EP1446646A1 - Detecteur multicouche de fuites de liquides - Google Patents

Detecteur multicouche de fuites de liquides

Info

Publication number
EP1446646A1
EP1446646A1 EP02779690A EP02779690A EP1446646A1 EP 1446646 A1 EP1446646 A1 EP 1446646A1 EP 02779690 A EP02779690 A EP 02779690A EP 02779690 A EP02779690 A EP 02779690A EP 1446646 A1 EP1446646 A1 EP 1446646A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
detector
layer
conducting
conducting layer
intermediate layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP02779690A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Dennis Charles Parkins Gibbs
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Before Event Ltd
Original Assignee
Before Event Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0127854A external-priority patent/GB0127854D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0200441A external-priority patent/GB0200441D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0209292A external-priority patent/GB2373057B/en
Priority claimed from US10/151,137 external-priority patent/US6865941B2/en
Application filed by Before Event Ltd filed Critical Before Event Ltd
Publication of EP1446646A1 publication Critical patent/EP1446646A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/04—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
    • G01M3/16—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/04—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
    • G01M3/16—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means
    • G01M3/18—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Definitions

  • This invention relates to liquid leak detectors and detecting systems.
  • the invention consists in a liquid leak detector including a first electrically conducting layer, a second perforate, open, porous or permeable electrically conducting layer opposed to said first layer and perforate, open, porous or permeable intermediate layer which electrically isolates the two conducting layers whilst allowing liquid which passes through the second conducting layer to reach the first conducting layer to form an electrical conducting path between the conducting layers.
  • the first conducting layer is carried on an insulating base and indeed may be a coating or film on a surface of that base.
  • the base is flexible so that the detector as a whole may be flexible and may, for example, be suitable for wrapping around pipes or the like.
  • the pipe when the pipe is metal the pipe could constitute the first conductor.
  • the intermediate layer and second conductor could conveniently be helically wound on the pipe and covered with a further insulator.
  • the pipe could be considered to constitute the second conductor, in as much as once a leak starts the pipe is perforate.
  • the invention also includes, a liquid leak detector for use with an electrically conducting pipe of the like comprising a perforate or open insulating layer for wrapping around the pipe and a flexible conductor for wrapping around the insulating layer.
  • the second conductor may be a sheet of metal mesh, in which case the mesh openings may be funnel shaped in cross section.
  • the mesh openings may be funnel shaped in cross section.
  • it could be a sheet of perforate metal and in that case it would be preferred that the perforations are either funnel shaped in cross section or at least some of the perforations are surrounded by respective depressions.
  • liquid impinging on the detector will tend to be captured by the openings or perforations and passed through the intermediate layer to the first conducting layer. This is in contrast to detectors that use planar conductors, in which the liquid would simply run along the surface of the upper conductor, if it is inclined at any angle.
  • the intermediate layer may be a mesh or perforate plate, or it may comprise a plurality of formations formed on the first conducting layer. In another arrangement it may be a plurality of spaced ridges. In any of these cases the intermediate layer may be physically distinct from the other layers, or it may be printed or moulded on the first conducting layer. In this case it would typically be formed from a curable polymer. In its mesh form, the intermediate layer may conveniently be made of nylon. In a still further embodiment the intermediate layer may be formed by protrusions on the insulating base that extends through the conducting layer. For example, for small detectors it may be desirable to etch ridge formations into a semi-conductive base, metalise the surfaces in between the ridges and then position the second conducting layer on top.
  • the openings, for example in a mesh, in the intermediate layer may conveniently be larger is cross-section than the openings in the second conducting layer, and may be up to an order, or even several orders, of magnitude larger.
  • a porous intermediate layer may be preferable.
  • a wadding layer could be used to wick the liquid through, but such an arrangement is likely to be less sensitive.
  • the invention also includes a detection system where detectors are formed for specific zones so that the location of a leak can be identified.
  • this can be particularly conveniently achieved by wrapping the second electrode in individual lengths and connecting a transmitter to a further conductor so that when the leak path is made by leaking liquid, the transmitter is turned on and an encoded signal is sent to an alarm station, which can identify the respective transmitter of the zone.
