CA2571930C - Collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks - Google Patents
Collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2571930C CA2571930C CA2571930A CA2571930A CA2571930C CA 2571930 C CA2571930 C CA 2571930C CA 2571930 A CA2571930 A CA 2571930A CA 2571930 A CA2571930 A CA 2571930A CA 2571930 C CA2571930 C CA 2571930C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- collecting line
- substance
- monitoring
- line
- collecting
- 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.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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
- G01M3/20—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material
- G01M3/22—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
Abstract
Disclosed is a collecting pipe (1) for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation. Said collecting pipe (1) is made of a material which is impermeable to the substance (L) that is to be monitored and is provided with a plurality of openings (2) which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction thereof and are closed by means of a filter element (4). Said filter element (4) is made of a sintered metallic material, is permeable to the substance (L), and has been subjected to a thermal treatment in an oxidizing environment.
Description
Description Collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks The invention relates to a collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation.
EP 0 175 219 B1 discloses a collecting line which comprises a pipe which is impermeable to a substance to be detected, and which is provided in its longitudinal direction with a multiplicity of openings that are closed with a microporous sintered metallic material.
A substance to be detected, in the example water or water vapor, escaping through these openings from a leak in part of the installation, for example the primary circuit of a pressurized water nuclear reactor, into the vicinity of the collecting line can diffuse into the interior of the pipe. The location at which the substance has penetrated into the collecting line is then determined by a method known from DE 24 31 907 C3. This location corresponds to the point at which the substance has escaped from the part of the installation that is being monitored. For this purpose, a pump connected to the collecting line is used to send the substance that has penetrated into the collecting line together with a carrier gas located in the collecting line to a sensor likewise connected to the collecting line. With a known flow rate, the location at which the substance penetrates into the collecting line, and consequently the location of the leak in the part of the installation, can be determined from the period of time between the switching-on of the pump and the arrival of the substance at the sensor.
Sintered metals of pure metals, in particular high-grade steel and nickel Ni, have been found to be particularly suitable sintered metallic materials for a large number of applications, nickel being suitable in the case of pore diameters in the range of a few um, in particular for the detection of water or water vapour. These sintered metals are produced by sintering at temperatures just below the melting temperture in a reducing atmosphere, in particular in the presence of hydrogen, in order to ensure a good metallurgical bond between the pressed particles.
The microporous sintered metallic material closing the openings thereby has to perform two conflicting tasks. On the one hand, it must have adequate porosity to permit rapid diffusion of the substance to be detected into the interior of the collecting line, that is to say permit a low response time. On the other hand, however, it must also have an adequately high flow resistance to ensure that the carrier gas located in the collecting line and serving for transporting the substance remains in the collecting line as far as possible during the pumping operation.
An embodiment of the invention is therefore based on the object of providing a collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation that permits the detection of a substance to be detected with great sensitivity and low response times.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation, the connecting line consists of a material that is impermeable to a substance to be monitored and is provided with a multiplicity of openings spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the collecting line, the multiplicity of openings are closed with a filter element of a sintered metallic material that is permeable to the substance and has been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Such a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, i.e. in the presence of oxygen, has surprisingly shown that, with an unchanged pore width, the rate of diffusion for the substance, in particular water vapor or water, increases significantly, so that leaks possibly occurring can be detected and located at an earlier time. The cause of this is very probably the increased formation of an oxide film on the pore surface of the particle matrix of the sintered metal.
This allows the water vapor diffusing in to be passed more quickly and in higher concentration into the interior of the tube than the thin oxide film of an untreated sintered metal.
A particularly efficient improvement of the permeability of the filter element by a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere is achieved if it consists of nickel Ni.
The heat treatment is preferably performed in an atmosphere containing oxygen, in a temperature range between 600 C and 800 C. This temperature range lies at least 400 C below the sintering temperature of the respective sintered metallic material.
In a preferred refinement of the invention, the heat treatment is carried out after the sintering.
In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the collecting line consists of steel and is electropolished on its inner surface. This measure is suitable for considerably reducing the adsorption of the transported substance at the oxide film of the inner surface of the collecting line, which in the unpolished state is very rough in the micro range and has a large surface area, by greatly reducing this surface area and thereby significantly improving the transporting properties of the substance that has diffused in. This makes it possible to accomplish longer line lengths with greater measuring sensitivity.
EP 0 175 219 B1 discloses a collecting line which comprises a pipe which is impermeable to a substance to be detected, and which is provided in its longitudinal direction with a multiplicity of openings that are closed with a microporous sintered metallic material.
