Sound propagation comparison with automated frequency selection for pipe condition assessment

• US 10,509,012 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Perrier, Sebastien
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint Surin, Jacques M
• Application Number:
  US16/232,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20190128848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 73592
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0289 Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves

Abstract

Examples of collecting and analyzing acoustic data for condition assessment within a fluid distribution system are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method for collecting and analyzing acoustic data for condition assessment within a fluid distribution system includes: receiving pipe segment criteria for a pipe segment, the pipe segment including a length of a pipe between a first computing node and a second computing node; determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment; utilizing the predicted parameter to measure an actual speed of sound for the pipe segment between the first computing node and the second computing node; and comparing the actual speed of sound and a theoretical speed of sound to calculate a predicted pipe degradation for the pipe segment.

Claims

1. A method for receiving and analyzing data for condition assessment within a fluid distribution system, comprising:

receiving pipe segment criteria for a pipe segment, the pipe segment comprising a length of a pipe between a first computing node and a second computing node;

determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment;

utilizing the predicted parameter to measure an actual speed of sound for the pipe segment between the first computing node and the second computing node; and

comparing the actual speed of sound and a theoretical speed of sound to calculate a predicted pipe degradation for the pipe segment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment comprises determining a suggested frequency range at which to measure the actual speed of sound.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the suggested frequency range comprises the steps of:

determining a magnitude of an explicit frequency that varies with a diameter of the pipe segment and a distance between the first computing node and the second computing node;

determining a lower range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a first empirical parameter; and

determining an upper range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a second empirical parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculation of the theoretical speed of sound in the pipe segment is based on the pipe segment criteria.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring the actual speed of sound comprises the steps of:

implementing a noise source at a predetermined location;

measuring a propagation time delay between signals observed at the first computing node and the second computing node; and

calculating the actual speed of sound in the pipe segment based on the length of the pipe segment and the propagation time delay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pipe segment criteria comprises pipe characteristics, water characteristics, and the length of the pipe.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pipe characteristics comprises a young modulus, an inner diameter, a wall thickness, and a lining thickness.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the water characteristics comprises a bulk modulus, a temperature, a background pressure, and a background velocity.

9. A system for collecting and analyzing acoustic data for condition assessment within a fluid distribution system, comprising:

a plurality of computing nodes in communication with the fluid distribution system and configured to acquire acoustic data in the fluid distribution system; and

a computing host in communication with the plurality of computing nodes, the computing host programmed to perform steps comprising

receiving pipe segment criteria for a pipe segment, the pipe segment comprising a length of a pipe between a first computing node and a second computing node of the plurality of computing nodes,

determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment,

utilizing the predicted parameter to measure an actual speed of sound for the pipe segment between the first computing node and the second computing node, and

comparing the actual speed of sound and a theoretical speed of sound to calculate a predicted pipe degradation for the pipe segment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment comprises determining a suggested frequency range at which to measure the actual speed of sound, comprising the steps of:

determining a magnitude of an explicit frequency that varies with a diameter of the pipe segment and a distance between the first computing node and the second computing node;

determining a lower range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a first empirical parameter; and

determining an upper range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a second empirical parameter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the actual speed of sound between the first computing node and the second computing node is determined based on the suggested frequency range.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the calculation of the theoretical speed of sound in the pipe segment is based on the pipe segment criteria.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein measuring the actual speed of sound comprises the steps of:

implementing a noise source at a predetermined location;

measuring a propagation time delay between signals observed at the first computing node and the second computing node; and

calculating the actual speed of sound in the pipe segment based on the length of the pipe segment and the propagation time delay.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the pipe segment criteria comprises pipe characteristics, water characteristics, and the length of the pipe.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the pipe characteristics comprises a young modulus, an inner diameter, a wall thickness, and a lining thickness.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the water characteristics comprises a bulk modulus, a temperature, a background pressure, and a background velocity.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing resource, cause the processing resource to perform steps comprising:

receiving pipe segment criteria for a pipe segment, the pipe segment comprising a length of a pipe between a first computing node and a second computing node;

determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment;

utilizing the predicted parameter to measure an actual speed of sound for the pipe segment between the first computing node and the second computing node; and

comparing the actual speed of sound and a theoretical speed of sound to calculate a predicted pipe degradation for the pipe segment.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein determining a predicted parameter based on the received pipe segment criteria for the pipe segment comprises determining a suggested frequency range at which to measure the actual speed of sound, comprising the steps of:

determining a magnitude of an explicit frequency that varies with a diameter of the pipe segment and a distance between the first computing node and the second computing node;

determining a lower range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a first empirical parameter; and

determining an upper range value equal to the explicit frequency multiplied by a second empirical parameter.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the actual speed of sound between the first computing node and the second computing node is determined based on the suggested frequency range.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the calculation of the theoretical speed of sound in the pipe segment is based on the pipe segment criteria.