Method of determining valve leakage based on upstream and downstream temperature measurements
US7031851B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/002
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for measuring leakage flow rate of a valve wherein fluid flows through the valve in a single-phase flow of a gas or steam. The underlying principle upon which the leakage flow rate may be determined is that the heat loss across a length of bare pipe located downstream of the valve causes a decrease in the temperature of the leakage flow. Also disclosed is a method for measuring the leakage flow rate when the fluid passing through the valve transitions from a liquid-phase flow into a two-phase flow of liquid and steam. In two-phase flow, the underlying principle upon which the leakage flow rate may be determined is that any leakage of the valve will cause an increase in the pressure on the downstream side of the valve because of frictional resistance to flow in the downstream piping which corresponds to an increase in temperature thereof.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.