PIPELINE LEAK LOCATION USING ULTRASONIC FLOWMETERS

• US 20140331745A1
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schaefer, Robert, Diorio, Dennis J., Doorhy, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/40.5A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence

Abstract

Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.

Claims

1. A method for fluid leak detection in a pipe, comprising:

successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe, with flow meters;

associating changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe, with a leak event occurring between those locations with a controller coupled to the flow meters; and

identifying the respective association of event sampled at the two locations, with the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising correlating the leak position on the pipe based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events, with the controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow and sound velocities monitoring is performed at each location with pairs of meters that are non-intrusively coupled to the pipe exterior.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the respective pairs of meters are an ultrasonic meter capable of monitoring both flow and sound velocities.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of respective velocity samples are collected by the flow meters and periodically sent to the controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time of each identified location event is communicated to the controller, and time clocks at each location are synchronized.

7. A method for fluid leak detection and location in a pipe, comprising:

successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe, with flow meters;

associating changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations, with a controller coupled to the flow meters;

identifying the respective association of events sampled at the two locations, with the controller; and

correlating pipe leak location based at least in part on differences in time between the respective location events, with the controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fluid flow and sound velocity monitoring is performed at each location with pairs of meters that are non-intrusively coupled to the pipe exterior.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the respective pairs of meters are ultrasonic meters capable of monitoring both flow and sound velocity.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a plurality of respective velocity samples are collected by the flow meters and periodically sent to the controller.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the time of each identified location event is communicated to the controller and time clocks at each location are synchronized.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the successive monitoring of changes of sound and fluid flow velocities at plural locations step comprises monitoring of instantaneous changes in velocities at a sampling update rate of 1 to 50 milliseconds with the respective flow meters.