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Communication method for monitoring pipelines

  • US 9,000,778 B2
  • Filed: 08/15/2011
  • Issued: 04/07/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for underground pipeline monitoring comprising the steps of:

  • superimposing a continuous alternating electrical current having a current frequency in a range of 1 kHz to 30 kHz onto a generally continuous underground pipeline using an interrogator in electrical contact with the pipeline, producing an alternating magnetic field at said current frequency along said pipeline, wherein the interrogator includes a carrier suppressor and a signal conditioner;

    absorbing an amount of energy from said alternating magnetic field using a network of sensors distributed along said pipeline;

    modulating an impedance of said sensors, producing a modulated sensor impedance;

    detecting said modulated sensor impedance passing through the pipeline with the interrogator from which said continuous alternating electrical current is superimposed onto said pipeline; and

    wherein the carrier suppressor and the signal conditioner allow the interrogator to properly decipher information superimposed on said continuous alternating electrical current.

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