Patent ID: 9038441
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A high speed leak detection system for hazardous environment location detection of He tracer gas leaks in vessels, comprising in operative combination: a. a mobile Class 1 Hazardous Location Enclosure in which all vias are sealed and all access panels and widows have seals to provide in operation a sealed mobile enclosure; b. a He tracer gas probe and having a negative pressure nozzle for sniffing He leaking from He tracer gas-pressurized vessels to provide probe samples; c. a conduit having a first end connected to an output of said probe unit for conveying said probe samples from sniffed vessels and having a second, distal conduit end connectable to an input manifold disposed in said sealed mobile enclosure; d. a pumping manifold system disposed in said enclosure having an inlet connected to said second, distal end of said conduit to receive said probe samples; e. a detector unit disposed in said enclosure including a He sensor which produces a He detection signal and converts said signal into quantitative leak rates; f. said manifold system including a pair of pumps oriented in parallel, in which a first pump is disposed downstream of said detector unit to draw a portion of said probe sample into contact with said He sensor, and a second pump providing a negative pressure rapid transfer boost of said probe sample from said probe unit nozzle to said manifold to reduce the transit time from the probe to the He sensor to permit near real time He leak detection; and g. said enclosure including an inlet for introduction into said enclosure interior of compressed filtered dry air, or inert gases which exclude He, to provide an internal overpressure in said enclosure to prevent infiltration of hazardous vapors from the location where the enclosure is operating and to permit operation of electrical components for operation of said pumps and He sensor system.