Leak detection with thermal imaging
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorLuis F. Avila
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An infrared camera is used to detect leakages in a heat exchanger by an imaging process that indicates temperature differences between a heat exchanger and a pressurized gas therein. The temperature differences are created by cooling or heating either the pressurized gas or the heat exchanger, and any leakages are visually observable by the resultant image which is representative of the temperature differences. The process can be accomplished with the use of ambient air rather than the commonly used trace gases which are less desirable because of economical and environmental reasons.
Claims18
A method of leak testing a heat exchanger of the type designed for the flow of refrigerant vapor therethrough, comprising the steps of:
- pressurizing the heat exchanger with a vapor,
- effecting a transfer of heat so as to cause a temperature gradient between the heat exchanger and the pressurized vapor therein;
- viewing the heat exchanger with an infrared camera and generating signals representative of the temperatures of both the heat exchanger and any vapor that is leaking therefrom;
- and
- applying said representative signals to an imaging system to create images that indicate the presence or absence of any vapor leakages from the heat exchanger.
A system for leak testing a heat exchanger of the type intended for conducting the flow of refrigerant vapor therethrough, comprising:
- means for pressurizing the heat exchanger with a gas;
- means for effecting a temperature gradient between the heat exchanger and the pressurized gas therein;
- an infrared camera for viewing selected areas of the pressurized heat exchanger for the purpose of generating signals representative of the respective temperatures of the heat exchanger and any gas leaking therefrom;
- and
- an imaging system for receiving such generated signals and for responsively constructing an image representative of said respective temperatures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.