A substance to be detected, in the example water or water vapor, escaping through these openings from a leak in part of the installation, for example the primary circuit of a pressurized water nuclear reactor, into the vicinity of the collecting line can diffuse into the interior of the pipe. The location at which the substance has penetrated into the collecting line is then determined by a method known from DE 24 31 907 C3. This location corresponds to the point at which the substance has escaped from the part of the installation that is being monitored. For this purpose, a pump connected to the collecting line is used to send the substance that has penetrated into the collecting line together with a carrier gas located in the collecting line to a sensor likewise connected to the collecting line. With a known flow rate, the location at which the substance penetrates into the collecting line, and consequently the location of the leak in the part of the installation, can be determined from the period of time between the switching-on of the pump and the arrival of the substance at the sensor.
Sintered metals of pure metals, in particular high-grade steel and nickel Ni, have been found to be particularly suitable sintered metallic materials for a large number of applications, nickel being suitable in the case of pore diameters in the range of a few um, in particular for the detection of water or water vapour. These sintered metals are produced by sintering at temperatures just below the melting temperture in a reducing atmosphere, in particular in the presence of hydrogen, in order to ensure a good metallurgical bond between the pressed particles.
The microporous sintered metallic material closing the openings thereby has to perform two conflicting tasks. On the one hand, it must have adequate porosity to permit rapid diffusion of the substance to be detected into the interior of the collecting line, that is to say permit a low response time. On the other hand, however, it must also have an adequately high flow resistance to ensure that the carrier gas located in the collecting line and serving for transporting the substance remains in the collecting line as far as possible during the pumping operation.
An embodiment of the invention is therefore based on the object of providing a collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation that permits the detection of a substance to be detected with great sensitivity and low response times.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation, the connecting line consists of a material that is impermeable to a substance to be monitored and is provided with a multiplicity of openings spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the collecting line, the multiplicity of openings are closed with a filter element of a sintered metallic material that is permeable to the substance and has been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Such a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere, i.e. in the presence of oxygen, has surprisingly shown that, with an unchanged pore width, the rate of diffusion for the substance, in particular water vapor or water, increases significantly, so that leaks possibly occurring can be detected and located at an earlier time. The cause of this is very probably the increased formation of an oxide film on the pore surface of the particle matrix of the sintered metal.
This allows the water vapor diffusing in to be passed more quickly and in higher concentration into the interior of the tube than the thin oxide film of an untreated sintered metal.
A particularly efficient improvement of the permeability of the filter element by a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere is achieved if it consists of nickel Ni.
The heat treatment is preferably performed in an atmosphere containing oxygen, in a temperature range between 600 C and 800 C. This temperature range lies at least 400 C below the sintering temperature of the respective sintered metallic material.
In a preferred refinement of the invention, the heat treatment is carried out after the sintering.
In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the collecting line consists of steel and is electropolished on its inner surface. This measure is suitable for considerably reducing the adsorption of the transported substance at the oxide film of the inner surface of the collecting line, which in the unpolished state is very rough in the micro range and has a large surface area, by greatly reducing this surface area and thereby significantly improving the transporting properties of the substance that has diffused in. This makes it possible to accomplish longer line lengths with greater measuring sensitivity.
As an alternative to this, the collecting line may also be coated with a material which has a low adsorption and absorption capacity for the substance to be detected, for example a high-grade metal, in particular gold. In principle, however, nonmetallic coatings, for example of a ceramic or other chemical nature, that durably withstand an operating temperature of about 3000C are also suitable. In these cases it is not necessary to use a collecting line made of steel.
For further explanation of the invention, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment of the drawing, in the single figure of which a collecting line according to the invention is represented in a schematic sectional diagram.
According to this figure, the collecting line 1 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 2, which are spaced apart in its longitudinal direction and are closed with a filter element 4 of a microporous sintered metallic material. The filter element 4 is permeable to a substance L that is to be monitored.
With the exception of the filter element 4, the collecting line 1 consists of a material that is impermeable to the substance L, in the exemplary embodiment of high-grade steel. Depending on the intended purpose, the collecting line 1 may be a flexible or rigid pipe of a circular cross section or other cross-sectional shape. The collecting line 1 may also be made up of a number of pipe sections, which are connected to one another by means of intermediate pieces in which the filter elements 4 are inserted.
The collecting line 1 is mechanically, chemically or electrochemically treated on its inner surface, in order to reduce its adsorption and absorption capacity for the substance L entering in the case of the leak.
As an alternative to this, the inner surface 6 may also -be provided with a layer of a high-grade metal, for example gold Au, a ceramic, mineral, in particular silicate-based, or other temperature-resistant material.
For further explanation of the invention, reference is made to the exemplary embodiment of the drawing, in the single figure of which a collecting line according to the invention is represented in a schematic sectional diagram.
According to this figure, the collecting line 1 is provided with a multiplicity of openings 2, which are spaced apart in its longitudinal direction and are closed with a filter element 4 of a microporous sintered metallic material. The filter element 4 is permeable to a substance L that is to be monitored.
