Patent ID: 6109096
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: F22B,G01M

Abstract:
A method for detecting a leak in a boiler having an automatic liquid level control mechanism in which a temperature control liquid in a containment means is supplemented with feedwater and is removed as blowdown, main steam and sootblower steam comprising the steps of:a) measuring a rate associated with said feedwater supplementation to obtain data;b) measuring a rate associated with said blowdown, main steam, and sootblower steam removal to obtain data;c) determining the relationship between the water input rate and the water output rate from the data obtained in steps (a) and (b);d) determining the change of mass of said temperature control liquid present in said containment means from the data obtained in step (a);e) determining the unaccounted for water rate from the data obtained in steps (a) and (b), the determination of the relationship obtained in step (c) and the determination of change of mass in step (d);f) comparing said unaccounted for water rate with zero; andg) indicating a leak condition if said unaccounted for water rate is greater than zero.