Enhanced acoustic detection of gas leaks in underground gas pipelines
First Claim
1. A method for locating gas leaks from underground gas pipelines comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first acoustic sensor having a first signal output in ground disposed one of substantially above said underground gas pipeline and at a distance from said underground gas pipeline;
positioning at least one second acoustic sensor having a second signal output in said ground at a plurality of locations substantially above said underground gas pipeline;
measuring a first output signal from said first acoustic sensor;
measuring a second output signal from said second acoustic sensor at each of said locations;
adaptively filtering said first output signal and said second output signal resulting in an adaptively filtered second output signal corresponding to each of said locations whereby signal components common to said first output signal and said second output signal are eliminated from said second output signal;
determining a first rms voltage for said first output signal and a second rms voltage for each of said adaptively filtered second output signals;
determining a difference between a statistical minima of said first rms voltage and each of said second rms voltages; and
determining said location of said second acoustic sensor corresponding to a largest positive said difference, resulting in identification of said location closest to a gas leak from said underground gas pipeline.
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Abstract
A method for locating gas leaks from underground gas pipelines in which a first acoustic sensor having a first signal output is positioned in ground disposed substantially above or at a distance from the underground gas pipeline. At least one second acoustic sensor having a second signal output is positioned in the ground at a plurality of locations substantially above the underground gas pipeline. The output signals from the acoustic sensors are measured for each location of the second acoustic sensor and the signals are adaptively filtered to remove common noise signal components. The statistical minima of these rms voltages are determined for both the first output signal and the adaptively filtered second output signals and the differences determined. The location of the second acoustic sensor corresponding to the largest positive said difference is the location closest to the leak site.
113 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for locating gas leaks from underground gas pipelines comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first acoustic sensor having a first signal output in ground disposed one of substantially above said underground gas pipeline and at a distance from said underground gas pipeline;
positioning at least one second acoustic sensor having a second signal output in said ground at a plurality of locations substantially above said underground gas pipeline;
measuring a first output signal from said first acoustic sensor;
measuring a second output signal from said second acoustic sensor at each of said locations;
adaptively filtering said first output signal and said second output signal resulting in an adaptively filtered second output signal corresponding to each of said locations whereby signal components common to said first output signal and said second output signal are eliminated from said second output signal;
determining a first rms voltage for said first output signal and a second rms voltage for each of said adaptively filtered second output signals;
determining a difference between a statistical minima of said first rms voltage and each of said second rms voltages; and
determining said location of said second acoustic sensor corresponding to a largest positive said difference, resulting in identification of said location closest to a gas leak from said underground gas pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification