Patent US4898021A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4898021A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quantitative air inleakage detection system and method for turbine-condenser systems
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1988-11-30
•
Granted: 1990-02-06
•
Expires: 2008-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved tracer gas leak detection system and method for air inleakage testing of a turbine-condenser system quantified leak testing with two new elements: one, by providing discharge of a fixed, reproducible amount of tracer gas at a possible leak site, which is accomplished by controlling the flow rate, pressure and time interval of the discharge. Secondly, the total amount of tracer gas subsequently detected within the turbine-condenser is determined by integrating the detector response.
Inventors
- 👤 Karen L. Weaver
- 👤 Michael Twerdochlib
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for determining size of air inleakage holes into a steam turbine system using a tracer gas detection system of the type including a source of tracer gas, at a regulated pressure, control means for discharging a preselected volume of tracer gas to a gas spray nozzle, pump means coupled to the turbine system for establishing an internal pressure less than ambient pressure and a gas detector for providing quantitative signals indicative of tracer gas in the turbine system, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a predetermined quantity of tracer gas to the spray nozzle; spraying the predetermined quantity of tracer gas at preslected inleakage sites about the turbine system; determining the peak amplitude and time duration of detection of tracer gas at a preselected gas monitoring zone from signals from the gas detector; integrating the gas detector signals to determine the quantity of tracer gas entering the turbine system through the inleakage site; comparing the peak amplitude of the gas detector signals to the time duration of the signals to determine the relative distance from the inleakage site to the gas monitoring zone; and establishing a relative size of the air inleakage holes from the determined quantity of tracer gas obtained from the step of integrating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for determining size of air inleakage holes into a steam turbine system using a tracer gas detection system of the type including a source of tracer gas, at a regulated pressure, control means for discharging a preselected volume of tracer gas to a gas spray nozzle, pump means coupled to the turbine system for establishing an internal pressure less than ambient pressure and a gas detector for providing quantitative signals indicative of tracer gas in the turbine system, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a predetermined quantity of tracer gas to the spray nozzle; spraying the predetermined quantity of tracer gas at preslected inleakage sites about the turbine system; determining the peak amplitude and time duration of detection of tracer gas at a preselected gas monitoring zone from signals from the gas detector; integrating the gas detector signals to determine the quantity of tracer gas entering the turbine system through the inleakage site; comparing the peak amplitude of the gas detector signals to the time duration of the signals to determine the relative distance from the inleakage site to the gas monitoring zone; and establishing a relative size of the air inleakage holes from the determined quantity of tracer gas obtained from the step of integrating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3087327A
Cited
US3186214A
Cited
US3522008A
Cited
US4232546A
Cited
US4404843A
Cited
US4690689A
Cited
US4688627A
Cited
US4776208A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-05 | 1993-08-07 | 1994-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-05 | 1997-08-07 | 1998-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-05 | 2001-08-07 | 2002-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |