Acoustic system for communication in pipelines

• US 20050007877A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Cooper, John F., Martin, Louis Peter II
• Granted Patent: US 7,423,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/82
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/00 Transmission systems characterised by the medium used for transmission, not provided for in groups H04B3/00 - H04B11/00

Abstract

A system for communication in a pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid. The system includes an encoding and transmitting sub-system connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes that transmits a signal in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz into the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, and a receiver and processor sub-system connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid that receives said signal and uses said signal for a desired application.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communication in a pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, comprising:

an encoding and transmitting system connected to the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes that transmits a signal in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz into the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, and

a receiver and processor system connected to the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid that receives said signal and uses said signal for a desired application.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in the fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in a portion of the fluid and wherein the portion of fluid is part of the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in a portion of the fluid and wherein the portion of fluid is not part of the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes an apparatus for electronically digitizing said signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing using Green'"'"'s function analysis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing using matched filter techniques.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing using time reversal techniques.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a broad-band receiver in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a narrow-band receiver in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

13. An apparatus for communication in a pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, comprising:

an array of digital electronic or computer-based apparatus connected to the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz,

an array of acoustic transmitters in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in the fluid, each transmitter interfaced with one of said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus,

means for transmitting a known pilot signal from each of said transmitters,

a narrow band receiver tuned the frequency of said transmitters and immersed in said fluid,

an apparatus for electronically digitizing said acoustic signal,

a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing, and

means for evaluating and comparing said encoded information determined from said pilot signal to identify the source transmitter for a received signal containing said pilot signal and encoded information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes Green'"'"'s function analysis.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes matched filter techniques.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes time reversal techniques.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send an identification code as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the identification code.

18. An apparatus for communication in a pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes, comprising:

an array of digital electronic or computer-based apparatus comprising signal encoders used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz,

an equal array of suitable acoustic transmitters operating at different frequencies in the range of 3-100 kHz connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or pipe network, each transmitter interfaced with one of the signal encoders,

a broad band receiver covering the frequency range of the array of transmitters connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes, said receiver producing received signals,

an apparatus for electronically digitizing said received signals,

a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing including Green'"'"'s function analysis or matched filter techniques or time reversal techniques or other techniques, or combinations, and

means for evaluating and comparing frequency content of said received signals to identify the source transmitters for said received signals containing encoded data.

19. The apparatus for communication in a fluid-filled pipe or network of pipes of claim 18 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send a known pilot signal as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the deconvolving the transfer functions from the known pilot signals and comparing with the known, position-dependant transfer functions for each transducer location.

20. The apparatus for communication in a fluid-filled pipe or network of pipes of claim 18 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send an identification code as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the identification code.

21. An apparatus for communication in a pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes, comprising:

an array of digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz,

an equal array of suitable acoustic transmitters operating at different frequencies in the range of 3-100 kHz immersed in the fluid contained in a pipe or pipe network, each transmitter interfaced with one of the signal encoders,

a suitable-broad band receiver covering the frequency range of the array of transmitters and immersed in the fluid in the pipe or a pipe connected the original pipe through a network of pipes,

an array of electronic filters, tuned to the various transmitter frequencies, to be used for extracting the different frequency components associated with the different transmitters from the received signal,

an apparatus for electronically digitizing the received signals,

a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing including, but not limited to, Green'"'"'s function analysis, matched filter techniques, and/or time reversal techniques, and

means for evaluating and comparing frequency content of the received signal to identify the source transmitter for a received signal containing encoded data.

22. The apparatus for communication in a fluid-filled pipe or network of pipes of claim 21 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send a known pilot signal as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the frequency and upon the deconvolved transfer functions determined from the known pilot signals.

23. The apparatus for communication in a fluid-filled pipe or network of pipes of claim 21 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send an identification code as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the frequency and the identification code.