Communication method for monitoring pipelines
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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Abstract
A method for underground pipeline monitoring in which a continuous alternating electrical current having a current frequency in a range of about 1 kHZ to about 8 kHz is imparted onto a pipeline, producing an alternating magnetic field at the current frequency along the pipeline. Distributed along the pipeline is a network of RFID tag sensors which absorb an amount of energy from the alternating magnetic field. The impedance of the sensors is modulated, producing a modulated sensor impedance which is detected at a location proximate the location at which the continuous alternating electrical current is imparted onto the pipeline.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for underground pipeline monitoring comprising the steps of:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
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8. A method for underground pipeline monitoring comprising the steps of:
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providing a continuous alternating electrical current at a current frequency in a range of 1 kHz to 30 kHz to an underground pipeline with an interrogator in electrical contact with the underground pipeline, wherein the interrogator includes a carrier suppressor and a signal conditioner; absorbing a portion of said current with a network of sensors distributed along said pipeline, producing a sensor draw current; modulating said sensor draw current, producing a modulated sensor current draw; detecting said modulated sensor current draw on the underground pipeline using detection means of the interrogator from which said continuous alternating current is provided; and wherein the carrier suppressor and the signal conditioner allow the interrogator to properly decipher information superimposed on said continuous alternating electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23)
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15. An underground communication system comprising;
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an underground pipeline; an interrogator including an underground alternating electrical current source, a current draw detection means, a carrier suppressor and a signal conditioner; the underground alternating electrical current source in electrical contact with said underground pipeline; a plurality of underground sensors disposed one of proximate to and in contact with said underground pipeline; the current draw detection means for detecting current draw in the underground pipeline by said underground sensor; and wherein the underground alternating electrical current source superimposes a continuous alternating electrical current onto the pipeline, the current draw detection means detects a reflected impedance of the underground sensors, and the carrier suppressor and the signal conditioner allow the interrogator to properly decipher information superimposed on said continuous alternating electrical current. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24)
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Specification