Abstract: An apparatus and a method for quantifying the leak flow rate of a fluid from a fluid leak site in a piping system. An ultrasonic sound detector is used to accumulate sound level data for known leak sites in known piping system elements through which a known fluid flows at known temperatures and pressures. The accumulated data provide a database to permit the determination of fluid leakage rates in actual piping systems by comparing test data obtained for the actual piping system with the data contained in the database. In one embodiment of the invention, the database includes data corresponding to standard curves representing the relationship between accumulated sound level data and accumulated leak flow rate data. Based upon the cost of the fluid, the annual costs for fluid lost as a result of leakage can be determined, as well as the annual volume of fluid lost.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for quantifying the leak flow rate of a fluid from a fluid leak site in a piping system. An ultrasonic sound detector is used to accumulate sound level data for known leak sites in known piping system elements through which a known fluid flows at known temperatures and pressures. The accumulated data provide a database to permit the determination of gas leakage rates in actual piping systems by comparing test data obtained for the actual piping system with the data contained in the database. Based upon the cost of the fluid, the annual costs for fluid lost as a result of leakage can be determined, as well as the annual volume of fluid lost.