Gas turbomachine leak detection system and method

A leak detection system for a fuel system of a turbomachine having at least one combustor including a combustion chamber, the leak detection system comprising:

• a fluid supply system fluidly connected to at least one fuel line of the turbomachine, the fluid supply system for delivering a non-flammable fluid to the combustor;
• a control system operably connected to the fluid supply system, the control system controlling a flow of the non-flammable fluid through the at least one fuel line, and controlling a pressure of the non-flammable fluid in the at least one fuel line to a pressure substantially equal to an operational fuel pressure of the turbomachine;
• and
• means for determining a presence of the non-flammable fluid on an exterior of the at least one fuel line, the presence of the non-flammable fluid on the exterior of the at least one fuel line indicating a leak.

A fuel line leak detection system for a gas turbomachine comprising:

• a non-flammable fluid source fluidly connected to at least one fuel line of the turbomachine upstream of at least one combustor of the turbomachine, the at least one fuel line delivering a non-flammable fluid to the at least one combustor;
• a multiport valve fluidly connected to the at least one fuel line between the non-flammable fluid source and the at least one combustor, the multiport valve directing the non-flammable fluid to individual ones of the at least one combustor;
• a pressure source fluidly connected to the at least one fuel line, the pressure source configured to pressurize the at least one fuel line immediately upstream of the combustor with the non-flammable fluid to a pressure substantially equal to an operational fuel pressure of the turbomachine;
• and
• means for determining a presence of the non-flammable fluid on an exterior of the at least one fuel line, the presence of the non-flammable fluid on the exterior of the at least one fuel line indicating a leak.