With the exception of the filter element 4, the collecting line 1 consists of a material that is impermeable to the substance L, in the exemplary embodiment of high-grade steel. Depending on the intended purpose, the collecting line 1 may be a flexible or rigid pipe of a circular cross section or other cross-sectional shape. The collecting line 1 may also be made up of a number of pipe sections, which are connected to one another by means of intermediate pieces in which the filter elements 4 are inserted.
The collecting line 1 is mechanically, chemically or electrochemically treated on its inner surface, in order to reduce its adsorption and absorption capacity for the substance L entering in the case of the leak.
As an alternative to this, the inner surface 6 may also -be provided with a layer of a high-grade metal, for example gold Au, a ceramic, mineral, in particular silicate-based, or other temperature-resistant material.
Claims (6)
1. A collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks in an installation, the connecting line consists of a material that is impermeable to a substance to be monitored and is provided with a multiplicity of openings spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the collecting line, the multiplicity of openings are closed with a filter element of a sintered metallic material that is permeable to the substance and has been subjected to a heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere.
2. The collecting line as claimed in claim 1, wherein nickel Ni is provided as the sintered metal.
3. The collecting line as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heat treatment is preformed in an atmosphere containing oxygen, in a temperature range between 600°C and 800°C.
4. The collecting line as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat treatment has been carried out after the sintering.
5. The collecting line as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the collecting line consists of steel and the inner surface of the collecting line is electropolished.
6. The collecting line as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner surface of the collecting line is coated with a high-grade metal.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102005023255.8 | 2005-05-20 | ||
| DE102005023255A DE102005023255A1 (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2005-05-20 | Manifold for leakage monitoring and leak detection |
| PCT/EP2006/004405 WO2006122696A1 (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2006-05-11 | Collecting pipe for monitoring and locating leaks |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2571930A1 CA2571930A1 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
| CA2571930C true CA2571930C (en) | 2011-09-27 |
Family
ID=36763547
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2571930A Expired - Fee Related CA2571930C (en) | 2005-05-20 | 2006-05-11 | Collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US7270019B2 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1812777B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE465397T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2571930C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE102005023255A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2341483T3 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2339015C2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2006122696A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102007042160B3 (en) * | 2007-09-05 | 2008-10-23 | Areva Np Gmbh | Collecting pipe for monitoring and positioning leakage at attachment, has partial section arranged at distance from end, where permeability of partial section is larger that of another partial section |
| FR2935800B1 (en) * | 2008-09-09 | 2010-11-19 | R & I Alliance | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING LEAKS IN A UNDERGROUND LIQUID CONDUIT, IN PARTICULAR A WATER CONDUIT |
| DE102013221799B3 (en) | 2013-10-28 | 2015-02-05 | Areva Gmbh | Hose or pipe for transporting a gas sample |
| US9823184B1 (en) | 2016-05-13 | 2017-11-21 | General Electric Company | Distributed gas detection system and method |
| CN107727330B (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2020-04-28 | 郑州斯倍思机电有限公司 | Filter connecting pipe assembling air tightness test bench and use method thereof |
| WO2019213080A1 (en) * | 2018-05-01 | 2019-11-07 | Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, Llc | Gas sensor system |
Family Cites Families (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2431907C3 (en) | 1974-07-03 | 1978-03-09 | Wolfgang Dipl.-Phys. Dr.- Ing. 7500 Karlsruhe Issel | Method and device for determining concentration profiles of liquid or gaseous substances along a route |
| US4169059A (en) * | 1977-01-10 | 1979-09-25 | Brunswick Corporation | Autogenously bonded filter assemblies |
| DE3434323C2 (en) * | 1984-09-19 | 1986-11-13 | Wolfgang Dipl.-Phys. Dr.-Ing. 7500 Karlsruhe Issel | Hollow conduit for use in determining the concentration profiles of liquid or gaseous substances |
| EP0175219B1 (en) | 1984-09-19 | 1988-05-11 | Wolfgang Dr.-Ing. Issel | Hollow line for determining the concentration profiles of liquid or gaseous substances |
| CA1269404A (en) * | 1987-11-03 | 1990-05-22 | Mukesh K. Jain | Porous membrane of sinterable refractory metal oxides or silica |
| JP2553372B2 (en) * | 1988-01-14 | 1996-11-13 | 東芝セラミックス株式会社 | Method for manufacturing SiC filter |
