Pipeline fault detection system, sensor head and method of detecting pipeline faults
First Claim
1. A trunk mains pipeline fault detection system comprising a vibro-acoustic sensor connectable to a fluid path of a trunk mains pipeline and a remote monitoring system, the sensor being operable to measure, for a plurality of days and for a predetermined time period each day, the predetermined time period being less than 24 hours, one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path of the trunk mains pipeline when the trunk mains pipeline is online and under normal operating conditions so as to avoid interruption of a supply of water through the trunk mains pipeline and communicate data on each day'"'"'s measurements to the remote monitoring system, the remote monitoring system being arranged to monitor said data over time to build a representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days and being further arranged to screen one or more of the representation and the monitored data for characteristics representing a fault type to identify occurrence of a fault type in the pipeline, wherein the representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics built from the monitored data over said plurality of days is a function of the monitored data from the predetermined time periods each being less than 24 hours.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pipeline fault detection system, method and sensor head suitable for use in the system are disclosed. The system comprises a vibro-acoustic sensor connectable to a fluid path of a pipeline and a remote monitoring system, the sensor being operable to measure one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path and communicate data on said measurements to the remote monitoring system, the remote monitoring system being arranged to monitor said data over time and being further arranged to screen the monitored data for characteristics representing a fault type to identify occurrence of a fault type in the pipeline.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A trunk mains pipeline fault detection system comprising a vibro-acoustic sensor connectable to a fluid path of a trunk mains pipeline and a remote monitoring system, the sensor being operable to measure, for a plurality of days and for a predetermined time period each day, the predetermined time period being less than 24 hours, one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path of the trunk mains pipeline when the trunk mains pipeline is online and under normal operating conditions so as to avoid interruption of a supply of water through the trunk mains pipeline and communicate data on each day'"'"'s measurements to the remote monitoring system, the remote monitoring system being arranged to monitor said data over time to build a representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days and being further arranged to screen one or more of the representation and the monitored data for characteristics representing a fault type to identify occurrence of a fault type in the pipeline, wherein the representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics built from the monitored data over said plurality of days is a function of the monitored data from the predetermined time periods each being less than 24 hours.
- 14. A sensor head including a body connectable to a fluid path passing through a pipe of a trunk mains pipeline, the sensor head including a hydrophone arranged to be in direct contact with fluid when the body is connected to the fluid path, the hydrophone being configured to measure, for a plurality of days and for a predetermined time period each day, the predetermined time period being less than 24 hours, one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path of the trunk mains pipeline when the trunk mains pipeline is online and under normal operating conditions so as to avoid interruption of a supply of water through the trunk mains pipeline, the sensor head being arranged to communicate data on each day'"'"'s measurements to a remote monitoring system for building a representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days, wherein building of the representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days is a function of the monitored data from the predetermined time periods each being less than 24 hours.
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17. A method of detecting fault events in a trunk mains pipeline comprising:
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measuring for a plurality of days and for a predetermined time period each day, the predetermined time period being less than 24 hours, using a vibro-acoustic sensor connected to a trunk mains pipeline having a fluid moving in a fluid path, one or more predetermined vibro-acoustic properties of the fluid and/or fluid path of the trunk mains pipeline when the trunk mains pipeline is online and under normal operating conditions so as to avoid interruption of a supply of water through the trunk mains pipeline; communicating data on each day'"'"'s measurements to a remote monitoring system; monitoring said data over time; building a representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days, wherein the building of the representation of gradual changes in said pipeline'"'"'s characteristics from the monitored data over said plurality of days is a function of the monitored data from the predetermined time periods each being less than 24 hours; and screening the one or more of the representation and the monitored data for characteristics representing a fault type to identify occurrence of a fault event in the pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification