JP6470082B2 - Gas leak inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas leak inspection apparatus that performs a gas leak inspection of a test object having a hollow portion, such as a heat exchanger or a hot water storage tank.

  For example, a heat source device such as a water heater is provided with a heat exchanger for heating water to be passed, and a heat application device includes solar heat collected by waste heat from a power generator or a heat collector. Some have hot water storage tanks (hot water storage tanks) for storing the heat of light and the like. The heat exchanger and hot water storage tank of such a heat source device are formed with a hollow portion through which water is passed and stored. If a through-hole leading to the outside is formed in the peripheral wall or the like of the hollow portion, water leakage occurs through the through-hole, causing problems such as failure of the heat source device. It is necessary to check whether or not the through-hole is formed by inspecting whether or not the above-described through-hole is present in the vessel or hot water storage tank.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to actually inspect the heat exchanger and hot water tank for water and to check whether there is a through-hole that causes water leakage, but it takes time to introduce and discharge water. In addition, there is a problem that water such as tap water contains calcium and the like, and accurate inspection cannot be performed due to impurities. Therefore, a gas leak inspection is performed in which a pressurized gas is introduced into an object to be inspected having a hollow portion such as a heat exchanger, and the presence or absence of a through hole is detected based on whether the pressurized gas leaks. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Below, an example of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus for performing such a gas leak test | inspection and the gas leak test | inspection method using the gas leak test | inspection apparatus is described. As shown in FIG. 9, the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 includes a pressurized gas introduction port 2 and a pressurized gas introduction passage 3 introduced from the pressurized gas introduction port 2. The pressurized gas introduction passage 3 includes a branching portion 4 for branching the pressurized gas, and an inspection subject side introduction passage 6 for guiding the pressurized gas branched by the branching portion 4 to the inspection subject 5 side. And a reference body side introduction passage 8 for guiding the pressurized gas branched by the branch portion 3 to the reference body 7 side.

  The inspected object 5 is an inspected object (work) for inspecting a gas leak having a hollow portion. For example, there are various objects such as a heat exchanger and a hot water storage tank, which are normally replaced for each inspection. It is. The reference body 7 is a reference body (master) that serves as a reference for the gas leakage inspection of the object 5 to be inspected, and may be in an attached state or may be replaced depending on conditions. The number of replacements of the reference body 7 is smaller than the number of replacements of the inspection object 5. For example, when many inspection objects 5 of the same type (the same shape, size, material, etc.) are inspected, the same reference body 7 is often used without being replaced.

  In addition, although the reference | standard body 7 and the to-be-inspected object 5 are not contained in the component of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus 1, in the structure explanatory drawing of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus 1 including FIG. The figure of the state which attached the body 7 and the to-be-inspected body 5 is typically shown. In addition, the gas leak inspection using the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 is performed based on the differential pressure between the reference body 7 and the object 5 to be inspected. Water leakage and gas using conversion according to Hagen-Poiseuille's law Considering the correlation with leakage, for example, if the differential pressure between the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side when passing a pressurized gas of 300 kPa is less than 12 Pa, the inspected object 5 corresponds to water leakage It is determined that there is no gas leakage (no worry of water leakage). In addition, the differential pressure value used for this gas leak judgment is a value that varies depending on the volume of the object to be inspected 5 and the leak standard.

  In FIG. 9, a gas is introduced into the passage on the near side (upstream side of the pressurized gas flow) of the branch portion 4 in the pressurized gas introduction passage 3, the reference body side introduction passage 8, and the inspection object side introduction passage 6. Introduction control valves 9, 10, and 11 are provided, and a bypass passage 17 that bypasses the reference body side introduction passage 8 and the inspection object side introduction passage 6 at a position downstream of the gas introduction control valves 10 and 11 is provided. ing. The bypass passage 17 is provided with a differential pressure detection unit 12 that detects a differential pressure between the gas pressure in the device under test 5 and the gas pressure in the reference body 7. The differential pressure detection unit 12 is formed with a pressure gauge that is measured by a pressure sensitive element via a diaphragm or the like and converted into an electric signal, for example. In FIG. 9, the differential pressure detection unit 12 having the diaphragm 20 is schematically illustrated. Has been shown.

  Further, a gas discharge passage 18 for discharging pressurized gas from the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side is provided, and a gas discharge control valve 19 is provided in the gas discharge passage 18. The configurations of the gas discharge control valve 19 and the gas introduction control valves 9, 10, and 11 are not particularly limited. For example, an air operated valve that opens and closes the valve by air pressure can be applied.

  When performing a gas leak inspection of the object 5 to be inspected using such a gas leak inspection apparatus, first, as shown in FIG. 9A, for example, the gas discharge control valve 19 is closed and the gas introduction control valve 9 is closed. , 10 and 11 are opened, and the operation of the pressurized gas introduction process (pressurization process) is performed in which the pressurized gas is introduced from the pressurized gas introduction port 2 into both the inspection object 5 and the reference body 7. After this pressurized gas introduction process, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the gas introduction control valves 9, 10, 11 are closed, and the device under test 5 and the reference body 7 are shut off from the pressurized gas introduction side. The operation | movement of the equilibrium process which balances the pressure of the gas in to-be-inspected body 5 and the pressure of the gas in the reference | standard body 7 is performed.

  Then, after this equilibration step, as shown in FIG. 9C, the differential pressure detection unit 12 detects the differential pressure between the gas pressure in the object 5 and the gas pressure in the reference body 7. The operation of the pressure detection process (detection process) is performed. FIG. 9C schematically shows a state in which gas leaks from the inspected object 5 side when the differential pressure detection unit 12 having the diaphragm 20 is applied. For example, FIG. For example, when gas leaks from the inspected object 5 side, the differential pressure detector 12 detects the differential pressure between the gas pressure in the inspected object 5 and the gas pressure in the reference body 7, and this detected value Based on the above, a gas leak on the inspected object 5 side is detected by a gas leak detector not shown.

  Various methods are also applied to the detection (judgment) of gas leakage based on the detection value (detection differential pressure) by the differential pressure detection unit 12, but for example, a threshold (for example, gas pressure) to which the detection differential pressure is given in advance. In the case of 12 Pa) or more at 300 kPa, it can be determined that gas leakage has occurred. After the operation of the differential pressure detection process by the differential pressure detector 12, the gas introduction control valves 10 and 11 and the gas discharge control valve 19 are opened and inspected through the gas discharge passage 18 as shown in FIG. An operation of a gas discharge process (discharge process) for discharging gas from the body 5 and the reference body 7 is performed.

JP 2004-6201 A

  By the way, as is well known, when the pressure is applied to the gas and the gas is compressed, the temperature of the gas rises. In the gas leak detection apparatus as shown in FIG. Heat tends to accumulate at the ends of the object to be inspected 5 and the reference body 7, near the diaphragm 20 of the differential pressure detector 12, and near the gas discharge control valve 19 on the output side of the gas discharge passage 18.

