Leakage detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025035503-A1
Application number	US-202418785251-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2024
Priority date	Jul 27, 2023
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

For leakage detection and evaluation to provide an improved assessment of a leakage, a leakage characterization arrangement includes a compound with at least two emission generating markers. The compound is applicable at an outside of an enclosure, encapsulating a fuel from the surroundings. The applied compound is configured to physically react and/or chemically react upon exposure to an activation energy resulting from leaking fuel from an inside of the enclosure. The physical reaction and/or the chemical reaction actively produce a detectable emission that indicates at least one measurable parameter of a leakage site based on the at least two emission generating markers.

First claim

1 . A leakage characterization arrangement comprising a compound with at least two emission generating markers;
wherein the compound is applicable at an outside of an enclosure, encapsulating a fuel from surroundings; wherein the applied compound is configured to physically react and/or chemically react upon exposure to an activation energy resulting from leaking fuel from an inside of the enclosure; and wherein the physical reaction and/or the chemical reaction actively produce a detectable emission that indicates at least one measurable parameter of a leakage site based on the at least two emission generating markers.

2 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable emission provides a characteristic emission pattern;
wherein the characteristic emission pattern comprises a unique emission spectrum of emission intensities at distinct photon wavelengths; and wherein the characteristic emission pattern is indicative for the at least one measurable parameter of the leakage site at the enclosure.

3 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two emission generating markers each comprise a different chemical composition; and
wherein the different chemical composition provides for a characteristic photon emission.

4 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two emission generating markers provides a contribution to the emission intensities of the characteristic emission pattern; and
wherein the contribution is indicative for the at least one measurable parameter being a location of the leakage site with respect to the enclosure.

5 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two emission generating markers are separated in the leakage characterization arrangement with respect to the enclosure and have a different distance to the activation energy of the leaking fuel.

6 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the compound further comprises at least one emission extender having luminescent properties; and
wherein the at least one emission extender is configured to prolong the detectable emission by its luminescence beyond a fading of the activation energy.

7 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two emission generating markers of the compound is encapsulated in at least one retardation layer; and
wherein the at least one retardation layer is configured to provide for an energy and/or time dependent detectable emission of the compound when in contact to the activation energy.

8 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one measurable parameter is selected from:
a size of the leakage site; and/or a geometry of the leakage site; and/or an amount of energy released at the leakage site; and/or a duration of the leakage at the leakage site; and/or a velocity of leaking fuel at the leakage site; and/or a flame or no flame at the leakage site; and/or a least one temperature of the leakage site; and/or a least one minimum temperature at the leakage site; and/or a least one temperature zone at the leakage site.

9 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the leaking fuel is hydrogen and the physical reaction and/or the chemical reaction of the compound are initiated by an activation energy of leaking hydrogen from the enclosure.

10 . The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the activation energy for the compound:
results from a thermal energy release of the leaking fuel; and/or is initially generated in the compound itself by contact between the compound and the leaking fuel.

11 . A detection system for leaking fuel, comprising:
at least one detector; and a leakage characterization arrangement according to claim 1 comprising a compound with at least two emission generating markers; wherein the at least one detector is located in a detection distance towards the compound; wherein the compound is configured to provide a specific emission pattern depending on a location of each of the at least two emission generating markers at an enclosure; and wherein the at least one detector is configured to generate a specific detection signal upon contact to the specific emission pattern in the detection distance.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , comprising at least one enclosure for storing the leaking fuel;
wherein the at least one enclosure provides each of the at least two emission generating markers at a different location.

13 . The system according to claim 11 , comprising:
a shutoff valve at a duct arrangement comprising at least one specific duct selected from the group consisting of a supply duct, a ventilation duct and an exhaust duct; and a processor; wherein the duct arrangement is configured to supply the at least one enclosure; wherein the processor is connected to the shutoff valve and to the at least one detector; wherein the at least one detector monitors the at least one enclosure; wherein the processor is configured to generate a specific shutoff signal upon receiving a predetermined detection signal from the at least one detector; and wherein the specific shutoff signal triggers a closure of the shutoff valve to stop the supply to the at least one enclosure.

14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one enclosure is configured as at least one of:
a fluid consuming load configured to provide electrical and/or mechanical energy from the hydrogen; a supply system configured to supply hydrogen; a storing unit configured to supply hydrogen via the supply system to a fluid consuming load and/or a functional unit; and/or a functional unit configured to be contactable by hydrogen.

15 . A method for detecting a leakage, the method comprising:
providing at least two emission generating markers at different locations outside an enclosure encapsulating a fuel from the surroundings; providing at least one detector in a detection distance to the enclosure; monitoring the enclosure with the at least one detector; physically reacting and/or chemically reacting of the compound upon exposure to an activation energy resulting from leaking fuel from an inside of the enclosure; wherein the physical reaction and/or the chemical reaction are actively producing a detectable emission; and detecting the emission that indicates at least one measurable parameter of the leakage site based on the at least two emission generating markers.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Wolff Christian
• Kurre Jens-Dietrich
• Kameni Monkam Linus
• Heere Michael

Classifications

• G01M3/20 Primary

  using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material · CPC title

• G01M3/042 Primary

  by using materials which expand, contract, disintegrate, or decompose in contact with a fluid (G01M3/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/047

  with photo-electrical detection means, e.g. using optical fibres · CPC title