Acoustic leak detection system

Claim 2

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system comprising: sensor means for generating a first continuum or analog electric signals in the amplitude vs. time domain responsive to acoustic emission from a boiler combustion space having fluid heating tubes secured therewithin; signal converting means for converting said first continuum analog signals at rapidly repeating time intervals to a first digital data set in the amplitude vs. time domain; data process means for processing said first digital data set from the amplitude vs. time domain to a second digital data set in the amplitude vs. frequency domain; data analysis means for integrating at least portion of said second digital data set with respect to frequency limits to obtain a first value representative of the acoustic energy emitted from said combustion space between said frequency limits; comparison means for comparing said first value to a set-point value; and annunciation means for communicating to a human operator a quality of said comparison.

Claim 3

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system as described by claim 1 wherein said data process means comprises a Fourier Transform algorithm for transforming said first data set to a digital amplitude vs. frequency data set.

Claim 4

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system as described by claim 2 wherein said data analysis means integrates said second data set between a plurality of finite frequency limits within said characteristic spectrum to derive a plurality of band values, said band values being summed to derive said first value.

Claim 5

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system as described by claim 3 wherein designated band values are selectively weighted to bias the total of said first value.

Claim 6

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system as described by claim 1 wherein said comparison means includes a plurality of set-point values.

Claim 7

A boiler fluid tube leak detection system as described by claim 5 wherein said plurality of set-point values comprise a lower threshold value, an upper threshold value and an alarm value.

Claim 8

A steam generation facility having: fluid heating tubes around or within a fuel combustion space; sensor means for generating a first continuum of analog electric signals in the amplitude vs. time domain responsive to acoustic emissions form said combustion space; signal converting means for converting said first continuum analog signals at rapidly repeating time intervals to a first digital data set in the amplitude vs. time domain; data process means for processing said first digital data set from the amplitude vs. time domain to a second digital data set in the amplitude vs. frequency domain; data analysis means for integrating at least a portion of said second digital data set with respect to frequency limits within the spectrum characteristic of fluid escaping from said fluid heating tubes to obtain a first value representative of the acoustic energy emitted from said combustion space between said frequency limits; comparison means for comparing said first value to a set-point value; and annunciation means for communicating to a human operator the event of a first-value exceeding said set-point value.

Claim 9

A steam generation facility having: fluid heating tubes around or within a fuel combustion space; sensor means for generating a first continuum of analog electric signals in the amplitude vs. time domain responsive to acoustic emissions form said combustion space; signal converting means for converting said first continuum analog signals at rapidly repeating time intervals to a first digital data set in the amplitude vs. time domain; data process means for processing said first digital data set from the amplitude vs. time domain to a second digital data set in the amplitude vs. frequency domain; data analysis means for integrating at least a portion of said second digital data set with respect to frequency limits within the spectrum characteristic of fluid escaping from said fluid heating tubes to obtain a first value representative of the acoustic energy emitted from said combustion space between said frequency limits; comparison means for comparing said first value to a set-point value; and annunciation means for communicating to a human operator the event of a first-value exceeding said set-point value.