  In the gas leak inspection, as described above, the inspection object 5 is replaced every inspection, but the reference body 7 is not frequently replaced like the inspection object 5, so the gas leakage inspection is performed. When it is repeated, heat tends to accumulate particularly in the reference body 7. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a method (masterless measurement) is proposed in which the reference body 7 is formed to be very small compared to the inspected object 5 side (for example, as a very small container) to perform a gas leak inspection. ing.

  However, when the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 9 is used to perform the gas leakage inspection, the gas introduction control is performed when the gas introduction control valves 10 and 11 are closed in the equilibrium step shown in FIG. Due to subtle shifts in the closing timing of the valves 10 and 11 and pressure fluctuations at the time of closing, a differential pressure is generated between the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side during the equilibration process. Although the differential pressure detection in the differential pressure detection process after the process is affected, the masterless measurement with a very small volume on the reference body 7 side is particularly susceptible to the influence, and thus the following problems occur. It was.

  In other words, the differential pressure sensor forming the differential pressure detector 12 generally has the best measurement accuracy near the zero differential pressure. If the differential pressure between the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side is large, Due to the problem that the differential pressure cannot be detected due to the overrange of the differential pressure sensor, in the masterless measurement where the influence of the differential pressure is large between the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side, There arises a problem that a highly accurate gas leak test cannot be performed with good reproducibility.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to prevent the influence of heat associated with gas compression and the like, and to perform a gas leak inspection of an object to be inspected accurately. To provide an apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the problems. That is, the first invention is a gas leakage inspection apparatus for performing a gas leakage inspection of an object to be inspected having a hollow portion, and a pressurized gas introduced from the pressurized gas inlet and the pressurized gas inlet. A branch part for branching the gas, a test object side introduction passage for guiding the pressurized gas branched by the branch part to the test object side arranged for inspection, and the pressurized gas branched by the branch part A reference body side introduction passage that leads to a reference body side that serves as a reference for gas leakage inspection of the object to be inspected, and a gas introduction control valve is provided in each of the reference body side introduction passage and the inspection object side introduction passage. A bypass passage that bypasses the reference body side introduction passage and the inspection object side introduction passage at a position downstream of the gas introduction control valve from the gas introduction control valve is provided, and the bypass passage includes a gas pressure in the body to be inspected. Gas in the reference body Differential pressure detecting unit is provided for detecting the differential pressure between the pressure outlet of the pressurized gas of the reference-side discharge passage for discharging the pressurized gas from the reference side of the inspection side introduction passage via a passage communicating the control valve Is connected to a position downstream of the gas passage from the gas introduction control valve on the inspection object side introduction passage side , connected to a downstream position of the gas passage from the bypass passage connection position, and is connected to the inspection object side . Is connected to an inspection object side discharge passage for discharging the pressurized gas from the inspection object side to the outside, and is provided with means for discharging the pressurized gas to the outside through the inspection object side discharge passage. After the pressurized gas is introduced into both the reference body and the reference body side introduction passage, the gas introduction control valve and the passage communication control valve of the inspection body side introduction passage are closed, and the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detection unit. Detect the difference On the basis of the with a structure having a gas leak detector for detecting a gas leakage from the test subject is a means for solving the problems.

  In addition to the configuration of the first invention, the second invention is a valve control in which the passage communication control valve is closed when a differential pressure is detected by a differential pressure detection unit and is opened except when the differential pressure is detected. It has the means.

  Further, in the third invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second invention, the passage communication control valve is formed by a valve which has a slow opening / closing operation and hardly or hardly causes a pressure fluctuation during the opening / closing operation. It is characterized by being. Note that, for example, a ball valve, a motor slide valve, or the like is applied as a valve in which such an opening / closing operation is slow and pressure fluctuation does not occur or hardly occurs during the opening / closing operation.

  Furthermore, in the fourth invention, in addition to the configuration of the first, second, or third invention, the volume of the reference body is formed smaller than the volume of the object to be inspected, and the gas leak detection unit is formed of the reference body. A value obtained by subtracting the differential pressure between the pressure of the gas in the subject to be inspected and the pressure of the gas in the reference body, which is generated according to the difference between the volume and the volume of the subject, from the differential pressure value detected by the differential pressure detection unit Based on the above, gas leakage from the object to be inspected is detected.

  Furthermore, the fifth aspect of the invention includes, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fourth aspects, a passage from the downstream side of the bypass passage connection position of the reference body side introduction passage to the passage communication control valve or a part thereof. Is characterized by functioning as a reference body.

  According to the present invention, the pressurized gas introduced from the inlet of the pressurized gas is branched at the branching portion, and the reference that serves as a reference for the gas leakage inspection of the inspection object side disposed for inspection and the inspection object The outlet side of the pressurized gas in the reference body side discharge passage that discharges the pressurized gas from the reference body side is connected to the pressurized gas introduction passage to the object to be inspected via the passage communication control valve. ing. Therefore, by opening the passage communication control valve, even if pressurized gas is introduced into the reference body, the heat does not accumulate on the outlet side of the reference body, and the heat is discharged (released) to the inspection object side. Since the thermal distortion on the reference body side can be eliminated, the temperature on the reference body side and the inspected object side can be stabilized at the same or substantially the same temperature.

  Note that the pressurized gas introduced to the reference body side is discharged through the inspected object side. However, since the inspected object is replaced, for example, at each inspection, a large amount of heat does not accumulate on the inspected object side.

  Further, in the gas leak inspection, normally, after introducing pressurized gas into both the object to be inspected and the reference body, the object to be inspected and the reference body are shut off from the introduction side of the pressurized gas, After the equilibrium process of balancing the pressure and the pressure of the gas in the reference body, the differential pressure between the reference body and the test object is detected, but the test object and the reference body are blocked from the pressurized gas introduction side. In doing so, the valve provided between the object to be inspected and the pressurized gas introduction side and the valve provided between the reference body and the pressurized gas introduction side are closed, It is impossible to make zero (0) any deviation in timing for closing each valve (gas introduction control valve) or pressure fluctuation generated when the valve is closed.

In contrast, in the present invention, the differential pressure between the pressure of the gas in the body to be inspected and the pressure of the gas in the body of the reference body is provided in a bypass passage that bypasses the introduction passages for introducing the pressurized gas to the reference body side and the inspected body side. A differential pressure detection unit is provided for detecting the outlet side of the pressurized gas in the reference body side discharge passage through the passage communication control valve at a position downstream of the gas introduction control valve in the inspection subject side introduction passage. Connected to the pressurized gas introduction passage to the body side, provided between the valve to be inspected and the pressurized gas introduction side, and between the reference body and the pressurized gas introduction side If the passage communication control valve is opened even if the timing of closing the valve is closed or the pressure fluctuates, the differential pressure between the reference body side and the object to be inspected is made zero or close to zero in the subsequent equilibrium process. Can do.

