Methods of determining flow rates of gas leaks in a pressurized gas system
AssigneeDuke Energy Corporation
InventorsAdam Silva, Travis Bronson
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Abstract
A method of determining a flow rate of a gas leak in a pressurized gas system includes applying a liquid soap solution to a region of a component, and capturing, via a camera of a portable electronic device, a plurality of sequential images of bubbles formed in the region by an interaction between the liquid soap solution and a gas leak from the component. The plurality of images are analyzed by a first algorithm executed by a processor to determine a total area of the bubbles in the region produced by the leak. A flow rate of the gas leak is then determined via a second algorithm executed by the processor based on the total area of bubbles in the region, a size of the component, and a pressure of the gas.
Claims20
A method of determining a flow rate of a gas leak in a pressurized gas system, the method comprising:
- applying a liquid soap solution to a region of a component of the pressurized gas system;
- capturing, via a camera of a portable electronic device, a plurality of sequential images of bubbles formed in the region by an interaction between the liquid soap solution and a gas leak from the component;
- analyzing the plurality of images via a first algorithm executed by a processor to determine a total area of the bubbles in the region produced by the leak;
- and
- determining, via a second algorithm executed by the processor, a flow rate of the gas leak based on the total area of bubbles in the region, a size of the component, and a pressure of the gas.
A method of determining a flow rate of a gas leak in a pressurized gas system, the method comprising:
- applying a liquid soap solution to a region of a component of the pressurized gas system;
- capturing, via a camera of a portable electronic device, a plurality of sequential images of bubbles formed in the region by an interaction between the liquid soap solution and a gas leak from the component;
- entering a value for the pressure of the gas in the pressurized gas system into the portable electronic device;
- entering a size of the component into the portable electronic device;
- analyzing the plurality of images via a first algorithm executed by a processor to determine a total area of the bubbles in the region produced by the leak;
- and
- determining, via a second algorithm executed by the processor, a flow rate of the gas leak based on the total area of bubbles in the region, the size of the component, and the pressure of the gas.
A method of determining a flow rate of a gas leak in a pressurized gas system, the method comprising:
- applying a liquid soap solution to a region of a pipe of the pressurized gas system;
- capturing, via a camera of a portable electronic device, a plurality of sequential images of bubbles formed in the region by an interaction between the liquid soap solution and a gas leak from the component, wherein the plurality of images comprise a digital video having a duration of at least 10 seconds;
- entering a value for the pressure of the gas in the pressurized gas system into the portable electronic device;
- entering a size of the component into the portable electronic device;
- analyzing the plurality of images via a first algorithm executed by a processor to determine a total area of the bubbles in the region produced by the leak;
- and
- determining, via a second algorithm executed by the processor, a flow rate of the gas leak based on the total area of bubbles in the region, the size of the pipe, and the pressure of the gas in the pressurized gas system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.