SYSTEM METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LEAK DETECTION AND LOCALIZATION IN A PIPE NETWORK

• US 20120007743A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aquarius Spectrum Ltd. (Aliaxis SA)
• Original Assignee: Aquarius Spectrum Ltd. (Aliaxis SA)
• Inventors: SOLOMON, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00

Abstract

The invention provides a system for leak detection of a fluid in a pipe network. The system includes flow meters, and vibration detectors adapted to be attached to a pipe at a location in the pipe network. A processor analyzes signals generated by the flow meters and vibration detectors to identify the presence of one or more leaks in the pipe network. The invention also provides a method for detecting and localizing leaks in a pipeline network, and a device comprising a flow meter integral with a vibration detector for use in the system of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for leak detection of a fluid in a pipe network comprising:

(a) two or more flow meters adapted to be installed on a pipe at a location in the pipe network, each flow meter generating a signal indicative of a flow rate of the signal at the location of the flow meter;

(b) two or more vibration detectors adapted to be attached to a pipe at a location in the pipe network, each vibration detector generating a signal indicative of vibrations in the pipe at the location of the vibration sensor; and

(c) a processor configured to analyze the signals generated by one or more of the flow meters and one or more of the vibration detectors to identify the presence of one or more leaks in the pipe network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flow meters and vibrations detectors communicate with the processor over a communication network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein each flow meter and each vibration detector comprises a transceiver for communicating with the processor over the communication network.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an alert when a leak is detected.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display device.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein generating an alert comprises indicated a location of a leak in the pipeline network on a map of the network displayed on a display device

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one flow meter is integral with a vibration detector.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration detectors is of a type selected from an accelerometer, a strain-gage or hydrophone.

9. A method for detecting and localizing leaks in a pipeline network comprising:

(a) monitoring vibration signals generated by vibration detectors deployed at two or more locations in the network;

(b) determining whether there are any significant flow rates in the pipeline;

(c) if no significant flows are detected in the pipeline, executing a leak detection algorithm on the vibration signals to locate leaks in the pipeline; and

(d) issuing an alert when a leak has been located in the pipeline.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein a trigger for monitoring the flow signals and the vibration signals originates from a central server, from an external clock, or from a roaming vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the leak detection and location algorithm is based on the arrival times of vibrations at the vibration detectors, the pipe network configuration, and the speed of propagation of the vibrations.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the leak detection and location algorithm comprises calculation of a cross-spectrum or correlation of pairs of signals and identifying an optimal filter corresponding to maxima of coherence of the two signals.

10. A method for detecting and localizing leaks in a pipeline network comprising:

(a) monitoring vibration signals generated by vibration detectors deployed at two or more locations in the network;

(b) analyzing the vibration signals to determine whether any of the vibration signals are indicative of exceptional vibrations in the network;

(c) when exceptional vibration signals are detected, monitoring signals generated by vibration detectors deployed at two or more locations in the network and flow meters deployed at two or more locations in the network;

(d) determining whether there are any significant flow rates in the pipeline;

(e) if no significant flows are detected in the pipeline, executing a leak detection algorithm on the vibration signals to locate leaks in the pipeline; and

(f) issuing an alert when a leak has been located in the pipeline.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein an exceptional vibration is a vibration whose amplitude or power exceeds a predetermined threshold, or a vibration whose amplitude or power has increased over a recent time period by a predetermined factor.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the vibration signals are monitored periodically.

16. A device comprising a flow meter integral with a vibration detector.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the flow meter is contained in a wet chamber and the vibration detector is coupled to the wet chamber.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the vibration detector comprises a piezo membrane placed at the bottom of the dry chamber.

19. The device according to claim 16, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit signals to a remote processor.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive signals from the remote processor.

21. The device according to claim 17, wherein the wet chamber is separated from the dry chamber by a surface having the shape of a truncated cone and wherein a space between the wet chamber and the dry chamber contains an acoustically coupling material.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the vibration detector comprises a piezo membrane having an annular shape and surrounds a magnetic drive.

23. The device according to claim 16, comprising an ultrasound transducer having a first mode in which the ultrasound transducer serves as the flow meter and a second mode of operation in which the ultrasound transducer servers as the vibration detector.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the ultrasound transducer in the first mode of operation measures transmitted ultrasound waves for phase shift or frequency shift.

25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the ultrasound transducer in the second mode of operation measures low frequencies related to acoustic waves generated in a water network.

26. The device according to claim 16, configured to detect malfunctions in the device.