Real-time monitoring of a metal surface
First Claim
1. A system for real-time monitoring of a pipe, comprising:
- a fiber-optic cable disposed alongside a length of a wall of the pipe;
a laser source attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the laser source is configured to transmit light through the fiber-optic cable;
an acoustic source configured to generate acoustic signals within the wall and, simultaneously with the laser source'"'"'s transmission of the light, transmit the acoustic signals within the wall along the length of the pipe such that the acoustic signals interact with the fiber-optic cable along the length and influence characteristics of the light;
a receiver attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the receiver is configured to detect the light; and
a signal processing unit configured to determine a location of a change in the wall of the pipe between the laser source and the receiver based on a change in the characteristics of the light caused by a change in the acoustic signals,wherein the change in the acoustic signals is in response to an intrusion which is caused by erosion or corrosion of the wall of the pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for providing real-time monitoring of a metal surface are provided herein. The system includes a fiber-optic cable disposed alongside a length of a wall that includes the metal surface. A laser source is attached to the fiber-optic cable to transmit light through the fiber-optic cable. An acoustic source is configured to generate acoustic signals in the metal surface, wherein the acoustic signals interact with the fiber-optic cable and influence characteristics of the light. A receiver is attached to the fiber-optic cable to detect the light. The system also includes a signal processing unit configured to determine a location of a change in the metal surface based on changes in the characteristics of the light.
55 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for real-time monitoring of a pipe, comprising:
- a fiber-optic cable disposed alongside a length of a wall of the pipe;
a laser source attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the laser source is configured to transmit light through the fiber-optic cable;
an acoustic source configured to generate acoustic signals within the wall and, simultaneously with the laser source'"'"'s transmission of the light, transmit the acoustic signals within the wall along the length of the pipe such that the acoustic signals interact with the fiber-optic cable along the length and influence characteristics of the light;
a receiver attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the receiver is configured to detect the light; and
a signal processing unit configured to determine a location of a change in the wall of the pipe between the laser source and the receiver based on a change in the characteristics of the light caused by a change in the acoustic signals,wherein the change in the acoustic signals is in response to an intrusion which is caused by erosion or corrosion of the wall of the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a fiber-optic cable disposed alongside a length of a wall of the pipe;
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12. A system for real-time monitoring of a pipe that conveys hydrocarbons, comprising:
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a fiber-optic cable disposed alongside a length of a wall of the pipe that conveys hydrocarbons; a laser source attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the laser source is configured to transmit a light pulse through the fiber-optic cable; an acoustic source configured to generate acoustic signals in the wall of the pipe simultaneously with the transmission of the light pulse through the fiber-optic cable, wherein the acoustic source comprises a moving source located in an internal volume of the pipe and configured to move along the length of the pipe such that the acoustic signals interact with the fiber-optic cable and influence characteristics of the light pulse in the fiber-optic cable; a receiver attached to the fiber-optic cable, wherein the receiver is configured to detect the light pulse; and a signal processing unit configured to determine a location of an intrusion in the wall of the pipe between the laser source and the receiver based on a change in the characteristics of the light pulse caused by a change in the acoustic signals; wherein the change in the acoustic signals is in response to an intrusion which is caused by erosion or corrosion of the wall of the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for monitoring changes in a wall of a pipe comprising:
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disposing a fiber-optic cable alongside a length of the wall of the pipe; attaching a light source to the fiber-optic cable to transmit light through the fiber-optic cable; providing an acoustic source adjacent to, or within, the pipe to generate, simultaneously with the light source'"'"'s transmission of the light, acoustic signals transmitted along the length of the pipe within the wall of the pipe that interact with the fiber-optic cable along the length to influence characteristics of the light pulse; attaching a receiver to the fiber-optic cable to detect the light from the fiber-optic cable; coupling a signal processing unit to the receiver, wherein the signal processing unit determines changes between the light originating from the light source and the light detected at the receiver caused by a change in the acoustic signals; and locating an intrusion on the wall of the pipe based, at least in part, on the changes between the light originating from the light source and the light detected at the receiver; wherein the change in the acoustic signals is in response to an intrusion which is caused by erosion or corrosion of the wall of the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification