/h which is linked to the pressure switch (6) and the solenoid valve (4), and another routine that detects leaks (12) for fluid losses of around 3 l/h and greater, which is linked to the flowmeter (5) and the solenoid valve (4); the pressure switch (6) and the solenoid valve (4) together with the circuit board (7) arranged inside a body or housing (1) which has a control panel (10) may having a keyboard or keypad (8) on the control panel an alphanumeric display (9) and one or more pilot lights (11) on the control panel or combination of these.

11. A procedure for detecting fluid leaks and microleaks where an electronic board (7) which contains a computer application receives flow readings from a flowmeter (5) and pressure readings from a pressure switch (6), wherein there are two simultaneous and complementary process lines and two computer routines in the electronic board, a routine for leaks above 3 l/h (12) and a microleak routine (13) for leaks above 0.15 l/h, where: 1) the leak routine (12) includes a non-programmable variable Tt: Total time elapsed since the start of the routine, which is reset to 0 when the flow rate is 0, and at least three programmable variables: Qmax: Maximum recordable flowrate depending on the network characteristics; TQmax: Maximum time that a flow value can be registered, with the value of time Tn being inversely proportional to the flow value Qn; and Tmax: Maximum time during which network consumption can be detected continuously; 2) the microleak routine (13) includes the following variables: Pn: Pressure value registered in the network in real time; Pn−1: Pressure value of the network before Pn; Tt: Total elapsed time since the start of the routine; and Tp: Time interval for the recount of the results 3) the microleak routine (13) establishes at least: 1. a procedure for detecting fluid leaks and microleaks, comprising a microleak detection routine algorithm (13) that establishes at least the following actions: 2. a process of closing the solenoid valve (4), leaving the network pressurised; 3. opening of the network pressure record (Pn) and the time record (Tt); 4. a first decision-making process that provides for two possible outcomes: [Pn=Pn−1] and [Pn≠Pn−1]; 5. a recounting process of the identical results obtained during the time interval (Tp) and memory storage; 6. a second decision-making process, relating the number of repeated results recorded during (Tp) with the total elapsed time (Tt) where two results are established: there is a microleak, activate the alarm; there are no microleaks; and 7. a process of opening the solenoid valve and ending the routine.

12. A procedure for detecting fluid leaks and microleaks, comprising a leak detection routine algorithm (12) that provides the following possible results: 1) if Qn>=Qmax: the leak subroutine is activated; 2) if Tt>=Tmax: the leak subroutine is activated; 3) if Qmax>Qn−1>Qn: 3.1 for the cases with Q>Qn−1, the relationship Qn/Tn becomes Qn/(Tn+x) where x is the total time recorded for Qn−1; 3.2 for cases with Q=<Qn−1, the relationship Qn/Tn is maintained; 3.3 if Tt>=Tmax, the leak subroutine is activated; 3.4 if Tt<Tn, there are no leaks; 4) if Qmax>Qn=Qn−1: 4.1 if Tt>=Tn−1, the leak subroutine is activated; 4.2 if Tt<Tn, there are no leaks; 5) if Qmax>Qn−1>Qn: 5.1 if Tt>=Tn, the leak subroutine is activated; 5.2 if Tt<Tn, there are no leaks; 6) if Qn=0: there are no leaks and the process ends.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] A sheet of drawings is attached with the aim of illustrating what has been explained in this report, in which:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic example of the new leak detection device installed in a domestic water distribution network.

[0065] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the connectivity and relationships between the various system components.

[0066] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the leak detection routine.

[0067] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the microleak detection routine.

[0068] FIG. 5 corresponds to a graph of flow/time, where the leak detection limits are set according to the reference values.

REFERENCE LIST:

[0069] 1. Body [0070] 2. House pipework [0071] 3. Water meter [0072] 4. Solenoid valve [0073] 5. Flowmeter [0074] 6. Pressure switch [0075] 7. Electronic board [0076] 8. Keypad [0077] 9. Alphanumeric display [0078] 10. Control panel [0079] 11. Pilot lights [0080] 12. Leak routine [0081] 13. Microleak routine [0082] 14. Sound generator

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE:

[0083] This example corresponds to a leak detector device based on this invention prepared to be used as a domestic water leak detector.

[0084] According to the invention, the new water detector described has a body (1) that is inserted into the household water inlet (2) after the utility company's water meter (3).

[0085] The body (1) incorporates a solenoid valve (4), a flowmeter (5) and a pressure switch (6), all operatively interconnected with the control panel (10) which consists of an electronic board (7) in its interior, and a sound generator (14), a keypad (8), an alphanumeric display (9) and a set of pilot lights (11) on its exterior.

[0086] The electronic board (7) houses a computer application with two independent routines, which act alternately: one dedicated to detecting microleaks (13) which determines fluid losses greater than 0.15 l/h, and another dedicated to detecting leaks (12) which detects irregular fluid losses greater than 3 l/h.

