Patent ID: 6552355
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
An optical leak detector for use in a pressurized cooling system, the pressurized cooling system including at least one coolant channel through which coolant flows, the detector comprising:a light source, the light source being operatively coupled to a first optical fiber the first optical fiber connecting the light source to a first probe the first probe being functionally effective to transmit light; a light detector, the light detector being coupled to a second optical fiber, the second optical fiber connecting the light detector to a second probe, the second probe being functionally effective to receive light from the light source; a conversion device, the conversion device being operatively coupled to the light detector, the conversion device generating an adjusted electronic signal in response to the light emitted by the light source and received by the light detector, wherein the adjusted electronic signal functionally varies with traversal of a bubble in the coolant across an optical path formed between the light source and the light detector; and a control system for receiving the adjusted electronic signal from the conversion device, the control system functionally responding to the adjusted electronic signal to provide an indication of at least one leak in the pressurized cooling system; wherein the pressure in the pressurized cooling system is between approximately 400 psi and approximately 1000 psi and wherein at least one of the probes is selected from the group consisting of a high-pressure probe, a high-temperature probe and a high-pressure high-temperature probe.