Leak Detection Device

Abstract

A leak detection device operable to measure fluid leaks in an element to be tested that is positioned in a first enclosure. In one example, a measuring module is positioned in a second enclosure and connected to the first enclosure and the element to be tested by an aeraulic connection. At least one of the first enclosure and the measuring module are thermally insulated using an insulating material.

Claims

1. A leak detection device comprising: a first enclosure operable to receive an element to be tested; a second enclosure, the first enclosure or the second enclosure defining an interior volume selectively sealed from an environment surrounding the first enclosure or the second enclosure; a measuring module positioned in the second enclosure, the measuring module operable to measure at least one physical quantity in relation to a leak level; at least one aeraulic connection connecting to said first enclosure and to said measuring module; characterized in that at least one of said first enclosure or said second enclosure further comprises thermal insulation whereby when the interior volume is selectively sealed from the environment the interior volume is thermally insulated from the environment.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the thermal insulation of said first enclosure or said second enclosure further comprises a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the material comprises a thermal conductivity less than 0.03 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second enclosure is positioned in surrounding relation to the first enclosure and encloses the first enclosure within the second enclosure.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the second enclosure enclosing the first enclosure defines an intercalated volume between the second enclosure and the first enclosure; the device further comprising a ventilation device positioned within the second enclosure and operable to circulate a gas positioned in the intercalated volume.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring module comprises at least one pressure sensor.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one pressure comprises a differential pressure sensor.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one aeraulic connection is thermally insulated.

9. A leak detection device comprising: a first enclosure operable to receive an element to be tested; a second enclosure, the first enclosure or the second enclosure defining an interior volume selectively sealed from an environment surrounding the first enclosure or the second enclosure, a measuring module positioned in the second enclosure, the measuring module operable to measure a physical quantity of a liquid leak level; at least one aeraulic connection connecting to the first enclosure and to said measuring module; and at least one of the first enclosure or the second enclosure including thermal insulation operable to thermally insulate the interior volume from an environment surrounding the first enclosure or the second enclosure, the thermal insulation comprising a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., whereby the interior volume is thermally insulated from the environment.

10. The leak detection device of claim 9, wherein the second enclosure is positioned in outer surrounding relation to the first enclosure to enclose the first enclosure within the second enclosure defining an intercalated volume between the second enclosure and the first enclosure; the device further comprising a ventilation device positioned within the second enclosure and operable to circulate a gas positioned in the intercalated volume.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention will be understood better, and other aims, details, features and advantages thereof will emerge more clearly in the course of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, given merely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of a leak detection device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 1B is a representation of an alternative embodiment of the device in FIG. 1A.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation, in a perspective, partially cut-away view, of a leak detection device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a very schematic representation of a leak detection device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] FIG. 1A is a schematic representation of a leak detection device 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0046] Said leak detection device 1 thus comprises: [0047] an enclosure 3, or first enclosure, capable of receiving an element to be tested; [0048] a detection or measurement module 5 for measuring at least one physical quantity relative to a leak level, said module 5 comprising at least one pressure sensor (not shown), such as a differential pressure sensor; [0049] at least one aeraulic connection 7 connecting said enclosure 3 to said detection module 5.

[0050] Said measuring module 5 can also comprise valves, an electronic control and/or measurement board, a coupling (not shown) with a pressurised air inlet, etc.

[0051] Said aeraulic connection 7, by means of said valves and said coupling, enables the detection unit 5 to vary the pressure in the element to be tested (direct method) and connect said pressure sensor to the internal volume of the element to be tested.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the pressure variation is applied to an internal volume of the part to be tested, but the detection of a leak could also be performed on a volume surrounding the part to be tested.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the enclosure 3 is configured to receive two parts, one element to be tested 6a and one reference element 6b. More particularly, the enclosure 3 thus comprises a single cavity 3a wherein the element to be tested 6a and the reference element 6b are disposed, side by side.

[0054] The aeraulic connection 7 comprises, for its part, two conduits 7a and 7b, said conduits 7a and 7b respectively connecting the part to be tested 6a and the reference part 6b to said pressure sensor of the module 5 (but also to the enclosure 3).

[0055] The enclosure 3, for its part, is thermally insulated, the term thermally insulated denotes an enclosure having a sufficient thermal insulation and/or inertia such that the leak detection is not impacted by a temperature variation in the environment of said device.

[0056] Said leak detection device 1 also comprises a further enclosure 13, or second enclosure. The detection module 5, and more particularly the pressure sensor, is disposed in the enclosure 13 (the other elements of said module, valves, electronics, etc. can be disposed outside said enclosure 13).

[0057] The second enclosure 13, similarly to the first enclosure 3, is thermally insulated.

[0058] The thermal insulation of the first and/or the second enclosure 3 and 13 is carried out by means of a material having a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and preferably less than 0.03 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and even more advantageously less than 0.01 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C. The enclosures 3 and 13 comprise for example one or more walls made of a material of this type.

