HIGH REPETITION RATE THERMOMETRY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150153243A1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
• Inventors: AL-SAYED WAHBA, Osama Mohammad
• Granted Patent: US 10,386,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/005 of gas pipelines, e.g. alarm
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes

Abstract

An intelligent utility monitoring method and system for monitoring a network of utility lines can include a data collector configured to receive acoustic data based on real-time measurements of the utility line, an events historian configured store the acoustic data, an alarm and events (A&E) manager, a server, and an interface. The A&E manager can be configured to store alarm and even data. The A&E data can be based on analysis of the acoustic data. The interface can be configured to provide output based on the acoustic data and on the A&E data. The server can be configured to store the acoustic data and the A&E data. The server can further be configured to provide a computer network for at least the events historian, the A&E manager, and the interface.

Claims

1. An intelligent utility monitoring system for detection of leaks in a pressurized line, comprising:

at least two acoustic sensors in contact with the pressurized line, wherein each of the at least two acoustic sensors are configured to detect a noise having a noise level;

an analyzer configured to determine the noise level within the pressurized line; and

a processor comprising a correlator configured to determine a location of a leak in the pressurized line based on correlation of the noise.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is configured to discriminate against noise below 10 dB.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzer is configured to discriminate against noise above 40 dB.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two acoustic sensors has a wireless transmitter configured to communicate wirelessly with the correlator.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for imparting an acoustic impulse in the pressurized line and wherein the processor is configured to compare the acoustic impulse with a partially reflected acoustic signal.

6. An intelligent utility monitoring system for monitoring a network of utility lines, comprising:

a data collector configured to receive acoustic data based on real-time measurements of the utility line;

an events historian configured store the acoustic data;

an alarm and event manager configured to store alarm and even data, wherein the alarm and event data is based on analysis of the acoustic data;

an interface configured to provide output based on the acoustic data and on the alarm and event data; and

a server configured to store the acoustic data and the alarm and event data and further configured to provide a computer network for at least the events historian, the alarm and events manager, and the interface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the network of utility lines comprises water pipes, and wherein the data collector is configured to receive flow rate data and pressure data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the data collector is configured to receive temperature data.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the data collector is configured to receive vibration data.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

at least two acoustic sensors in contact with the water pipes, wherein each of the at least two acoustic sensors are configured to detect a noise having a noise level;

an analyzer configured to determine the noise level within the water pipes; and

a correlator configured to determine a location of a leak in the water pipes based on correlation of the noise.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the analyzer is configured to discriminate against noise below 10 dB or above 40 dB.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two acoustic sensors has a wireless transmitter configured to communicate wirelessly with the correlator.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a means for imparting an acoustic impulse to the water pipes and wherein the server is further configured to compare the acoustic impulse with a partially reflected acoustic signal.

14. A method of intelligently monitoring a utility line, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an acoustic noise signal along the utility line;

measuring a first detection signal with a first sensor and a second detection signal with a second detector;

correlating the first and second detection signals and generating leak data; and

sending the leak data to a supervisory control and data acquisition system.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating alarm and event data and filtering out false alarms based on predetermined criteria.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined criteria comprise associating valid alarms with noise in the range of 10 dB to 40 dB.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising correlating the leak data with one or more locations on a digital map.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more locations comprises a surface location and a depth location.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising automatically generating an optimized response plan based on the leak data and on the digital map.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising logging leak data and generating predictions of potential leaks based on logged leak data.