  Therefore, by opening the passage communication control valve until the differential pressure is detected, both ends of the differential pressure detector can be made the same pressure, and the differential pressure can be set to 0 (or almost 0). In the state, by closing the passage communication control valve, the reference body side and the inspected object side are disconnected (as disconnected), and by performing the differential pressure measurement (differential pressure detection) between the reference body and the inspected object, The differential pressure between the reference body side and the inspection object side can be accurately detected. And a gas leak test | inspection can be accurately performed by performing the gas leak test | inspection of a to-be-inspected object based on this differential pressure detection.

  That is, the present invention can detect the differential pressure after setting the differential pressure between the reference body and the object to be inspected to 0 or almost 0 before detecting the differential pressure, and can prevent heat from being accumulated on the reference body side. The differential pressure between the reference body side and the inspected object side can be accurately detected, and the gas leak inspection can be accurately performed. The opening / closing control of the passage communication control valve can be performed, for example, by providing a valve control means. By this valve control means, the passage communication control is performed when the differential pressure detection unit detects the differential pressure between the reference body side and the inspection object side. By closing the valve and opening it except when a differential pressure is detected, the above-described effects can be obtained.

  Further, in the present invention, the passage communication control valve is formed by a valve that has a slow opening / closing operation, and pressure fluctuation does not occur or hardly occurs during the opening / closing operation, thereby closing the passage communication control valve so that the reference body side and the inspected object side are The operation of disconnecting can be performed gently, and the effect of pressure fluctuation when closing or opening the passage communication control valve can be reduced. Therefore, when the differential pressure is detected, the passage communication control valve is closed to separate the reference body side and the inspected object side. The pressure fluctuation during the separation operation can be reduced to almost zero (adverse effects that are a concern when pressure fluctuations occur) can be avoided, and the differential pressure can be very accurately determined. Measurement can be performed.

  Further, by forming the volume of the reference body smaller than the volume of the object to be inspected, gas can be discharged in a short time even when the pressurized gas introduced into the reference body is discharged through the object to be inspected. The thermal effect due to the introduction and discharge of gas can be reduced. The gas leak detection unit detects a differential pressure difference between the gas pressure in the test object and the gas pressure in the reference object generated according to the difference between the reference body volume and the test object volume by the differential pressure detection unit. By detecting a gas leak from the object to be inspected based on a value subtracted from the differential pressure value, an accurate differential pressure can be detected, and a gas leak inspection of the object to be inspected can be performed accurately.

  Furthermore, instead of providing a reference body, the reference body side introduction passage and the reference body side discharge passage are communicated so that the communication passage functions as a reference body. Since it is not necessary to provide a container or the like as a body, the configuration can be simplified.

It is typical explanatory drawing which shows the principal part structure of one Example of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part control structure of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the warming-up operation example of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example. It is a flowchart which shows the electric ball valve opening / closing operation example before and behind the differential pressure detection operation of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example. It is a time chart for demonstrating the valve opening / closing operation | movement accompanying operation | movement of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example. It is a graph for demonstrating the example of a differential pressure fluctuation at the time of the differential pressure detection operation | movement of the gas leak test | inspection apparatus of an Example, and its back and front. It is typical explanatory drawing which shows the principal part structure of the modification of an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically each process example of gas leak test | inspection operation | movement. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a state at the time of gas pressurization for demonstrating the problem in the conventional gas leak test | inspection apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same name portions as those in the examples described so far, and the duplicate description is omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a main part configuration of an embodiment of the gas leakage inspection apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a main part control configuration in a block diagram. The gas leakage inspection apparatus of the present embodiment is a gas leakage inspection apparatus that performs a gas leakage inspection of an object to be inspected having a hollow portion, as in the conventional example, and its basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. It has many components. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the components shown in FIG. 9 is omitted or simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a test pressure setting capable of varying the gas pressure between the air introduction section 2 and the air introduction control valve 9 in the air introduction passage 3. Means 13 and an introduction path switching valve 14 (PPV) are provided. The test pressure setting means 13 is a means for setting (variably setting) the pressure of the gas introduced into the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side at the time of gas leakage inspection to be a predetermined test pressure. Further, a bypass passage 33 that bypasses the introduction path switching valve 14 is formed, and the bypass passage 33 is provided with a low pressure governor (pressure regulator) 35 (PPR; preprocess operation regulator) and a check valve 30. .

A branch passage 15 is connected to the front side of the branch portion 4 of the air introduction passage 3, and a gas discharge control valve 16 (AV 2) is provided in the branch passage 15. In addition, the inspection object side introduction passage 6 and the reference body side introduction passage 8 and the reference body side introduction passage 8 downstream of the branching portion 4 are respectively introduced into the inspection object side introduction passage 6 and the reference body side introduction passage at positions downstream of the gas introduction control valves 10 and 11. the bypass passage 17 is provided to bypass the passage 8, each of the inspection side inlet passage 6 and the reference side introducing passage 8, manual on-off valves 36 and 37 on the downstream side of the connecting portion between the bypass passage 17 is provided It has been. These manual on-off valves 36 and 37 are open at the time of inspection.

In the present embodiment, the reference body 7 to be arranged is not particularly limited, but a small container in which the volume of the reference body 7 is much smaller than the volume of the object to be inspected 5 is applied. It is preferable to do. A reference body side discharge passage 18a for discharging pressurized gas from the reference body 7 side is connected to the reference body 7, and the outlet 34 side of the pressurized gas in the reference body side discharge passage 18a is covered via a passage communication control valve 32. Although connected to the downstream side position of the gas passage from the gas introduction control valve 11 of the inspection object side introduction passage 6 , here it is connected to the downstream side position of the gas passage rather than the connection position to the bypass passage 17 (in this embodiment). Has been.

  The passage communication control valve 32 is formed by an electric ball valve (BV), and the electric ball valve is a valve that slowly opens and closes and hardly or hardly undergoes pressure fluctuations during the opening and closing operation. The passage communication control valve 32 is closed when a differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detector 12 and is opened when the differential pressure is not detected by a valve control means (see reference numeral 29 in FIG. 2) for controlling the passage communication control valve 32. It is in the state.

  An inspection object side discharge passage 18b for discharging pressurized gas from the inspection object 5 side is connected to the inspection object 5 and a gas discharge control valve (EXHV) 19 is provided in the inspection object side discharge passage 18b. .

  In this embodiment, when the pressurized gas is discharged from the reference body 7 side, the pressurized gas is introduced from the outlet side (lower side in the figure) of the reference body 7 into the inspection object 5 through the reference body side discharge passage 18a. Then, it is discharged through the inspection object 5 and the inspection object side discharge passage 18b. When the reference body 7 is formed of a small container, the gas can be discharged from the reference body 7 through the inspected object 5 side in a short time. It should be noted that when the inspection object 5 is replaced, when the gas introduction side to the inspection object 5 is released to the atmosphere, the pressurized gas can be discharged therefrom.

