Method for detecting leaks in pipelines
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:
- applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals;
processing the received signals with processors associated with the sensors to produce digital signals representative of the received signals, each of the digital signals including a sequence of digital samples, and the processing of a received signal including amplifying the received signal using a gain;
periodically adjusting the gain used to process a received acoustic signal to control a resolution of the corresponding digital signal relative to the received acoustic signal;
issuing a synchronization command to the processors associated with the sensors from a base station, the synchronization command temporally aligning processing of the received signals between the processors;
transmitting the digital signals to the base station, the base station being located remotely from the processors, and the transmitting of a digital signal including;
transmitting a set of digital samples associated with a time period of the digital signal, the digital samples all resulting from using a particular gain to amplify a received acoustic signal, andtransmitting with the set of digital samples information identifying the particular gain and a time associated with the set of digital samples; and
analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, the analyzing of a set of digital samples using the information identifying the particular gain and time associated with the set of digital samples.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to detecting leaks in a pipeline using enhanced methods of data sensing, digitally encoded transmission, and cross-correlation. A plurality of acoustic sensors are applied to the pipeline to sense a combination of signals from the leak and much greater quantities of noise. The sensed data is digitized at the sensor, encoded and digitally transmitted to a computerized base station. The encoded data from a plurality of sensors received at the base station is decoded, digitally filtered and cross-correlated. Enhanced methods of cross-correlation are performed to estimate the likely presence of a leak and the location and size of any leaks present. Participation in the leak detection procedure by an expert not present at the pipeline is facilitated by communication of data between the base station and a distant supervisory station.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:
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applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals; processing the received signals with processors associated with the sensors to produce digital signals representative of the received signals, each of the digital signals including a sequence of digital samples, and the processing of a received signal including amplifying the received signal using a gain; periodically adjusting the gain used to process a received acoustic signal to control a resolution of the corresponding digital signal relative to the received acoustic signal; issuing a synchronization command to the processors associated with the sensors from a base station, the synchronization command temporally aligning processing of the received signals between the processors; transmitting the digital signals to the base station, the base station being located remotely from the processors, and the transmitting of a digital signal including; transmitting a set of digital samples associated with a time period of the digital signal, the digital samples all resulting from using a particular gain to amplify a received acoustic signal, and transmitting with the set of digital samples information identifying the particular gain and a time associated with the set of digital samples; and analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, the analyzing of a set of digital samples using the information identifying the particular gain and time associated with the set of digital samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:
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applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals; processing the received signals with processors associated with the sensors to produce digital signals representative of the received signals, each of the digital signals including a sequence of digital samples, and the processing of a received signal including amplifying the received signal using a gain; periodically adjusting the gain used to process a received acoustic signal to control a resolution of the corresponding digital signal relative to the received acoustic signal; transmitting the digital signals to the base station, the base station being located remotely from the processors, and the transmitting of a digital signal including; transmitting a set of digital samples, the digital samples all resulting from using a particular gain to amplify a received acoustic signal, and transmitting with the set of digital samples information identifying the particular gain associated with the set of digital samples; and analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, the analyzing of a set of digital samples using the information identifying the particular gain associated with the set of digital samples.
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27. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:
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applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals; processing the received signals with processors; transmitting the processed signals digitally to a base station; and analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, wherein the analyzing step further includes estimating a distance through the pipeline between sensors by; transmitting a control message from the base station to one processor to instruct the processor to generate a token signal; generating a token signal, vibrating the pipe with the token signal from one processor, and simultaneously transmitting the token signal from said processor; transmitting the acoustic signal received at one or more other processors; computing an approximate measure of the time difference in the transmitted signals at the base station; and obtaining an approximate measure of the distance between the sensors by analyzing the measured time difference in reception of the token signal at two processors.
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Specification