| DE4125739A1 (en) * | 1991-08-02 | 1993-02-04 | Siemens Ag | Specimen extractor with several measurement points, e.g. for air in chemical plant - has extraction line with pumped transport medium, controlled inlet valves at each ,measurement point, and specific material sensor |
| US5637809A (en) * | 1991-11-12 | 1997-06-10 | United Sciences, Inc. | Vacuum extraction sampling system |
| US5347223A (en) * | 1993-01-22 | 1994-09-13 | J And N Associates, Inc. | Gas leak detector sensing tip with interior concentric bores and corona current generation |
| US5507192A (en) * | 1994-09-13 | 1996-04-16 | Beaudin; Allen B. | Automated gas measurement system |
| DE19721081C1 (en) | 1997-05-20 | 1998-07-23 | Siemens Ag | Sensor line useful for leakage detection or location in e.g. pipe |
| US6096212A (en) * | 1997-06-10 | 2000-08-01 | Usf Filtration And Separations Group, Inc. | Fluid filter and method of making |
| US5951791A (en) * | 1997-12-01 | 1999-09-14 | Inco Limited | Method of preparing porous nickel-aluminum structures |
| US6180909B1 (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 2001-01-30 | Usf Filtration And Separations Group, Inc. | Apparatus and method for sealing fluid filter by infrared heating |
| US6291806B1 (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 2001-09-18 | Usf Filtration And Separations Group, Inc. | Process for bonding workpieces |
| US6810714B2 (en) * | 2002-09-17 | 2004-11-02 | Neutronics Inc. | Device for refrigerant leak sealant additive detection |
| US7216556B2 (en) * | 2004-09-23 | 2007-05-15 | Aircuity, Inc. | Tubing for transporting air samples in an air monitoring system |
-
2005
- 2005-05-20 DE DE102005023255A patent/DE102005023255A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2006
- 2006-05-11 ES ES06761912T patent/ES2341483T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-11 CA CA2571930A patent/CA2571930C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2006-05-11 WO PCT/EP2006/004405 patent/WO2006122696A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-05-11 AT AT06761912T patent/ATE465397T1/en active
- 2006-05-11 EP EP06761912A patent/EP1812777B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2006-05-11 DE DE502006006781T patent/DE502006006781D1/en active Active
- 2006-05-11 RU RU2006145278/28A patent/RU2339015C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2007
- 2007-02-02 US US11/701,717 patent/US7270019B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US7270019B2 (en) | 2007-09-18 |
| DE102005023255A1 (en) | 2006-11-30 |
| ATE465397T1 (en) | 2010-05-15 |
| RU2006145278A (en) | 2008-06-27 |
| CA2571930A1 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
| DE502006006781D1 (en) | 2010-06-02 |
| ES2341483T3 (en) | 2010-06-21 |
| EP1812777B1 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
| WO2006122696A1 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
| EP1812777A1 (en) | 2007-08-01 |
| US20070157744A1 (en) | 2007-07-12 |
| RU2339015C2 (en) | 2008-11-20 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2571930C (en) | Collecting line for monitoring and locating leaks | |
| US5660795A (en) | Cartridge for collection of a sample by adsorption onto a solid surface | |
| US7600439B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for storage of atmospheric sample for eventual chemical analysis | |
| JP6180797B2 (en) | System and method for measuring hydrogen content in a sample | |
| JP4787344B2 (en) | Humidity control system for detection cell of specimen transmission inspection device | |
| CN106501125B (en) | Gas adsorption and desorption testing device and testing method | |
| EP0654319B1 (en) | Process for assembling piping or components by TIG welding | |
| US8671735B2 (en) | Device for collecting gases in molten metal and measurement method | |
| US3718434A (en) | Apparatus and method for detecting gaseous contaminants | |
| WO2018155678A1 (en) | Device for evaluating gas barrier properties and method for evaluating gas barrier properties | |
| Borgschulte et al. | Combinatorial method for the development of a catalyst promoting hydrogen uptake | |
| US9103742B2 (en) | Sensor line for monitoring for and locating leaks and method for its production | |
| CN114624319A (en) | Method for quantitatively obtaining ppm-level hydrogen isotope content in material based on thermal analysis-quadrupole mass spectrometry measurement principle | |
| Park | Measuring oxygen diffusivity and solubility in solid silver with a gas-tight electrochemical cell | |
| WO2015083794A1 (en) | Gas chromatograph | |
| JP3210660U (en) | Reaction device for chemiluminescence detector and chemiluminescence detector provided with the same | |
| CN112505286B (en) | Detection device and method for zinc-induced liquid metal crack formation condition | |
| KR101249084B1 (en) | Device for measuring the gas content in a molten metal | |
| US20180073956A1 (en) | System and method for monitoring hydrogen flux | |
| DE102021134647A1 (en) | Vacuum leak detector with spray-on membrane test leak and method | |
| EP4137770A1 (en) | Retort for improved thermal processing of sinterable objects | |
| KR101293482B1 (en) | Apparatus for hydrogen isotopes permeation | |
| JP4954240B2 (en) | Coulometric sample detection apparatus having a sensor for consuming a sample in a closed cell | |
| Sankaran et al. | Surface effects on hydrogen permeation through Ti-14Al-21Nb alloy | |
| JPS6238344A (en) | Impurity sensor |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20200831 |