Detecting a fluid leak in a vacuum chamber
AssigneeWaters Technologies Corporation
InventorsKurt D. Joudrey, Bennett Bowers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting a fluid leak in a vacuum chamber of a degasser is provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of the vacuum chamber with a temperature sensing device, wherein a temperature drop of the vacuum chamber indicates the fluid leak within the vacuum chamber. An associated degasser and further methods are also provided.
Claims20
A method for detecting a fluid leak in a vacuum chamber, the method comprising:
- measuring a temperature of the vacuum chamber with a temperature sensing device;
- wherein a temperature drop of the vacuum chamber indicates the fluid leak within the vacuum chamber.
A method for identifying a vacuum chamber having a leak out of a plurality of vacuum chambers of a degasser within a liquid chromatography system, each vacuum chamber being connected to a same vacuum source, comprising:
- measuring a temperature of a vacuum chamber wall of each vacuum chamber of the plurality of vacuum chambers using a plurality of temperature sensing devices;
- detecting a change in temperature in the vacuum chamber wall of a single vacuum chamber of the plurality of vacuum chambers;
- and
- identifying the single vacuum chamber with the temperature change in the vacuum chamber wall as the vacuum chamber having a leak.
A degasser of a liquid chromatography system, comprising:
- a vacuum chamber having an interior region, the interior region being under a vacuum;
- an inlet connected to the vacuum chamber, the inlet configured to receive a flow of a liquid phase solvent from a solvent reservoir of the liquid chromatography system;
- an outlet connected to the vacuum chamber, the outlet configured to output a degassed flow of liquid solvent;
- and
- a temperature sensing device for measuring a temperature of the vacuum chamber;
- wherein, when the temperature sensing device detects a drop in temperature of the vacuum chamber, the liquid phase solvent is leaking into the interior region of the vacuum chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.