[0087] According to the connectivity diagram shown in FIG. 2, the pressure switch (6), the solenoid valve (4), the keypad (8), the alphanumeric display (9) and a pilot light (11) are linked to the microleak detection routine (13). The flowmeter (5), the solenoid valve (4), the keypad (8), the alphanumeric display (9) a pilot light (11) and the sound generator (14) are linked to the leak detection routine (12).

[0088] The application housed in the electronic board (7) records the flow values (Qn) measured by the flow meter and the pressure values (Pn) measured by the pressure switch. According to programmed algorithms, it sends operating signals to the solenoid valve (4), to the pilot lights (11), the sound generator (14) and the alphanumeric display (9). The algorithms can be edited via the keypad (8).

[0089] Specifically, the variables of Qmax, Tmax and TQmax used in the leak routine (12) are input with via the keypad (8) and correspond to: [0090] Qmax: Maximum flow that the household can consume depending on the number of taps, toilets, bidets, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers they have. [0091] Tmax: Maximum time during which water consumption can be detected without taking any action, however small it may be. [0092] TQmax: Maximum time that a flow value can be registered, with the value of time being inversely proportional to the value of the recorded flow.

[0093] These variables give rise to a composite function which is represented in the graph in FIG. 5. According to this function, any value that falls out of the dark area is a water leak.

[0094] According to FIG. 3, the description of the leak routine (12) is:

[0095] The application is started and the values for Qmax, Tmax and TQmax are loaded. (This is phase 1 of the routine and should not be repeated again unless the characteristics of the network are changed)

[0096] The flow record (Qn) and time record (Tt) are opened. (This is phase 2 of the routine and it is systematically repeated indefinitely until zero flow or a leak are detected)

[0097] A first decision process is carried out with the records of (Qn) and (Tt) with six possible outcomes: [0098] 1 [Qn>=Qmax] [0099] 2 [Tt>=Tmax] [0100] 3 [Qmax>Qn>Qn−1] [0101] 4 [Qmax>Qn=Qn−1] [0102] 5 [Qmax>Qn−1>Qn] [0103] 6 [Qn=0]

[0104] The result [Qn=0] means that there is no network consumption, and therefore no possibility of having a leak. This result ends the application's routine (12), which is then restarted from the beginning.

[0105] The results [Qn>=Qmax] and [Tt>=Tmax] initiate a leak subroutine.

[0106] The remaining results open a second decision-making process in each case where a second level of results is established:

[0107] 3 If [Qmax>Qn>Qn−1] it could be that: [0108] 3.1 [Q>Qn−1] [0109] 3.2 [Q=<Qn−1] [0110] 3.3 [Tt>=Tn] [0111] 3.4 [Tt<Tn]

[0112] 4 If [Qmax>Qn=Qn−1] it could be that: [0113] 4.1 [Tt>=Tn-−1] [0114] 4.2 [Tt<Tn]

[0115] 5 If [Qmax>Qn−1>Qn] it could be that: [0116] 5.1 [Tt>=Tn] [0117] 5.2 [Tt<Tn]

[0118] The results 3.3 [Tt>Tn], 4.1 [Tt>=Tn−1] and 5.1 [Tt>=Tn] initiate a leak subroutine.

[0119] The results 3.4 [Tt<Tn], 4.2 [Tt<Tn] and 5.2 [Tt<Tn] do not imply a leak so the application continues.

[0120] Lastly, the results 3.1 [Q>Qn−1] and 3.2 [Q=<Qn−1] correspond to an increase and decrease in the recorded flow. In the first case [Q>Qn−1], the application opens a subroutine in which the ratio Qn/Tn becomes Qn/(Tn+x) where x is the total time recorded for Qn−1. (FIG. 5) while in the second case the ratio Qn/Tn is maintained and the routine continues normally.

[0121] The leak subroutine involves a process for closing the solenoid valve, and a process for triggering the visual and audible alarms involving the alphanumeric display (9), a pilot light (11) and the sound generator (14).

[0122] According to FIG. 4, the description of the microleak routine (13) is:

[0123] When the application starts, a process that closes the solenoid valve (4) begins, thereby pressurising the network.

[0124] The network pressure record (Pn) and time record (Tt) are opened.

[0125] A first decision process is performed with the records for (Pn) and (Tt) with two possible outcomes: [0126] 1 [Pn=Pn−1] [0127] 2 [Pn≠Pn−1]

[0128] A recount of the identical results is done for a predetermined time interval (Tp) and is stored in the drive.

[0129] A second process of decision-making is carried out with the previously stored data by relating the number of repeated results recorded during (Tp) with the total elapsed time (Tt) and two possible outcomes are established that initiate two processes: [0130] The microleak process that triggers a warning (activate a switch, audible, visual alarm, etc.) and a process (open the solenoid valve). [0131] A non-microleak process, which activates a process (open the solenoid valve).

[0132] End of microleak routine.