  In this embodiment, the gas introduction control valves 9 (AV1), 10 (AV3), 11 (AV4), the introduction path switching valve 14, and the gas discharge control valves 16, 19 are all formed by springback type air operated valves. ing. Each valve can be formed by an air operated valve that is not a springback type, or it can be formed by a valve other than an air operated valve. However, if an electromagnetic valve is used, heat is generated during opening and closing. Is preferably formed.

  The air introduction control valve 9 is normally closed, and the other valves 10, 11, 14, 16, 19 are normally open valves. The valve body operating directions other than the air introduction control valves 10, 11 are the same as the flow of gas. Are formed in the opposite direction. The reference body 7 and the inspected object 5 are sandwiched between air operated valves whose valve bodies are operated in directions directed toward the reference body 7 side and the inspected object 5 side. Even if pressure is applied to each valve from the gas side, the gas is not leaked.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a control configuration including a control device 21 and is signal-connected to a start A switch 22 and a start B switch 23. The control device 21 includes a warm-up operation execution means 24, a gas leak inspection execution means 25, a gas leak detection unit 26, a pressure adjustment means 27, a preprocess operation execution means 28, and a valve control means 29, and the differential pressure detection. The unit 12, the test pressure setting means 13, the introduction path switching valve 14, the passage communication control valve 32, and the valves 9, 10, 11, 16, 19 are also signal-connected.

  The valves 9, 10, 11, 16, and 19 shown in FIG. 2 indicate the gas introduction control valves 9, 10, 11 and the gas discharge control valves 16, 19, respectively. In FIG. These valves are shown together for the sake of simplicity.

  1 and the conventional example shown in FIG. 9 are different from each other in the system configuration. In this example, the gas leakage inspection operation is performed as shown in FIGS. b), (c), and (d) in the order shown in FIG. 9, almost the same operation as in each step of FIG. 9 is performed. A gas leakage inspection of the object to be inspected 5 is performed based on a pressure difference from the pressure of the introduced pressurized gas, and this operation is executed by the gas leakage inspection execution means 25.

  In other words, the gas leak test execution means 25 opens and closes the valves 9, 10, 11, 16, and 19, and also gives a command to the pressure adjustment means 27 to adjust the pressure of the introduced gas, thereby inspecting the object 5 to be inspected. And a pressurized gas introduction step (see FIG. 9A) for introducing a pressurized gas into both the reference body 7 and the reference body 7. Further, after the pressurizer body introduction step, an equilibrium step (see FIG. 9B) for balancing the pressure of the gas in the inspection object 5 and the pressure of the gas in the reference body 7; A differential pressure detecting step (see FIG. 9C) for detecting a differential pressure between the pressure of the gas in the gas and the pressure of the gas in the reference body 7, and in the inspection object 5 and the reference body 7 after the differential pressure detecting step A gas discharge step (see FIG. 9D) for discharging the gas from is performed.

  Although the details of the characteristic configuration of the present embodiment performed in addition to such an operation will be described later, in this embodiment, the valve control means 29 performs opening / closing control of the passage communication control valve 32, and this control is performed. Is closed when the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detector 12 and is open except when the differential pressure is detected. That is, the valve control means 29 receives the control start signal from the gas leak test execution means 25 and closes the passage communication control valve 32 (BV) when the differential pressure detection process is performed after the equilibrium process. After the differential pressure detection step, the passage communication control valve 32 (BV) is operated to open.

  For example, the pressurized gas introduction step (CHG) is performed for about 30 seconds, the equilibrium step (BAL) is performed for about 60 seconds, the differential pressure detection step (DET) is performed for about 60 seconds, and the gas discharge step (EXH) is performed for about 10 seconds. As described above, each of these steps is performed at a predetermined set time. However, since the passage communication control valve 32 is formed of an electric ball valve, the passage communication control valve before and after the differential pressure detection step. The opening / closing operation 32 is performed slowly.

  Further, the pressure difference between the reference body 7 and the inspection object 5 detected by the differential pressure detection unit 12 in the differential pressure detection step is applied to the gas leakage detection unit 26, and the gas leakage detection unit 26 applies the pressure difference to the inspection object 5. Whether there is a gas leak is detected.

  The pressure adjusting means 27 controls the test pressure setting means 13 to adjust the pressure of the gas introduced during the gas leak inspection operation, and also controls the opening and closing of the introduction path switching valve 14 so as to control the pressure from the pressurized gas inlet 2. Selectively controlling whether the pressurized gas to be introduced is guided to the reference body 7 and the inspected object 5 side through the introduction path switching valve 14 or to the reference body 7 and the inspected object 5 side through the low pressure governor 35. Thus, the pressure of the pressurized gas guided to the reference body 7 or the inspected object 5 side is adjusted.

  When the pressure adjustment command at the time of executing the gas leak test is applied from the gas leak test executing unit 25, the pressure adjusting unit 27 controls the test pressure setting unit 13 to determine the gas pressure to be introduced during the gas leak test operation in advance. The set test pressure (for example, 300 to 500 kPa) is set, and the introduction path switching valve 14 is opened so that the pressurized gas of the test pressure can be introduced to the reference body 7 side and the inspection object 5 side through the introduction path switching valve 14. . By adjusting the introduced gas pressure by the pressure adjusting means 27 and opening / closing control of the valves 9, 10, 11, 16, and 19 by the gas leakage inspection executing means 25, a gas leakage inspection operation substantially similar to the conventional example is performed. .

  The start A switch 22 is an operation means for starting a preparatory operation for a gas leak inspection operation by the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 and is warmed up as necessary before the gas leak inspection operation by the gas leak inspection execution means 25 is started. This is an operation means for starting the operation and the first preprocess operation. When the start A switch 22 is operated (for example, pressed), a preparation operation start signal is applied to the warm-up operation execution means 24 and the preprocess operation execution means 28.

  The warming-up operation execution means 24 is configured to perform the plurality of operation steps (FIG. 9A to FIG. 9A) of the gas leakage inspection operation when a predetermined set condition is satisfied at the start of the gas leakage inspection operation by the gas leakage inspection execution means 25. (D), see) is performed for a predetermined number of times with a predetermined set shortening time shorter than the time required for each step performed during the operation of the gas leak test, and then the gas leak test is performed. The operation is started.

  The setting conditions that serve as a reference for executing the warming-up operation by the warming-up operation executing means 24 are, for example, in the initial operation after turning on the power of the gas leakage inspection device 1 or after the previous measurement (gas leakage inspection) is completed. The predetermined set time (S minutes or more, S is 30 to 60, for example, S minutes = 60 minutes = 1 hour) may have passed, and the warm-up operation execution means 24 is It has a means for determining whether or not it is an initial operation after turning on the power, a means for grasping the end of the previous measurement, and a clock mechanism (not shown), and warming up when the above set conditions are satisfied Run the operation.