  • liquid barriers between the zones It is desirable to form liquid barriers between the zones and this could be done by injecting sealant through the mesh at the zone boundaries, wrapping flexible tape, e.g. PTFE tape, around the meshes at the zone boundaries so that the meshes are compressed, or encircling the meshes at the boundaries with a ring or grommet.
  • a ring or grommet could simply be placed on the pipe, but that would preclude the insulator mesh being wrapped as a continuous layer.
  • the first conductor may itself be a mesh so that liquid can pass right through the detector.
  • a reservoir for example a drip tray, being placed beneath the detector to capture leaking liquid so that damage does not occur, before the alarm is reacted to.
  • the tray or reservoir could be formed from aluminium, very much in the manner of a disposable cooking tray.
  • the detector can be used to detect any conductive liquid including, for example, water, aqueous systems and organic solvents.
  • materials may be chosen for constructing detector, and in particular the conducting and intermediate layers, which are appropriate to the particular liquid to be detected.
  • a potentially reactionary or corrosive liquid such as, for example, an acid
  • materials which are inert or relatively inert to such liquids can be employed so that the detector is not damaged or compromised to any significant degree and can therefore potentially be reused.
  • one or both conducting layers of the detector are made from acid-resistant materials such as, for example, stainless steel.
  • the intermediate layer is formed from an acid-resistant material such as, for example, polypropylene.
  • the intermediate layer preferably does not include any foam material.
  • the invention also includes a detection system including at least one detector as defined above.
  • a detection system including at least one detector as defined above.
  • an alarm or indicator may be connected in series with the first and second conductors such that the electrical paths set up by the liquid completes a circuit.
  • the flow of liquid may be used to turn on or off a suitably connected transistor.
  • An alarm may be provided for each detector so that the location of a leak can be indicated.
  • Figure 1 is a scrap vertical section through a detector
  • Figure 2 is an exploded view of the detector of Figure 1
  • Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a detection system
  • Figure 4 illustrates a part of an alternative embodiment
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view of a Figure 1 type arrangement, but showing an additional mesh insulating layer
  • Figure 6 is an alternative construction of the Figure 5 arrangement
  • Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a detection system incorporating zone detection
  • Figure 8 is an alternative form of a detection system of Figure 7 and is suited for forming a zone array on a generally flat surface;
  • Figure 9 illustrates an alternative zone detection system, which could also constitute a stand alone detector
  • Figure 10 illustrates yet a further zone detection system; and Figures 11 (a) and (b) illustrate a two part ring zone detection system
  • a detector generally indicated at 10, includes an insulating base 11 on the upper surface of which is an electrically conducting layer 12; a conducting mesh 13 and an intermediate insulator mesh 14.
  • the conducting layers 12 and 13 are connected in series with a piezoelectric sounder 15 and a battery 16 so that when impinging water creates an electrical path 17 the sound of 15 gives an alarm.
  • the structure shown has a number of surprising advantages.
  • any liquid e.g. water
  • the intermediate layer 14 is preferably made with a hydrophobic material. It is particularly preferred that the openings 18 may be formed with a funnel cross section as illustrated at 18a.
  • FIG. 2 An alternative structure is schematically indicated in Figure 2 at 19.
  • perforations 20 have been punched in a metal plate so that surrounding depressions 21 are formed, which will again encourage water flow down through the plate 13 rather than along the surface of the plate.
  • the layer 12 may be an evaporated coating on the insulating base 11 , or, in another embodiment, it may be a foil layer adhered to it.
  • the insulating base 11 may be flexible, for example it may be a neoprene type material and this would be particularly suitable if the detector was to be wrapped around a pipe, because it would also have a thermally insulating function.
  • the intermediate insulating layer 14 could be formed by printing or moulding a polymer on the conducting layer 12 and need not necessarily be in the form of a mesh, but could for example, as shown in Figure 4 be formed by a series of ridges 22.
  • the mesh layer 13 could be covered by a further insulating mesh layer to reduce the risk of short circuits (for example if the detector is being wrapped on a metal surface), whilst still allowing liquid flow. With the pipe wrap arrangement wherein the solid electrode is remote from the pipe surface the detector is likely to contain the leak at least for a period. Further impedance measurement techniques may be utilised to locate the position of the leak relative to a datum position. AC or DC voltage may be used.
