Measuring and testing – With fluid pressure – Leakage
Patent
1998-04-15
1999-11-02
Larkin, Daniel S.
Measuring and testing
With fluid pressure
Leakage
73 1903, 73 6453, 62126, 62129, 324639, 324642, G01M 324, F25B 4900
Patent
active
059748630
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
It is common knowledge that large amounts of discharges having a high chloride content continuously are released to the atmosphere. These discharges will affect the ozone layer and cause a breakdown thereof resulting in so called ozone holes. In turn, this will lead to an increase of radiation and also of the global heating level (greenhouse effect). A large amount of such discharges emanates from chlorine or fluorine compounds that are commonly used in connection with cooling mediums. Leaky refrigerating, air condition and freezing plants, heat pumps, etc. will cause major discharges and, therefore, it is extremely important that incipient leaks from such devices are detected in good time to make it possible to accomplish sealing and eliminating discharges.
PRIOR ART
One previously known method to indicate leakage of cooling mediums is to install a cooling medium alarm, such as a gas alarm. However, a disadvantage using this method of generating an alarm is that it will indicate only at a direct contact with the flow of cooling medium vapour (gas). As a result, such means are normally installed in close connection to the refrigerating apparatus or alternatively in a refrigerating machine room. As a result of using a normal arrangement with different components comprised in the refrigerating system being located at a far distance from each other, said method is not satisfactory if the leak occurs, for instance, outside the refrigerating machine room or perhaps in a cooling battery in a cold storage that can be 30 or 40 meters away from the refrigerating machine room. There will also be no indication of leakage from condensers, tubes, etc. located outdoors.
Another method of indicating leakage of cooling mediums is to mount a detector indicating bubbles of gas within the fluid conduit. There is, however, a drawback using this kind of detector because it is partly mounted within the fluid conduit and therefore has to be sealed, for instance, by a pipe nipple. Because of such a pipe nipple, there is always a risk of a cooling medium leak. If there is a problem with the detector, the cooling medium has to be moved into a cooling medium container of the refrigerating machine so as to exchange or repair the detector. Refrigerating machines lacking such a container have to be evacuated before exchange or repair. To avoid possible risks of cooling medium systems it is recommended by the national environment protection board to move from bolted joints to soldered joints, where it is possible, to provide tight systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a device which prevents a leak of cooling medium to the atmosphere and which as a distinctive feature immediately when there is a leak of cooling medium in a cooling medium system will indicate and after a predetermined delay will start an alarm such that appropriate measures can be taken so as to quickly repair the leak and stop the discharge. The device according to the invention comprises a microwave detector which is mounted outside of a sight glass which either is mounted in or soldered to the fluid conduit and through which the cooling medium flows. Alternatively, the microwave detector and the sight glass are integrated and enclosed by a housing made of a material which does not transmit the microwaves. As a result, false alarms due to external movements, such as from rotating fans, etc., are prevented.
The device is intended to be positioned after the drying filter, with respect to the flow direction in the fluid conduit. Since the microwave detector is positioned outside of the sight glass in the cooling medium system and because of that never will come into contact with the cooling medium fluid in the closed cooling system no problems of leaking can arise. Another advantage of the microwave detector is that no interference of the cooling medium system will occur, should an exchange be required.
The invention can be used also more in general for other purposes. Instead of indicating an unwanted existence
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