  In other words, when the gas leak inspection operation is performed immediately after the initial operation after turning on the power of the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 or after a long time (a certain time or more) has elapsed after the end of the previous measurement, the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 In many cases, measurement is not performed accurately without being stabilized, so that the warm-up operation is executed when a predetermined set time elapses after the initial operation after the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 is turned on. The gas leakage inspection apparatus can be accurately stabilized and an accurate gas leakage inspection operation can be performed.

  The set time for determining that it is necessary for the warm-up operation is a time when it is estimated that if the gas leak test operation is performed immediately after the elapse of time, the gas leak test apparatus is not stabilized and accurate measurement is not performed. Yes, for example, a time determined in advance by experiments or the like.

  In addition, as described above, in this embodiment, the gas leakage inspection operation itself is performed in substantially the same manner as the conventional example. During the gas leakage inspection operation, the pressurized gas introduction process (CHG) and the equilibrium process (BAL) The total of the differential pressure detection process (DET) and the gas discharge process (EXH) is performed for about 160 seconds, for example, but the warm-up operation is shortened to, for example, about 20 seconds or less. Then, it is repeated one or more predetermined times (for example, 2 to 3 times).

  Note that the time for each process during the warm-up operation may be selected by providing a plurality of time setting patterns, for example, or may be variable as needed by setting a typical pattern in advance. Further, the set number of warm-up operations may be variable.

  For example, when the temperature is low in winter, etc., the time and number of times for each process of warm-up operation are increased. On the other hand, when the temperature is high in summer, etc., the time and the number of times for each process are reduced. Then, the setting of the warm-up operation may be automatically changed, or the user may be able to change the setting corresponding to the temperature. Further, the warming-up operation execution means 24 may have a calendar function, and the setting may be automatically changed according to the calendar.

  Furthermore, depending on the stop time of the gas leak inspection apparatus 1, the warm-up operation setting may be changed automatically or manually, such as increasing the time of each process or setting the number of times as the stop time becomes longer. In consideration of the volume of the object 5 to be measured, the warm-up operation is set automatically or manually, such as the larger the size of the object 5 to be measured, the more the time and the number of times of each process are set. It may be changed.

  The warming-up operation execution means 24 appropriately opens and closes the valves 9, 10, 11, 16, 19 when executing the warming-up operation, and adds a warm-up operation execution signal to the pressure adjustment means 27 to introduce the pressurized gas inlet 2 The warming-up operation is executed so that the pressurized gas introduced from the gas is guided to the reference body 7 and the inspected object 5 through the introduction path switching valve 14.

  When the warm-up operation execution signal is applied from the warm-up operation execution unit 24, the pressure adjusting unit 27 guides the pressurized gas of the test pressure to the reference body 7 or the inspected object 5 side as in the gas leak inspection operation. As described above, the test pressure setting means 13 is controlled, and the introduction path switching valve 14 is opened, and the pressurized gas at the test pressure is guided to the reference body 7 or the inspected object 5 side.

  Even during the warm-up operation by the warm-up operation execution means 24, the detection process detects the differential pressure between the inspected object 5 side and the reference body 7 side, and the value detected at this time is It is often an inappropriate value. That is, the warm-up operation is an operation for stabilizing the gas leak inspection apparatus 1, and there is a possibility that the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 is not sufficiently stabilized until the warm-up operation ends. In the warming-up operation, each process is performed in a very short time compared to a normal gas leakage inspection operation, and therefore, the differential pressure between the inspected object 5 side and the reference body 7 side is accurately detected in the detection process. It may not be possible.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, there is a possibility that an error signal may be output from the gas leak detection unit 26 during the warm-up operation by the warm-up operation execution means 24, but the warm-up operation execution means 24 is output during the warm-up operation. The warm-up operation is continued by ignoring the error signal, and the warm-up operation is repeated for the set number of times. After that, the warm-up signal is output and the process proceeds to the pre-process operation. ).

  The warm-up operation as described above is performed, and even in a very short time, the pressurized gas is passed through the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 and the valves 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19 are controlled to open and close, for example, in the evening Transient characteristics after startup of the gas leak tester 1, connecting pipe, reference body 7 (master), external valve, etc., for example, when measuring from the morning until the next day or after taking a lunch break Since the change can be eliminated and the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1 can be stabilized, a highly accurate gas leakage inspection operation can be performed even in intermittent inspections with a break or the like interposed therebetween.

  The warm-up operation execution means 24 applies a warm-up completed signal to the pre-process operation execution means 28 when the warm-up operation is completed and when the warm-up operation is not executed (when it is not necessary). .

  The pre-process operation executing means 28 is a first pre-process operation in which a pressurized gas is passed only to the reference body 7 side before the gas leak inspection is started by the gas leak inspection executing means 25, and the reference body 7 and the object 5 to be inspected. Means for performing at least one of a second pre-process operation in which a pressurized gas is passed through both of them. When the warm-up completion signal is added from the warm-up operation execution unit 24, the pre-process operation execution unit 28 performs the first pre-process operation at the following timing, for example.

  That is, the preprocess operation executing means 28 may perform the first preprocess operation every time the start A switch 22 is operated (every time a warm-up signal is applied after the start A switch 22 is pressed). For example, every time the start A switch 22 is operated a predetermined number of times (every time the start A switch 22 is pressed a predetermined number of times and a warm-up signal is added to the preprocess operation executing means 28), the first time The pre-processing operation may be performed.

  Further, when a warm-up signal is applied from the warm-up operation executing means 24 for the first time after the start A switch 22 is pressed, and after the gas leak inspection execution by the gas leak inspection executing means 25 is finished (the gas leak inspection executing means 25). The first preprocess operation is automatically performed every time when the gas leak inspection end signal is added), or the first preprocess operation is performed every time the gas leak inspection execution end count reaches the set number of times. Various control patterns can be set. Also, the fixed control pattern as described above may be set in advance, or the control pattern may be variable as necessary.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, when the warm-up operation executing means 24 applies the warm-up operation execution means 24 for the first time after the start A switch 22 is operated, and after that, the gas leak inspection execution means 25 performs gas leakage. It is set so that the first preprocess operation is automatically performed every time after completion of the inspection (when a gas leakage inspection end signal is added from the gas leakage inspection execution means 25).

  The first pre-process operation by the pre-process operation executing means 28 allows the pressurized gas to pass through the reference body 7 by opening / closing control of the valves 9, 10, 11, 16, 19 and closing control of the introduction path switching valve 14. Specifically, the preprocess operation executing means 28 opens the gas introduction control valves 9 and 10 and the gas discharge control valve 19 when performing the first preprocess operation, The gas discharge control valve 16 is closed. As described above, the passage communication control valve 32 is opened.

  The pressure of the pressurized gas introduced during the preprocess operation is set to be smaller than the test pressure, and the preprocess operation execution means 28 uses the pressure adjustment means 27 when performing the first preprocess operation. A preprocess operation execution signal is added, the introduction path switching valve 14 is closed, and the pressurized gas is guided to the reference body 7 side through the low pressure governor 35, whereby a pressure lower than the test pressure (for example, a pressure exceeding 10 kPa, and The pressurized gas (pressure less than 100 kPa) is guided to the reference body 7 side, the pressurized gas is passed through the reference body 7 and discharged through the reference body side discharge passage 18a as described above.

