Remote monitoring of pipelines using wireless sensor network

• US 7,526,944 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Brossia, Sean, Sabata, Ashok
• Primary Examiner(s): LARKIN, DANIEL SEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/905,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20050145018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 73/491, 73/405.R, 73/405.A, 738/659, 73/86, 702/113
• US Class Current: 73/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light

Abstract

A wireless sensor network is installed inside pipelines using sensors and wireless transceivers that are small, low-cost, and rugged. The objective is monitoring the pipeline and recommending maintenance and repair at specific locations in the pipeline. Maintenance includes detection of internal corrosion using sensors that can result in leaks. Furthermore detection of leaks for prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of damage, such as third party mechanical damage. After establishing the wireless sensor network, the network is activated so the sensors can make measurements periodically or continuously using instructions transmitted via a base station. The sensor data from the various sensors are transmitted inside the pipe and extracted to access points in the pipeline to a remote computer that stores the data within the computer. The sensed information can be used for monitoring as well as analysis using a recommendation engine to provide maintenance and repair alerts.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring for maintenance and repair of gas pipelines made of metal for detection of internal corrosion that can result in leaks causing catastrophic failures, the method comprising:

providing corrosion sensors for detection of internal corrosion;

providing a wireless sensor network, comprising several wireless transceivers, that collect the sensor data from multiple sites and provides maintenance alerts for repair of the pipelines;

establishing the wireless sensor network inside the pipelines using a method for delivery of the sensors to the site;

activating the sensors to make measurements periodically or continuously;

extracting the corrosion sensor data from the sensors using a the wireless network to access points in the pipelines and analyzing sensor data using a recommendation engine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless sensor network uses wireless transceivers with well defined I/O and standard antenna connectors capable of forming a mesh network or a star network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless network operates inside pipes such that the gas pipelines (made of metal act as a waveguide for the electromagnetic radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein sensors for detection of internal corrosion including a multi-electrode array sensor, a galvanic sensor, interdigitated corrosion sensors or an electrical resistance probe.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein corrosion sensors and said wireless transceivers are sealed in a package for operation inside said gas pipelines.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensors are programmed, configured and controlled at a remote server computer through a base station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing sensor data using said recommendation engine includes the use of statistical models or Bayesian networks.

8. A method for deploying a wireless sensor network inside gas pipelines comprising the steps of:

identifying locations for inspection using a sealed package containing a sensor or sensors and wireless transceivers;

transporting the package containing the wireless transceiver and sensors to the identified sites;

determining a physical co-ordinates of where the inspection takes place using a wireless signal; and

activating the wireless sensor network through a base station.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sealed package is transported to the inspection site using an autonomous robot.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sealed package is transported to the inspection site by rolling it inside the pipeline.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the location of the inspection sites is determined using signal strength and time difference of arrival of the wireless signal.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the location of the inspection sites is determined by an autonomous robot equipped with an inertial sensor.