Monitoring of leakage in wastewater force mains and other pipes carrying fluid under pressure

• US 7,810,378 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: National Research Council Canada
• Inventors: Wang, Alex, Hunaidi, Osama
• Primary Examiner(s): DEVITO, ALEX T
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVITO, ALEX T
• Application Number:
  US11/766,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 735/92
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes

Abstract

A method of detecting leakage in a force main involves placing at least two spaced sensors on the force main. Liquid is pumped through the pipe by means of a pump. The pump is shut down for an interval of time, and during the period following pump shutdown while negative pressure is present in the pipe, signals are generated at the sensors due to noise or vibration resulting from fluid being drawn into the pipe. The position of a leak in the pipe is determined by correlating the leak noise signals generated while the pipe is under negative pressure. Alternatively, the invention can be applied to a pressurized pipe, in which case conditions of negative pressure can be deliberatively created for a period to draw in fluid from the outside.

Claims

1. A method of detecting leakage in a pipe for carrying a pressurized fluid, comprising:

isolating a section of said pipe;

creating conditions of negative pressure in said isolated section of said pipe so that external fluid is drawn into said isolated section to generate noise or vibration at a leak location;

generating signals corresponding to said noise or vibration from spaced sensors located on said pipe; and

analyzing said signals to determine the location of said leak.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said negative pressure is induced by withdrawing fluid from the isolated section of the pipe.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pipe is at least partially immersed in water, and said external fluid is said water.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pipe is a submarine pipe extending across a river or body of water.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said external fluid is air.

6. A method as claimed claim 1, wherein said signals are analyzed by cross correlation techniques.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensors are hydrophones.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensors are vibration sensors.

9. A method of detecting leakage in a pipe carrying a pressurized fluid, comprising:

creating conditions of negative pressure in said pipe so that external fluid is drawn into said pipe to generate noise or vibration at a leak location;

generating signals corresponding to said noise or vibration from spaced sensors located on said pipe; and

analyzing said signals to determine the location of said leak, and

wherein said negative pressure is induced by shutting off a pump forcing said pressurized fluid through said pipe, said negative pressure arising in a period following pump shutdown.

10. A method as claimed in a claim 9, wherein the pressurized fluid in the pipe is wastewater.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pump is periodically run and shutdown to permit leak detection during periods of pump shutdown.

12. A system for detecting leakage in a pipe carrying pressurized fluid, comprising:

valves for isolating a section of the pipe;

at least two spaced sensors located on the pipe;

means for creating negative pressure in the isolated section of the pipe to draw external fluid into the pipe from the ambient at the location of a leak; and

a computer programmed to determine the location of the leak by analyzing signals representing noise or vibration occurring at the location of said leak.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said pipe is a submarine pipe extending across a river or body of water.

14. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pipe is exposed at the location of the leak, and said external fluid is air.

15. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pipe is a pressurized water distribution pipe.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for creating negative pressure in the pipe includes a pump for withdrawing fluid from within the pipe.

17. A system as claimed claim 12, wherein said computer is programmed to analyze said signals by cross correlation techniques.

18. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said sensors are hydrophones.

19. A system as claimed claims 12, wherein said sensors are vibration sensors.

20. A system for detecting leakage in a pipe carrying pressurized fluid, comprising:

a pump for forcing the pressurized fluid through the pipe;

at least two spaced sensors located on the pipe;

a switch for shutting down the pump for an interval to create negative pressure in the isolated section of the pipe so that external fluid is drawn into the pipe from the ambient at the location of a leak; and

a computer programmed to determine the location of the leak by analyzing signals representing noise or vibration occurring at the location of said leak.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pipe is a wastewater force mains.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said pipe is at least partially immersed in water, and said external fluid is said water.

23. A system as claimed in claim 20, comprising a controller for periodically running the pump and shutting down the pump to permit leak detection during periods of pump shutdown.

24. A method of detecting leakage in a wastewater force mains, comprising:

periodically pumping wastewater through the force mains by means of a pump;

during a period following pump shutdown while conditions of negative pressure are present in the mains, detecting noise or vibration at a leak location due to fluid being drawn into said mains with spaced sensors located on said mains; and

analyzing signals from said spaced sensors corresponding to said noise or vibration to determine the location of said leak.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said signals are analyzed by cross correlation techniques.