Acoustic system for communication in pipelines

• US 7,423,931 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Cooper, John F., Martin, Louis Peter II
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo; Ian J
• Application Number:
  US10/855,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 367/82, 367/83, 738/612.8, 73/405.A, 340/870.01
• US Class Current: 367/83
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/00 Transmission systems characterised by the medium used for transmission, not provided for in groups H04B3/00 - H04B11/00

Abstract

A system for communication in a pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid. The system includes an encoding and transmitting sub-system connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes that transmits a signal in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz into the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid, and a receiver and processor sub-system connected to the pipe, or pipeline, or network of pipes containing a fluid that receives said signal and uses said signal for a desired application.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus that provides a system for providing high data transfer acoustic communication of information in a network of pipes that form a pipeline containing a fluid by transmitting the information through the fluid from a first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to a remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline, comprising:

an external source that supplies a data signal containing the information to be transmitted through the fluid from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

a transmitting system positioned at the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and connected to said external source and the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

said transmitting system including an acoustic transmitter with a frequency in the range of 3-100 kHz positioned at the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and connected to said external source and the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline that receives said data signal containing the information and transmits said data signal containing the information in the form of a signal in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz into the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline containing the fluid to initiate transmission of the information from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

wherein said data signal propagates through the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline, and

an independent receiver and processor system located at the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and connected to the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline containing the fluid that receives said data signal and process said data signal containing the information, wherein the information is transmitted through the fluid from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and is used for a desired application.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in the fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in a portion of the fluid and wherein the portion of fluid is part of the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said encoding and transmitting system includes an acoustic transmitter in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in a portion of the fluid and wherein the portion of fluid is not part of the pipe or pipeline, or network of pipes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes an apparatus for electronically digitizing said signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing using Green'"'"'s function analysis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing using matched filter techniques.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing that includes a time reversal signal processor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a broad-band receiver in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver and processor system includes a narrow-band receiver in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz.

13. A communication apparatus that provides a system for providing communication in a network of pipes that form a pipeline containing a fluid by transmitting information through the fluid from a first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to a remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline comprising:

an array of digital electronic or computer-based apparatus positioned at the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and connected to the network of pipes that form a pipeline containing the fluid, used to encode information onto an electric signal suitable for conversion to an acoustic signal by an acoustic transmitter frequency range of 3-100 kHz to initiate transmission of the information from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

an array of acoustic transmitters in the frequency range of 3-100 kHz immersed in the fluid and located at the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline, each transmitter interfaced with one of said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus,

wherein said acoustic signal propagates through the fluid in the network of pipes that form a pipeline from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

means for transmitting a known pilot signal from each of said transmitters,

an independent narrow band receiver tuned the frequency of said transmitters and immersed in said fluid located at the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline,

an apparatus for electronically digitizing said acoustic signal,

a digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing, and

means for evaluating and comparing said encoded information determined from said pilot signal to identify the source transmitter for a received signal containing said pilot signal and encoded information, wherein the information is transmitted through the fluid from the first location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline to the remote second location in the network of pipes that form a pipeline and is used for a desired application.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes Green'"'"'s function analysis.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes matched filter techniques.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said digital electronic or computer-based apparatus used for signal processing includes a time reversal signal processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said transmitters include the capability to send an identification code as part of the signal, and the signal processor includes the capability to identify the source transmitter based on the identification code.