  The pressure of the pressurized gas introduced during the first preprocess operation and the second preprocess operation described later is not particularly limited. However, if the gas flow velocity exceeds the speed of sound, a shock wave is generated, vibration, etc. In this embodiment, for example, the pressure of the pressurized gas to be introduced is adjusted so that the flow velocity of the gas is adjusted to be lower than the sound velocity. The low pressure governor 35 is provided and adjusted so as not to exceed 100 kPa.

  That is, the pre-process operation is performed in order to adjust the temperature of the gas in the reference body 7 and the inspected object 5 so that the gas does not need to be introduced. From the standpoints of temperature rise suppression due to pressure reduction and temperature drop that occurs during decompression due to exhaust, etc., rather, it is desirable that the gas pressure be smaller, so as described above, the pressure of the introduced gas should be higher than atmospheric pressure. Also, the preprocess operation can be appropriately performed by making the pressure smaller than the test pressure. Instead of providing the low pressure governor 35, an electropneumatic regulator capable of changing the pressure in a wide range from a constant pressure to a high pressure may be provided to adjust the pressure of the pressurized gas to be introduced.

  Further, the preprocess operation executing means 28 may stabilize the temperature by cooling the inside of the reference body 7 using a fan or the like as necessary during the first preprocess operation. When using the reference body 7 having high heat dissipation, temperature stabilization by a fan is particularly effective.

  The pre-process operation execution means 28 transmits a first pre-process operation end signal immediately after the first pre-process operation is executed or after a predetermined set waiting time has elapsed, and adds it to the display unit 31. The display unit 31 displays the first preprocess operation end display. Note that the display method is not particularly limited, and is appropriately set. Further, instead of providing the display unit 31 for display, or in addition to the display, notification by appropriate sound such as generation of a message or generation of sound such as a buzzer or chime may be performed.

  The start B switch 23 is an operation means for shifting from a gas leak test operation preparation operation to a gas leak test operation by the gas leak test apparatus 1. For example, when the warm-up operation or the first preprocess operation is appropriately performed after the start A switch 22 is operated and the display unit 31 is notified of the first preprocess operation end display or the like, the user When the start B switch 23 is operated (for example, pressed by the user), an inspection transition start signal is applied to the preprocess operation execution means 28 and the gas leak inspection execution means 25.

  When an inspection transition start signal is applied by operating the start B switch 23, for example, the preprocess operation executing means 28 can perform the second preprocess operation each time. That is, the start B switch 23 also functions as a second preprocess start operation means for starting the second preprocess operation by the preprocess operation execution means 28, and, as described above, the start A switch A Since the switch 22 also functions as a first preprocess start operation means for starting the first preprocess operation by the preprocess operation execution means 28, in the present embodiment, the first process by the preprocess operation execution means 28 is performed. As a preprocess start operation means for starting at least a second preprocess operation, a first preprocess start operation means and a second preprocess start operation means are separately provided.

  Instead of performing the second preprocess operation every time the start B switch 23 is operated, the preprocess operation executing means 28 is instructed for each specific operation such as the start B switch 23 being pressed twice continuously. The inspection pre-start signal may be added, and the second pre-process operation may be performed only in this case. In addition, the start B switch 23 is not configured to serve as both the operation means for starting the second pre-process operation and the operation means for starting the gas leak test, and the operation means for starting the gas leak test operation and the second pre-process operation. Operation means dedicated to the process operation start operation may be provided individually.

  The pre-process operation executing means 28 opens the gas introduction control valves 9, 10, 11 and the gas discharge control valve 19 when an inspection transition start signal accompanying the operation of the start B switch 23 is applied. The gas discharge control valve 16 remains closed. The preprocess operation executing means 28 also applies a preprocess operation execution signal to the pressure adjusting means 27 when the second preprocess operation is performed, closes the introduction path switching valve 14, and applies it through the low pressure governor 35. By introducing the pressurized gas to the reference body 7 side and the inspection object 5 side, the pressurized gas having a pressure smaller than the test pressure is guided to the reference body 7 side and the inspection object 5 side. The pressurized gas that has passed through the reference body 7 passes through the reference body-side discharge passage 18a, and is discharged from the gas discharge control valve 19 side together with the pressurized gas that has passed through the body to be inspected 5 from the inspection-object-side introduction passage 6 side. To do.

  The preprocess operation execution means 28 applies a preprocess operation complete signal to the gas leak inspection execution means 25 after the end of the second preprocess operation or when the second preprocess operation is not necessary.

  When the pre-process operation completion signal is added from the pre-process operation execution unit 28, the gas leak inspection execution unit 25, in the order shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, Although substantially the same operation as in each step of FIG. 9 is executed, in this embodiment, a command is given to the valve control means 29 and the passage communication control valve 32 (BV) until the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detector 12. Is opened, and when the differential pressure is detected, the passage communication control valve 32 (BV) is closed. The characteristic passage communication control valve 32 (BV) of this embodiment is opened and closed, and the gas leakage inspection is performed. Perform the action.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation using the gas leakage inspection apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 3, when the power is turned on in step S1, an initial screen is displayed in step S2, and a measurement setting screen is displayed in step S3. Here, when the measurement setting operation is performed by the user and the start A switch 22 is operated, a preparation operation for the gas leakage inspection operation is started in step S4. That is, a measurement screen is displayed in step S5, and if the warming-up operation (warm-up operation) by the warm-up operation execution means 24 satisfies the set conditions defined for executing the warm-up operation in step S6, Done.

  This warm-up operation is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. When the preparation operation for the gas leak inspection operation is started in step DS1, the first operation (initial operation) after the power is turned on in step DS2. In the case of initial operation, the process proceeds to step DS4, and in the case of non-initial operation, in step DS3, S minutes (S is 30 to 60, for example, S minutes = 60 from the end of the previous measurement). It is determined whether or not (minute = 1 hour) has elapsed, and if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step DS4. If it is determined in step S3 that S minutes have not elapsed since the end of the previous measurement, the process proceeds to step DS9, a warm-up completed signal is output, and the process proceeds to step S7 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step DS4 in FIG. 4, the warm-up operation by the warm-up operation execution means 24 is sequentially performed. That is, in step DS4, the operation of the pressurized gas introduction process (CHG) is performed for about 5 seconds, for example, in step DS5, the operation of the equilibrium process (BAL) is performed for about 1 second, for example, and the differential pressure detection is performed in step DS6. The operation of the process (DET) is performed for about 1 second, for example, and in step DS7, the operation of the gas discharge process (EXH) is performed for about 1 second, for example. Then, in step DS8, it is determined whether or not all of these steps have been completed for the set number of times (here, 3 times), and if completed 3 times, the process proceeds to step DS9 and then proceeds to step S7 in FIG.

