US 12,332,143 B2
Method for micro-leakage detection in a fluid system and micro-leakage detection apparatus
Libor Seda, Chocen (CZ); Jaroslav Svoma, Brno (CZ); and Vaclav Prajzner, Brno (CZ)
Assigned to Pittway Sarl, Rolle (CH)
Appl. No. 17/999,078
Filed by PITTWAY SARL, Rolle (CH)
PCT Filed May 5, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/061864
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 17, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/233683, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20175432 (EP), filed on May 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194379 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. G01M 3/26 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 3/26 (2013.01) 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for micro-leakage detection in a fluid system,
wherein the fluid system has a fluid pipe with a fluid valve,
wherein a fluid flow through the fluid pipe is stopped when the fluid valve is closed, and
wherein a fluid flow through the fluid pipe is allowed when the fluid valve is opened,
the method comprising:
measuring the fluid flow through the fluid pipe by a flow meter;
measuring a pipe temperature of the fluid pipe by at least one pipe temperature sensor;
calculating and storing a temporal gradient of the pipe temperature when there is no fluid flow measured by the flow meter after the fluid flow through the fluid pipe has been stopped;
if the calculated temporal gradient of the pipe temperature differs more than a first threshold from a first reference value and if there is no fluid flow measured by the flow meter, then detect micro-leakage;
wherein determining the first reference value comprises:
calculating an average value from the stored temporal gradients; and
 determining the first threshold from the average value.