Evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure

1. A method of evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure for use as fuel by vehicles and delivered from a filling station via a filler hose that is connected to the gas storage device, itself comprising pipework and at least one tank,

the method comprising the following steps:

a) while filling the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, pressurizing the filler hose, the pipework, and said tank from the filling station at a pressure that is greater than at least 5 bar, filling at a controlled filling flow rate Q i , and measuring variation in pressure P i ; and

b) at a first predetermined instant t i after the start of pressurizing, suspending the filling operation without depressurizing, continuing to measure variation in pressure P i , to a second predetermined instant t j , comparing the pressure P i relative to a predetermined threshold S i , and if, between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j , the pressure decreases and drops below the predetermined threshold S i , informing that a leak is present, whereas if, between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure remains above the predetermined threshold S i , restarting the filling operation and, at subsequent instants, including at the normal end of the filling operation, repeating verifications of variation in pressure relative to predetermined thresholds during a predetermined duration after each suspension of the filling operation so as to detect, on each occasion, the presence of a leak, if any,

wherein, prior to connecting the fuel storage device to the filler hose of the filling station, the method further comprises:

pressurizing the filler hose up to a predetermined pressure greater than or equal to 5 bar,

suspending pressurization at an instant t 0 i when the predetermined pressure is reached, but without depressurizing,

measuring variation in pressure until a second predetermined instant t 0 j ,

comparing the instantaneous value P i of the pressure relative to a predetermined threshold S 0 i , and, if, between the first and second predetermined instants t 0 i and t 0 j , the pressure decreases and drops below the predetermined threshold S 0 i , then informing that the filling station or the filler hose presents a leak, whereas if, between the first and second predetermined instants t 0 i , t 0 j the pressure remains above the predetermined threshold S 0 i , then repeating the operation of pressurizing the filler hose up to a predetermined pressure greater than the previously-reached pressure, and

repeating the operation of suspending pressurization and measuring pressure variation relative to a predetermined threshold during a predetermined duration in order again to detect the presence of a leak, if any, with new operations of pressurization and suspension while monitoring pressure variation being performed until reaching a maximum operating pressure of the filling station.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein during the first step of filling the fuel gas storage device from the filling station at a controlled filling rate Q i , variation in the pressure P i is measured as a function of time, and if a slope discontinuity is detected, it is deduced that a leak exists from the pipework.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, after two successive increases in the controlled filling flow rate there is detected firstly a horizontal pause at stabilized pressure and secondly a sloping pause of increasing pressure, then the leak is categorized as being a small or medium leak, and the leakage rate is determined from the controlled filling rate that led to said horizontal pause at stabilized pressure.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, regardless of the value of the filling rate, it is observed that the pressure does not stabilize and always increases, the leak is classified in the microleak category.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, regardless of the value of the filling rate, it is found that the pressure does not increase, the leak is classified in the category of very large leaks.

6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein in the event of a leak being detected from the fuel gas storage device, after identifying the category specifying the size of the leak, and verifying the presence of a check valve between the pipework and the tank, the speed at which pressure drops is analyzed and compared relative to a threshold value S v depending on the respective volumes of the pipework and of the tank, and the leak is identified as being either from the pipework if the pressure drop speed is greater than the threshold value S v , or as being from the tank if the pressure drop speed is less than the threshold value S v .

7. A method according to claim 1 applied to leak testing storage devices for natural gas used as fuel for vehicles.

8. A system for evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing high pressure fuel gas used as fuel for vehicles and supplied from a filling station via a filler hose connected to the gas storage device itself comprising pipework and at least one tank, with at least one check valve disposed between the pipework and the tank, the system comprising a pressure-measuring device suitable for connection to the filler hose or to the pipework, a processor device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device, and a display device for displaying information supplied by the processor device, the device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device including means for controlling filling and suspending filling of the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, means for controlling the filling flow rate, a clock, and means for comparing the measured pressure relative to predetermined thresholds S i during periods in which filling is suspended, wherein the device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device further includes means for controlling the filler hose connected to the filling station when no gas storage device is connected thereto, so as to pressurize it up to a predetermined reference pressure value, for causing said pressurization to be suspended, and for acting selectively, after pressurization has been suspended, either to cause the display that a leak from the filling station is present, or else repressurize the filler hose up to a new predetermined reference pressure value greater than the preceding predetermined reference pressure value.

9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein the device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device further includes means for analyzing the speed of the pressure drop measured by the pressure-measuring device and means for comparing said pressure drop speed relative to a threshold value S v depending on the respective volumes of the pipework and of the tank.

