A system for detecting leaks from buried pipes which transport fluids other than water. The system includes a pipe for transporting the fluid, a fluid-wicking member which lies beneath the pipe, is wetted by the fluid when the fluid leaks from the pipe, and is permeable to water, and a fluid sensor which contacts the fluid-wicking member and is capable of detecting the fluid.
The present invention discloses water leakage detecting system for liquid pipe and method thereof. The present invention provides the present status for all liquid pipes by installing more than one liquid pipes, by laying under the ground, to which more than one conducting wires are inserted or fixed, transmitting pulse signal to each conducting wire using pulse transmitter, checking whether each liquid pipe is damaged or not and grasp the damaged points by inspecting the received signal.
A leak detection apparatus includes one or more detection devices that envelope the various pipe joints of a liquid circulation cooling system. In one approach, the detection devices include a pair of conductors separated by a wicking material impregnated with a crystalline salt that provides a low resistance electrical path between the conductors in the presence of a leak. In another approach, the detection devices include a pair of dissimilar metal mesh electrodes separated by an electrolyte-impregnated wicking material to form a water-activated battery that energizes an alarm in the presence of a leak. In either case, the electrodes and wicking material may be encased with a water-activated sealing material that hardens in the presence of a leak to contain the leakage.
One embodiment of a leak detection structure includes a sensor having a leak detection surface and a wicking structure positioned adjacent the leak detection surface, the wicking structure adapted for wicking a fluid onto the leak detection surface.
A cable suitable for detecting the presence of corrosive liquids is disclosed. In an embodiment the cable includes two sensing wires wrapped around a core member, at least one of the sensing wires being surrounded by a non-conductive surface layer. In an alternate embodiment the cable includes two sensing wires wrapped around a core member, the sensing wires and core member being encapsulated by a non-conductive surface layer. Preferably, the cable includes insulating wires for detecting the location of a leak. When a corrosive liquid contacts the sensing wires of the cable an electrical connection is created between them.
A method and apparatus for preventing leakage from a fitting coupling a first and second fluid supply line to an environment surrounding the fitting is generally provided. In one embodiment, a containment apparatus includes a body having a first, second and third aperture formed therethrough. The body defines interior volume that is adapted to substantially enclose the fitting. The interior volume is adapted to be maintained at a pressure less than the surrounding environment to prevent fluid that may leak from the fitting from being released into the surrounding environment. In another aspect of the invention, a method for preventing fluid leakage from a fitting coupling a first and second conduit from entering an environment surrounding the fitting includes enclosing the fitting in a volume defined between a first shell and a second shell, evacuating the volume, and drawing air into the volume from between the shells.