  In step S7 of FIG. 3, a first preprocess operation (PP1) is performed as necessary. That is, in this embodiment, the warm-up operation execution means 24 adds a warm-up completed signal to the pre-process operation execution means 28 at the first operation after the power is turned on and after the gas leakage inspection operation is completed, and the first pre-process is performed. Since the operation start signal (PP1 signal) is output, in this case, the first preprocess operation is started as described above.

  FIG. 6 shows the valve open / closed state for each process in a series of operations when performing the gas leakage inspection operation through the first preprocess operation and the second preprocess operation. As shown in the figure, during the first pre-process operation, the introduction path switching valve 14, the gas introduction control valve 11, and the gas discharge control valve 16 are closed, and the gas introduction control valves 9, 10 and the gas discharge control valve 19 are closed. Will be opened.

  When the first preprocess operation is completed, the first preprocess operation completion is displayed on the display unit 31, so that the user operates the start B switch 23 in step S8 of FIG. Proceeding to S9, in step S9, the second pre-process operation (PP2) is performed as described above. Note that the valve opening / closing operations after the second preprocess operation in step S9 are also shown in the time chart of FIG.

  After the second preprocess operation, the gas leak test execution means 25 performs each operation from step S10 to step S16 in FIG. That is, in step S10, for example, waiting for a preset waiting time (for example, 30 seconds) to elapse in order to stabilize the gas leakage inspection apparatus (DLY), in step S11, both the inspected object 5 and the reference body 7 An operation of a pressurized gas introduction process (CHG) for introducing a pressurized gas into the gas is performed, and in step S12, an equilibrium process (BAL) for balancing the pressure of the gas in the inspection object 5 and the pressure of the gas in the reference body 7 is performed. ).

  Thereafter, in step S13, the gas leakage inspection execution means 25 adds a control start signal for the passage communication control valve 32 to the valve control means 29, and the valve control means 29 receives this control start signal and receives the passage communication control valve 32 ( BV) is operated in the closing direction. Then, as shown in the ball valve drive orchid in the time chart of FIG. 6, the passage communication control valve 32 formed by the electric ball valve gradually closes, and the reference body 7 and the object to be inspected 5 are not in communication. Since it becomes a state (becomes a separated state) and becomes a sealed state, for example, as shown in step BS1 of FIG. 5, a predetermined set time elapses after the passage communication control valve 32 is completely closed. After (for example, after confirming that 3 seconds have passed in step BS2 of FIG. 5), a signal is added to the gas leak detection unit 26.

  The gas leakage detection unit 26 detects the presence or absence of gas leakage based on the differential pressure detected by the differential pressure detection unit 12 (step S14 in FIG. 3, step BS3 in FIG. 5, operation of the differential pressure detection step (DET)). ), The detection result is displayed on the display unit 31, the detection result is stored in a data storage unit of a personal computer signal-connected to the gas leakage inspection apparatus 1, and used for appropriate operations such as data processing, An appropriate operation such as recording on a recording sheet is performed, and the detected signal is applied to the valve control unit 29 via the gas leakage inspection execution unit 25.

  Upon receipt of this detected signal, the valve control means 29 operates in a direction to open the passage communication control valve 32 and gradually opens it (step BS4 in FIG. 5 and ball valve drive in the time chart in FIG. 6, FIG. 3). (See step S15). As described above, the passage communication control valve 32 is closed when the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detector 12 and is opened when the differential pressure is not detected.

  Then, after a predetermined set time has elapsed since the passage communication control valve 32 was opened (for example, after confirming that 3 seconds have elapsed in step BS5 in FIG. 5), in step S16 in FIG. The execution means 25 executes the operation of the gas discharge process (EXH).

  In addition, after the operation of the gas discharge process, the process returns to step S5 in FIG. 3 to display the measurement screen and the next gas leak inspection operation is performed. If so, the warm-up operation in step S6 is not performed, and the process proceeds to step S7. Therefore, when performing the gas leak inspection for the second time and thereafter, by performing the first pre-process operation at the time of replacement work of the inspection object 5 by the user from the end of the gas discharge operation of the previous gas leak inspection operation, This is preferable because the flow of time from the preparation for the gas leak inspection to the actual measurement operation can be used effectively, and the overall measurement time can be shortened.

  When the gas leak test of the heat exchanger and the hot water storage tank is performed using the gas leak test apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, it is confirmed that the result of the gas leak determination is almost 100%.

  In the present embodiment, since the volume of the reference body 7 to be arranged is smaller than the volume of the object 5 to be inspected, the gas leak detection unit 26 has a volume of the reference body 7. The differential pressure detector 12 detects a differential pressure (drift) between the pressure of the gas in the test object 5 and the pressure of the gas in the reference body 7 generated according to the difference between the volume of the test object 5 and the test object 5. Based on the value subtracted from the differential pressure value, gas leakage from the object 5 is detected.

  That is, the gas leak inspection using the gas leak inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is performed by making the volume of the reference body 7 to be disposed significantly smaller than the object 5 to be inspected. It is preferable that the gas leakage inspection operation of the body 5 is performed. In such a case, since the volume of the reference body 7 is small, the pressure of the pressurized gas is on the gas outlet side of the reference body 7. Even if it is strongly applied, compared with the case where the volume of the reference body 7 is large, there is an advantage that the temperature of the gas only rises little by little. On the other hand, the inspection object 5 to be disposed and the reference to be disposed are provided. If the volume of the body 7 is different, the difference in volume affects the detection of the differential pressure between the inspected object 5 side and the reference body 7 side.

  Therefore, for example, when the inspected object 5 is leaked by using an inspected object 5 that has been known from the beginning by an experiment or the like, the inspected object 5 and the reference object are used. The data such as how the differential pressure with respect to 7 is detected is variously determined in correspondence with the volume of the reference body 7 and the volume of the object 5 to be inspected, the correlation between them is taken, the correlation data and the object to be inspected The differential pressure detection program is changed based on the volume data of the body 5 and the reference body 7 to detect the differential pressure between the inspected object 5 side and the reference body 7 side, and the gas leakage inspection operation is performed. To do.

  For example, the gas leak detection unit 26 may be configured such that, for example, the difference between the gas pressure in the inspection object 5 and the gas pressure in the reference body 7 generated according to the difference between the volume of the reference body 7 and the volume of the inspection object 5. Based on the value obtained by subtracting the pressure component from the differential pressure value detected by the differential pressure detector, it is possible to detect gas leakage from the object 5 to be inspected.