  • Figure 6 shows substantially the same arrangement, but here the first conducting layer 12 has been rendered as a mesh so that liquid can pass right through the detector and the insulating base plate 11 has been replaced by a spaced drip tray 24 for containing liquid to allow at least a period whilst damage will not occur after the alarm has sounded.
  • a control module closes off valves to prevent further egress of liquid from the leak.
  • a detector system generally indicated at 25 essentially consists of a series of detection zones or sections, examples of which are shown at 26 and 27.
  • a detector of the type generally described is formed in each section, but for convenience the insulating mesh layers 14 and 23 are continuous along the length of the pipe as is the conductor 12.
  • the conductors 13 are, however, at least electrically confined to their respective zones and are conveniently wound as individual sections.
  • a further conducting layer 28 is wound on the insulating sheet 11 and respective transmitters 29, 30 are connected between the conducting segments 13 and the conductor 28.
  • the conductors 12 and 28 are connected through an alarm module 31 in such a way that when the conductors 13 and 12 are connected by a leaking liquid the transmitters 29,30 are turned on and feed a signal to an alarm 32 and an alarm indicator 33, whereby the alarm 32 is sounded and the indicator 33 discriminates a unique coded signal from the alarm in the leaking zone to indicate the location of the leak.
  • Liquid barriers are preferably formed at the zone boundaries 34, for example by the mechanisms identified above or the clamps described below.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative zone detection system in which a trigger circuit 35, for each zone is connected between an electrically floating solid conductor 12 and a negatively biased solid conductor 28.
  • a trigger circuit 35 for each zone is connected between an electrically floating solid conductor 12 and a negatively biased solid conductor 28.
  • the floating conductor 12 When water penetrates the insulating mesh 14 the floating conductor 12 is taken up to the positive rail voltage of conductive mesh 13. The full voltage drop causes the respective circuit 35 to trigger creating a signal at the central alarm indicator 33.
  • each zone may be in the form of a pad and the pads may form an array on a generally flat surface.
  • Figure 10 illustrates a particular example of Figure 8 in which an integrated circuit acts as the trigger circuit 35 and is used to generate a unique identification signal for the leaking zone, which can then set off an appropriate alarm or inform monitoring software.
  • the integrated circuit is connected between an electrically floating mesh 13 and a negative conductor 28, with the solid conductor 12 being positive, so that the mesh 13 is taken up to this positive rail voltage by water extending between 13 and 12.
  • condensation may be routinely present. It would be desirable in such circumstances, to ensure that the detector was not set off by condensation and this can be achieved by increasing the path length between the conductor
  • the path length is over a certain distance, then individual drops of water will not penetrate, but more continuous leaks will form a liquid path between the conductors causing an alarm to sound.
  • the increased path length can be achieved by wrapping additional mesh layers between the conductors. In the embodiments built by the applicants, a wrapping of three mesh layers has been sufficient to discriminate between condensation and a leak. Each layer of mesh is nominally 0.75 millimetres thick.
  • Figures 11 (a) and (b) illustrate a two part ring 39 which can be clamped around the pipe to form the waterproof barrier between zones. At its simplest form it comprises, for example, two C-shaped rubber or plastic elements 40 clamped at their free ends around the pipe. Conveniently, however, those conductor elements, which are electrically continuous along the length the detector system 25 may be electrically connected through the elements 40 as illustrated in Figure 11 b at for example 41.
  • Figure 11 illustrates a clamp configured for use with the Figure 10 system.
  • the outer sheath of an element 40 may contain the trigger circuit 35.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des détecteurs de fuites de liquide ainsi que des systèmes de détection. Un détecteur de fuite de liquide (10) comprend une première couche conductrice (12) électriquement, une seconde couche (13) perforée, ouverte, poreuse et/ou perméable, qui est opposée à ladite première couche. Ledit détecteur comprend également une couche (14) intermédiaire, perforée, ouverte, poreuse et/ou perméable qui permet une isolation électrique des deux couches conductrices, tout en permettant au liquide, qui s'écoule à travers un second conducteur (13), de former un chemin conducteur électriquement entre lesdits conducteurs (12, 13).
EP02779690A 2001-11-21 2002-11-15 Detecteur multicouche de fuites de liquides Withdrawn EP1446646A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US151137 1988-02-01
GB0127854 2001-11-21
GB0127854A GB0127854D0 (en) 2001-11-21 2001-11-21 Liquid leak detector
GB0200441A GB0200441D0 (en) 2002-01-10 2002-01-10 Liquid leak detector
GB0200441 2002-01-10
GB0209292 2002-04-24
GB0209292A GB2373057B (en) 2001-11-21 2002-04-24 A liquid leak detector
US10/151,137 US6865941B2 (en) 2001-11-21 2002-05-20 Liquid leak detector
PCT/GB2002/005174 WO2003046501A1 (fr) 2001-11-21 2002-11-15 Detecteur multicouche de fuites de liquides

