Pipeline including network and topology for identifying, locating and quantifying physical phenomena

• US 20050092098A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, John G., Carrington, Robert A., Moore, Karen A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/809
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/205 in insulating materials

Abstract

A method and system for detecting, locating and quantifying a physical phenomena such as strain or a deformation in a structure. A plurality of laterally adjacent conductors may each include a plurality of segments. Each segment is constructed to exhibit a unit value representative of a defined energy transmission characteristic. A plurality of identity groups are defined with each identity group comprising a plurality of segments including at least one segment from each of the plurality of conductors. The segments contained within an identity group are configured and arranged such that each of their associated unit values may be represented by a concatenated digit string which is a unique number relative to the other identity groups. Additionally, the unit values of the segments within an identity group maintain unique ratios with respect to the other unit values in the identity group.

Claims

1. A pipeline comprising:

at least one conduit configured to convey a fluid medium therethrough; and

at least one conductive trace formed along an interior surface of the at least one conduit.

2. The pipeline of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled with the at least one conductive trace.

3. The pipeline of claim 2, further comprising an insulative layer between the at least one conductive trace and the interior surface of the at least one conduit.

4. The pipeline of claim 3, further comprising at least one bonding layer between the insulative layer and the interior surface of the at least one conduit.

5. The pipeline of claim 3, wherein the interior surface of the at least one conduit includes a degraded surface.

6. The pipeline of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit and the at least one conductive trace extend coextensively for a distance of at least approximately one mile.

7. The pipeline of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductive trace comprises a plurality of conductive traces.

8. The pipeline of claim 7, further comprising a layer of insulative material disposed between the plurality of conductive traces and the interior surface of the at least one conduit.

9. The pipeline of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of conductive traces includes a thermally sprayed conductive trace comprising a nickel aluminum alloy.

10. The pipeline of claim 9, wherein the layer of insulative material comprises a layer of thermally sprayed alumina.

11. The pipeline of claim 7, wherein each conductor of the plurality includes a plurality of segments coupled in series.

12. The pipeline of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of identity groups, each identity group including a plurality of laterally adjacent segments including at least one segment from each conductor, wherein each segment within an identity group exhibits an associated unit value representative of a defined energy transmission characteristic such that the unit values of each identity group may be represented by a concatenated digit string of the unit values contained therein and wherein the concatenated digit string of each identity group of the plurality is unique.

13. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein each concatenated digit string is representative of a prime number.

14. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein each segment is configured to exhibit a change in resistance upon experiencing a strain therein.

15. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein a plurality of ratios are defined between the associated unit values of each segment of a given identity group and each other segment of the given identity group and wherein each of the plurality of ratios within the given group are unique.

16. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein the associated unit value of each of the plurality of segments corresponds to at least one of a cross-sectional area, a material porosity and a material composition exhibited by the associated segment.

17. The pipeline of claim 12, further comprising a transmitter coupled to a first end of each of the plurality of conductive traces and configured to transmit energy through the plurality of conductive traces.

18. The pipeline of claim 17, further comprising a receiver coupled to a second end of each of the plurality of conductive traces and configured to detect an energy transmission from each of the plurality of conductive traces.

19. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein the plurality of conductive traces includes at least five conductive traces.

20. The pipeline of claim 12, wherein the at least one conduit and the plurality of conductive traces are coextensive for a length of at least approximately twenty miles.