Leak detection using structure-borne noise
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsStephen D. Holland, Dale E. Chimenti, Ronald A. Roberts
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Abstract
A method for detection and location of air leaks in a pressure vessel, such as a spacecraft, includes sensing structure-borne ultrasound waveforms associated with turbulence caused by a leak from a plurality of sensors and cross correlating the waveforms to determine existence and location of the leak. Different configurations of sensors and corresponding methods can be used. An apparatus for performing the methods is also provided.
Claims14
A method for detection of an air leak from a pressure vessel, comprising:
- sensing structure-borne ultrasound waveforms from a plurality of sensors;
- performing a cross correlation of the structure-borne ultrasound waveforms;
- determining from the cross correlation between the structure-borne ultrasound waveforms the location of the air leak from the pressure vessel.
An apparatus for detection of leaks from a pressure vessel, comprising:
- a plurality of acoustic sensor arrays adapted for sensing structure-borne ultrasound waveforms associated with turbulence caused by a leak in the pressure vessel;
- an intelligent control operatively connected to the plurality of acoustic sensor arrays, wherein the intelligent control being adapted for receiving a structure-borne leak noise waveform from each of the acoustic sensor arrays, cross correlating the structure-borne leak noise waveforms from the acoustic sensor arrays, and determining location of the air leak in the pressure vessel based on results of the step of cross correlating.
A method for location of an air leak from a pressure vessel comprising:
- receiving a structure-borne leak noise signal associated with the air leak from the pressure vessel at a plurality of sensor locations to provide a plurality of structure-borne leak noise waveforms;
- cross correlating the structure-borne leak noise waveforms;
- determining location of the air leak in the pressure vessel based on results of the step of cross correlating the structure-borne leak noise waveforms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.