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1446646A1 true EP1446646A1 (fr) 2004-08-18

Family

ID=27448005

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02779690A Withdrawn EP1446646A1 (fr) 2001-11-21 2002-11-15 Detecteur multicouche de fuites de liquides

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1446646A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2002343030A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003046501A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI124281B (fi) * 2012-05-02 2014-06-13 Jani Alatainio Vuotoilmaisin
CN106225999A (zh) * 2016-08-15 2016-12-14 上海科勒电子科技有限公司 多点式探头及漏水传感器
FR3109443A1 (fr) * 2020-04-16 2021-10-22 Psa Automobiles Sa Système de detection d’une fuite de fluide
CN117117355B (zh) * 2023-10-23 2024-02-09 宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司 漏液检测装置和电池

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5476004A (en) * 1994-05-27 1995-12-19 Furon Company Leak-sensing apparatus

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB956553A (en) * 1959-05-12 1964-04-29 Eisler Paul Storage battery
JPS6219748A (ja) * 1985-07-18 1987-01-28 Junkosha Co Ltd 腐食性液検知用センサ
DE3704594A1 (de) * 1987-02-13 1988-08-25 Westerwald Ag Vorrichtung zur leckueberwachung und -ortung
GB8809195D0 (en) * 1988-04-19 1988-05-25 Lewis A L Liquid sensor
JPH01163861U (fr) * 1988-05-09 1989-11-15
JPH0765948B2 (ja) * 1990-09-27 1995-07-19 タツタ電線株式会社 漏液センサ
JP2541466B2 (ja) * 1993-08-11 1996-10-09 日本電気株式会社 浸水センサ
JP3174679B2 (ja) * 1993-11-25 2001-06-11 応用地質株式会社 電気的漏水検出方法
US5560279A (en) * 1995-03-16 1996-10-01 W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Pre-failure sensing diaphragm
JP4020572B2 (ja) * 2000-06-20 2007-12-12 中外商工株式会社 ライニング被覆した貯液槽とその製造方法、並びにライニング層欠陥検出方法

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5476004A (en) * 1994-05-27 1995-12-19 Furon Company Leak-sensing apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO03046501A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003046501A1 (fr) 2003-06-05
AU2002343030A1 (en) 2003-06-10

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