  FIG. 7 shows an image diagram of the differential pressure detection (DET) detected in the embodiment and the differential pressure values before and after the differential pressure detection. As shown in FIG. Both ends of the pressure detector (differential pressure detector) 12 can be made the same pressure, and the differential pressure can be zero. When a result such as the characteristic line a is obtained, it is determined that there is a gas leak because the differential pressure exceeds the determination threshold. In the case of the characteristic line b, the differential pressure is less than the determination threshold. Because there is, it is judged that there is no gas leakage. When the passage communication control valve 32 is opened after the differential pressure is detected, both ends of the differential pressure detector (differential pressure detector) 12 become the same pressure, and the differential pressure becomes zero.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various aspect can be taken in the range which does not deviate from the technical scope of this invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, instead of providing the small container reference body 7 in the above-described embodiment, a passage between the manual open / close valve 37 and the passage communication control valve 32 provided in the reference body side introduction passage 8 ( You may make it function the channel | path part in the broken-line frame M of a figure as a reference | standard body. In this case, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the electric ball valve was used as the channel | path communication control valve 32, the channel | path communication control valve 32 is not limited to an electric ball valve, It sets suitably. The passage communication control valve 32 is desirably a valve that has a slow opening / closing operation and that causes little or no pressure fluctuation during the opening / closing operation. As such a valve, a motor slide valve or the like can be used instead of an electric ball valve. Can also be applied.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the preprocess start operation means is provided with the first preprocess start operation means and the second preprocess start operation means individually. The preprocess start operation means for starting may be a single operation means.

  In this case, for example, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, whether the preprocess operation execution means 28 performs only the first preprocess operation or only the second preprocess operation, both the first and second preprocess operations are performed. An operation selection operation unit 27 for selecting whether or not to perform a process operation is provided, and the operation selected by the operation selection operation unit 40 is preprocess operation execution unit 28 when the preprocess start operation unit is operated. You may make it perform by. In this case, for example, the start B switch 23 in the above embodiment may be omitted, and the first and second preprocess operations may be automatically performed appropriately after one switch is operated.

  Further, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2, based on the volume of the reference body to be arranged, the volume detection means 41 for detecting the volume of the object to be inspected, and the result detected by the volume detection means 41. An execution operation determination unit 42 that determines the preprocess operation by the preprocess operation execution unit 28 may be provided. The volume detection means 41 and the execution operation determination means 42 may be provided in the control device 21 or may be provided separately from the control device 21 and connected to the control device 21 in a signal manner.

  In this case, the result detected by the volume detection unit 41 is added to the execution operation determination unit 42, and the execution operation determination unit 42 detects the volume of the reference body and the volume of the inspection object detected by the volume detection unit 41. Whether the preprocess operation performed by the preprocess operation execution means 28 is only the first preprocess operation or only the second preprocess operation based on the predetermined preprocess operation execution reference information. It is determined whether or not both of the two preprocessing operations are to be performed.

  Then, the determination result by the execution operation determination unit 42 is added to the preprocess operation execution unit 28. For example, when the volume of the inspection object 5 is large, both the first preprocess operation and the second preprocess operation are performed. For example, when the volume of the body 5 is small, only the first preprocess operation may be performed, and the preprocess operation performed by the preprocess operation execution unit 28 may be determined and executed by the preprocess operation execution unit 28. Also in this case, for example, the start B switch 23 in the above embodiment may be omitted, and the first and second preprocessing operations may be automatically performed as appropriate after one switch is operated.

  Furthermore, the warming-up operation execution means 24 and the preprocess execution means 28 provided in the embodiment can be omitted, and the control configuration related thereto.

  Since the present invention is a gas leak inspection apparatus that is not easily affected by heat due to gas compression and can accurately perform a gas leak inspection of an object to be inspected, it inspects for gas leaks such as heat exchangers and hot water storage tanks. Can be used as a device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas leak test | inspection apparatus 2 Introduction port of pressurized gas 3 Passage for introduction of pressurized gas 4 Branch part 5 Inspected object 6 Inspected object side introducing passage 7 Reference body 8 Reference object side introducing passage 9, 10, 11 Gas introduction control valve 12 differential pressure detector 13 test pressure setting means 14 introduction path switching valve 17 bypass path 18, 18a, 18b gas discharge path 19 19a, 19b gas discharge control valve 21 control device 22 start A switch 23 start B switch 24 warming-up operation execution means 25 Gas leak inspection execution means 26 Gas leak detection unit 27 Pressure adjustment means 28 Pre-process operation execution means 29 Valve control means 32 Passage communication control valve 34 Outlet 35 Low pressure governor

Claims (5)

A gas leakage inspection apparatus for performing a gas leakage inspection of an object to be inspected having a hollow portion, an inlet for pressurized gas, a branching portion for branching the pressurized gas introduced from the inlet for the pressurized gas, An inspection object side introduction passage for guiding the pressurized gas branched by the branching section to the inspection object side disposed for inspection, and the pressurized gas branched by the branching section for gas leakage inspection of the inspection object A reference body side introduction passage that leads to a reference body side serving as a reference, and a gas introduction control valve is provided in each of the reference body side introduction passage and the inspected object side introduction passage. A bypass passage that bypasses the reference body side introduction passage and the inspected object side introduction passage at a downstream position of the gas, and the bypass passage includes a gas pressure in the inspected body and a gas pressure in the reference body. Detect differential pressure Provided pressure detection unit, the outlet side of the pressurized gas said through passage communicating the control valve at a position of the inspection side introduction passage obtaining step side introduction of the reference-side discharge passage for discharging the pressurized gas from the reference side Connected to the downstream side position of the gas passage than the gas introduction control valve on the passage side , connected to the downstream side position of the gas passage than the bypass passage connection position, and pressurized gas is supplied to the inspected object side An inspection object side discharge passage for discharging from the inspection object to the outside is connected, and means for discharging the pressurized gas to the outside through the inspection object side discharge passage is provided, and both the inspection object and the reference body are pressurized. After introducing the gas, the gas introduction control valve and the passage communication control valve of the reference body side introduction passage and the inspected body side introduction passage are closed, and the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detection unit. Based on the object to be inspected Gas leakage detection system characterized in that it comprises a gas leak detector for detecting a gas leakage al.   2. The gas leakage detection device according to claim 1, further comprising valve control means for closing the passage communication control valve when the differential pressure is detected by the differential pressure detection unit and opening the passage communication control valve except when the differential pressure is detected.   3. The gas leakage detection device according to claim 1, wherein the passage communication control valve is formed by a valve that slowly opens and closes and causes no or almost no pressure fluctuation during the opening and closing operation.   The volume of the reference body is formed to be smaller than the volume of the object to be inspected, and the gas leak detector is configured to generate a gas pressure in the body to be inspected according to a difference between the volume of the reference body and the volume of the object to be inspected. The gas leakage from the object to be inspected is detected based on a value obtained by subtracting a differential pressure from the pressure of the gas in the reference body from a differential pressure value detected by the differential pressure detector. The gas leak detection device according to claim 2 or claim 3.   5. The passage from the downstream side of the bypass passage connection position of the reference body side introduction passage to the passage communication control valve or a part thereof functions as a reference body. The gas leak test apparatus described in 1.

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