Optical Fiber Pipeline Monitoring System and Method Field

• US 20110007996A1
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/085 the optical fiber being on or near the surface of the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/086 Details about the embedment of the optical fiber within the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0025 of elongated objects, e.g. pipes, masts, towers or railways G01M5/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a fiber surveillance system for monitoring a pipeline is provided. The surveillance system includes an optical fiber acoustically coupled to the pipeline to detect acoustic signals associated with vibrations or other activity near or from the pipeline. Optical energy is injected into the optical fiber and an optical detector receives an optical return-signal having certain characteristics resulting from vibrations impinging on the optical fiber. An analyzer is configured to determine operating information about the pipeline based on the optical return-signal. Two or more fibers can be acoustically coupled to the pipeline and arranged in varying configurations to yield greater resolution.

Claims

1. A pipeline monitoring system, comprising:

a first optical fiber acoustically coupled to at least a section of a pipeline;

a first source of optical energy configured to inject optical energy into the first optical fiber;

a first optical detector configured to detect a first optical return-signal resulting from an acoustic signal emitted from the pipeline and impinging on the first optical fiber; and

an analyzer configured to determine operating information about the pipeline based at least on the characteristics of the first optical return-signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first optical fiber is physically coupled to the section of the pipeline.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a portion of the first optical fiber is in a substantially helical configuration about the section of the pipeline.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first optical fiber is embedded in the section of the pipeline.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first optical fiber is coupled to an exterior of the section of the pipeline.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first optical fiber is coupled to an interior of the section of the pipeline.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second optical fiber acoustically coupled to at least a section of the pipeline;

a second source of optical energy configured to inject optical energy into the second optical fiber; and

a second optical detector configured to detect a second optical return-signal resulting from the acoustic signal emitted from the pipeline and impinging on the second optical fiber;

wherein the analyzer is further configured to determine the operating information based at least on the characteristics of the first optical return-signal and the second optical return-signal.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first source of optical energy and the second source of optical energy are a common source of optical energy.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is further configured to determine the location along the pipeline at which the acoustic signal is emitted.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating information includes a likelihood of a fault in the section of pipeline.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating information includes at least one of a stress level and a strain level in the section of pipeline.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating information includes at least one of a flow rate through the section of pipeline, a pressure level in the section of pipeline, and a fill-level of the section of pipeline.

13. A pipe for transportation of goods, comprising:

a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end and a run-length between the first end and second end; and

a first optical fiber coupled to the hollow cylinder along at least a portion of the run-length, such that an acoustic signal emitted from the pipe impinges on the first optical fiber.

14. The pipe of claim 13, further comprising a second optical fiber coupled to the hollow cylinder along at least a portion of the run-length, such that an acoustic signal emitted from the pipe impinges on the second optical fiber.

15. The pipe of claim 13, wherein a portion of the first optical fiber is in a substantially helical configuration about the hollow cylinder.

16. The pipe of claim 13, further comprising at least one u-shaped fastener, configured to couple the first optical fiber to the hollow cylinder.

17. The pipe of claim 13, wherein the first optical fiber is embedded in the hollow cylinder.

18. The pipe of claim 13, further comprising a first and second optical connector, the first optical connector being attached to a first end of the first optical fiber, and the second optical connector being attached to the second end of the first optical fiber.

19. The pipe of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first end and second end is configured such that when the pipe is joined to a second pipe, the first optical fiber is substantially aligned with the first optical fiber of the second pipe.

20. A method for determining operating information about a section of a pipeline comprising:

injecting optical energy into an optical fiber acoustically coupled the section of the pipeline;

receiving from the optical fiber, an optical return-signal resulting from an acoustic energy emitted from the pipeline; and

analyzing the received signal to determine the operating information about the pipeline.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein analyzing the received signal includes comparing the received signal to a previously received signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the operating information includes at least one stress of the section of the pipeline and strain of the section of the pipeline.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the operating information includes a likelihood of failure.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the operating information includes at least one a pressure of the section of the pipeline, a flow rate of the section of the pipeline, and a fill level of the section of the pipeline.