10. A system according to claim 8 applied to leak testing devices for storing natural gas used as fuel for vehicles.

11. A method of evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure for use as fuel by vehicles and delivered from a filling station via a filler hose that is connected to the gas storage device, itself comprising pipework and at least one tank,

the method comprising the following steps:

a) while filling the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, pressurizing the filler hose, the pipework, and said tank from the filling station at a pressure that is greater than at least 5 bar, filling at a controlled filling flow rate Q i , and measuring variation in pressure P i ; and

b) at a first predetermined instant t i after the start of pressurizing, suspending the filling operation without depressurizing, continuing to measure variation in pressure P i to a second predetermined instant t j , comparing the pressure P i relative to a predetermined threshold S i , and if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure decreases and drops below the predetermined threshold S i , informing that a leak is present, whereas if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure remains above the predetermined threshold S i , restarting the filling operation and, at subsequent instants, including at the normal end of the filling operation, repeating verifications of variation in pressure relative to predetermined thresholds during a predetermined duration after each suspension of the filling operation so as to detect, on each occasion, the presence of a leak, if any,

wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, after two successive increases in the controlled filling flow rate there is detected firstly a horizontal pause at stabilized pressure and secondly a sloping pause of increasing pressure, then the leak is categorized as being a small or medium leak, and the leakage rate is determined from the controlled filling rate that led to said horizontal pause at stabilized pressure.

12. A method of evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure for use as fuel by vehicles and delivered from a filling station via a filler hose that is connected to the gas storage device, itself comprising pipework and at least one tank,

the method comprising the following steps:

a) while filling the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, pressurizing the filler hose, the pipework, and said tank from the filling station at a pressure that is greater than at least 5 bar, filling at a controlled filling flow rate Q i , and measuring variation in pressure P i ; and

b) at a first predetermined instant t i after the start of pressurizing, suspending the filling operation without depressurizing, continuing to measure variation in pressure P i to a second predetermined instant t j , comparing the pressure P i relative to a predetermined threshold S i , and if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure decreases and drops below the predetermined threshold S i , informing that a leak is present, whereas if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure remains above the predetermined threshold S i , restarting the filling operation and, at subsequent instants, including at the normal end of the filling operation, repeating verifications of variation in pressure relative to predetermined thresholds during a predetermined duration after each suspension of the filling operation so as to detect, on each occasion, the presence of a leak, if any,

wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, regardless of the value of the filling rate, it is observed that the pressure does not stabilize and always increases, the leak is classified in the microleak category.

13. A method of evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing fuel gas under high pressure for use as fuel by vehicles and delivered from a filling station via a filler hose that is connected to the gas storage device, itself comprising pipework and at least one tank,

the method comprising the following steps:

a) while filling the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, pressurizing the filler hose, the pipework, and said tank from the filling station at a pressure that is greater than at least 5 bar, filling at a controlled filling flow rate Q i and measuring variation in pressure P i ; and

b) at a first predetermined instant t i after the start of pressurizing, suspending the filling operation without depressurizing, continuing to measure variation in pressure P i to a second predetermined instant t j , comparing the pressure P i relative to a predetermined threshold S i , and if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure decreases and drops below the predetermined threshold S i informing that a leak is present, whereas if between the first and second predetermined instants t i , t j the pressure remains above the predetermined threshold S i , restarting the filling operation and, at subsequent instants, including at the normal end of the filling operation, repeating verifications of variation in pressure relative to predetermined thresholds during a predetermined duration after each suspension of the filling operation so as to detect, on each occasion, the presence of a leak, if any,

wherein, in the event of a leak from the fuel gas storage device being detected, the filling operation is repeated with the controlled filling flow rate being adjusted by successive increments, while continuing to monitor variation in pressure, and if, regardless of the value of the filling rate, it is found that the pressure does not increase, the leak is classified in the category of very large leaks.

14. A system for evaluating the leaktightness of a device for storing high pressure fuel gas used as fuel for vehicles and supplied from a filling station via a filler hose connected to the gas storage device itself comprising pipework and at least one tank, with at least one check valve disposed between the pipework and the tank, the system comprising a pressure-measuring device suitable for connection to the filler hose or to the pipework, a processor device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device, and a display device for displaying information supplied by the processor device, the device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device including means for controlling filling and suspending filling of the fuel gas storage device from the filling station, means for controlling the filling flow rate, a clock, and means for comparing the measured pressure relative to predetermined thresholds S i during periods in which filling is suspended,

wherein the device for processing values measured by the pressure-measuring device further includes means for analyzing the speed of the pressure drop measured by the pressure-measuring device and means for comparing said pressure drop speed relative to a threshold value S v depending on the respective volumes of the pipework and of the tank.