[0059] Moreover, the device 1 comprises a housing 14 wherein the second enclosure 13 (and therefore the measurement module 5) are disposed, the housing 14 including one or more outer or external walls delimiting a part of the device 1 from the outside. The volume located between the second enclosure 13 and this outer wall defines an intercalated volume wherein a ventilation device 15 is disposed. Said ventilation device 15 is configured to ensure a movement (or agitation) of the air or gas in said intercalated volume.

[0060] The leak detection device 1 can also comprise a screen 17 located on the outer wall of the housing 14 and serving to display the results of the leak detection carried out on the element to be tested.

[0061] It will be noted, furthermore, that the aeraulic connection 7 is preferably thermally insulated, the conduit(s) 7a, 7b are made of a thermally insulating material or comprise a sheath, mounted on the conduit(s), made of a thermally insulating material. Said material enabling the thermal insulation of said aeraulic connection 7 has a thermal conductivity less than 0.05 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and preferably less than 0.03 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and more preferably less than 0.01 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C.

[0062] FIG. 1B, for its part, illustrates a leak detection device 1′ which is an alternative embodiment of the device 1 shown in FIG. 1A. Identical elements are indicated by means of the same references and will not be described again.

[0063] The device 1′ comprises an enclosure 3′ entirely similar to the enclosure 3 described above, the only difference being that the latter comprises two cavities 3a′ and 3b′ intended to respectively receive an element to be tested 6a and a reference element 6b.

[0064] Indeed, when the leak detection method is carried out indirectly, it is then necessary to have two separate and mutually impermeable cavities 3a′ and 3b′. Advantageously, the cavities 3a′ and 3b′ are also thermally insulated in relation to one another (and also in relation to the outside).

[0065] In further alternative embodiments not shown of the devices 1 and 1′, only the enclosure receiving the element to be tested or the measuring module is thermally insulated from the outside.

[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation, in a perspective view, of a leak detection device 201 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The same elements bear the same references as those described above and therefore will not be described again.

[0067] The device 201 in FIG. 2 therefore comprises a housing 14′ which houses the measuring module 5, an enclosure 203, or first enclosure, configured to receive an element to be tested 6a and a reference element 6b, and an aeraulic connection 7 connecting the measuring module to said elements 6a and 6b.

[0068] The first enclosure 203 and/or the housing 14′ can be thermally insulated like the enclosures 3 and 13 described above. In the case where the housing 14′ is thermally insulated, it then acts as an enclosure 213, or second enclosure (the second enclosure 213 therefore houses/surrounds the first enclosure 203 and the measuring module 5).

[0069] It will be noted that the volume defined between the second enclosure 213 and the first enclosure 203 defines an intercalated volume wherein a ventilation device 15 can be disposed.

[0070] As above, the device 201 can be provided with a screen 17 for displaying the result of the leak detections carried out on the elements to be tested.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the first enclosure 203 comprises two separate cavities, preferably thermally insulation in relation to one another (particularly advantageous alternative embodiment for leak detection by the indirect method).

[0072] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a leak detection device 301 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The same elements bear the same references as those described above and therefore will not be described again.

[0073] The device 301 thus comprises a housing 314; [0074] a measuring module 5; [0075] an enclosure 303, or first enclosure, configured to receive an element to be tested 6a; [0076] an enclosure 313, or second enclosure, which is disposed inside housing 314 wherein the measurement module 5 is housed and which is disposed at a distance from the first enclosure 303; [0077] an enclosure 304, or third enclosure, which is disposed in the housing 314 and which is configured to receive a reference element 6b; [0078] an aeraulic connection 7 connecting the measuring module 5 to said enclosures 303 and 304.

[0079] As above, the enclosures 303, 304 and/or 313 can be thermally insulated like the enclosure described above (particularly in the first embodiment).

[0080] Said device 301 also comprises, as in the other embodiments described, a ventilation device 15 configured to ensure a movement (or agitation) of the air or gas in said intercalated volume.

[0081] In alternative embodiments of the first, second and third embodiment not shown, the enclosure(s) housing the measuring module, the element to be tested and/or the reference element, comprise a double wall. Said double wall includes two walls at a distance from one another. More particularly, said double wall of the enclosure is configured such that the volume between said two walls is depressurized, for example by means of a vacuum pump.

[0082] That is to say that the device according to the invention comprises for example a vacuum pump configured to reduce the pressure of the gas, such as air or an inert gas, located between the two walls of said enclosure. The pressure of the gas located between the two walls of the enclosure is then lowered until the thermal conductivity of said gas is less than 0.05 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and preferably less than 0.03 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C., and more preferably less than 0.01 W.Math.m.sup.−1.Math.K.sup.−1 at 20° C.