Integrated pipeline protection system

• US 9,732,911 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mohammed Zulfiquar
• Original Assignee: Mohammed Zulfiquar
• Inventors: Zulfiquar, Mohammed
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US14/546,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20150136265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 138104
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/005 of gas pipelines, e.g. alarm
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures

Abstract

The pipeline protection system includes a plurality of modules and a central control unit. The modules are adapted to be disposed circumferentially around the pipeline and capable of communicating to each other and with the central control unit to generate a plurality of real time data related to the pipeline. The modules are retrofittable configuration that includes sub-modules. Each sub-module includes top and bottom protective casings, and at least one flexible composite layer disposed between the top and bottom protective casings. The flexible composite layer includes an electronic circuitry embedded thereon, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the electronic circuitry to monitor a plurality of parameters associated with the pipeline. The plurality of sensors is configured to generate various real time data, such as pipeline leakage, predict future leakage or failure, and detect any attempt to theft or tempering in the pipeline.

Claims

1. An integrated pipeline protection system, comprising:

a pipeline;

a plurality of modules adapted to be disposed to portions of an entire pipeline and capable of communicably configured to each other to generate a plurality of real time data relating to the pipeline, each of the plurality of modules comprising,

at least one flexible composite layer,

at least one layer of electronic circuitry embedded on a flexible composite layer of the at least one flexible composite layer, a layer of electronic circuitry of the at least one layer of electronic circuitry comprising a plurality of microchips embedded thereon, wherein each microchip of the plurality of microchips comprises coded software, and

a plurality of nanosensors embedded on the flexible composite layer in coupling relationship with the layer of electronic circuitry and the microchips to form a combinational arrangement of the plurality of nanosensors, the layer of electronic circuitry and the microchips on the flexible composite layer, wherein the combinational arrangement of the plurality of nanosensors, the layer of electronic circuitry and the microchips on the flexible composite layer obtains a matrix in a rows and columns pattern, wherein intersections of the rows and columns pattern create sensing cells for sensing a respective parameter of a plurality of parameters related to the pipeline and the microchip with the coded software monitors and processes the respective parameter of the plurality of parameters associated with the pipeline to generate at least one of the plurality of real time data relating to the pipeline; and

a central control unit adapted to be communicably configured to the plurality of modules to receive the plurality of real time data relating to the pipeline to generate a plurality of related information of the pipeline.

2. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modules further comprises a retrofittable configuration which is adapted to include at least two sub-modules coupled to be snugly disposed circumferentially around the portion of the pipeline, wherein each sub-module comprises top and bottom protective casings adapted to encase the at least one flexible composite layer from the top and bottom side of the flexible composite layer.

3. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips are printed on the flexible composite layer in one of more circuitry design formats as desired by the pipeline'"'"'s location and position.

4. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible composite layer is a graphene nanosheet.

5. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible composite layer is an intelligent Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrate.

6. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nanosensors are smart transistor sensors printed on the flexible composite layer.

7. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible composite layer is electrically conductive, which when applied to the voltage is capable of, in association with combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the layer of electronic circuitry and microchips, mimicking the behavior of the pipeline.

8. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one failsafe layer configured on the flexible composite layer, the failsafe layer having a plurality of photonics boxes on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, wherein the photonics boxes are actuated via voltage to generate information signals in event of leakage, security breach, breakage and monitoring of the pipeline on real time basis.

9. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a layer of a photovoltaic arrangement disposed on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips to generate required voltage for the operation of the photonics boxes and the flexible composite layer.

10. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips is configured to measure at least one real time data relating to pipeline leakage along the pipeline, the real time data relating to pipeline leakage comprising fluid leakage frequency and amount, and fluid leakage position.

11. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a shutdown-valve configured to be actuated via the set of sensors in event of the leakage of the pipeline.

12. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, each microchip is adapted to include a standard software related to specific real time data relating to the pipeline leakage along the pipeline.

13. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips is configured to measure at least one real time data to regularly monitor general parameters of the pipeline and predict future leakage to enable preventive maintenance of the pipeline at that location, the real time data relating to estimated future leakage of the pipeline comprising corrosion in the pipeline, strain created by internal expending force of fluid in the pipeline, condition of peripheral interface of the pipeline, changes in temperature, pressure, humidity, shocks, vibrations, toxic gases along with the position along the pipeline.

14. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, each microchip is adapted to include a standard software related to specific real time data to regular monitor general parameters of the pipeline and predict future leakage to enable preventive maintenance of the pipeline at that location.

15. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips is configured to measure at least one real time data relating to pipeline security breach along the pipeline, the real time data relating security breach comprising tempering, damage or rupture of the pipeline and position thereof along the pipeline.

16. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a shutdown-valve configured to be actuated via the set of sensors in event of the security breach of the pipeline.

17. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 15, wherein in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, each microchip is adapted to include a standard software related to specific real time data to pipeline security breach along the pipeline, the real time data relating security breach comprising tempering, damage or rupture of the pipeline and position thereof along the pipeline.

18. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, at least one microchip is a memory chip configured on the flexible composite layer to store various data relating to the pipeline.

19. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, at least one of the nanosensor is a GPS (Global Positioning System) nanosensor, which with association of the electronic circuitry and the microchips, is adapted to coordinate with a GPS satellite to enable communication between the plurality of modules and the central control unit.

20. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the layer of electronic circuitry and microchips, at least one microchip is an alarming microchip with an integrated software, which, in combination with the nanosensor and the electronic circuitry is adapted to generate an alarming signal, the alarming signal being audio, smoke, visual lights, in event of leakage or security breach of the pipeline.

21. The integrated pipeline protection system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a dielectric coating layer coated over the flexible composite layer to protect the flexible composite layer and the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the layer of electronic circuitry and microchips.

22. A module to ensure pipeline protection in an integrated pipeline protection system, the module comprising:

at least one flexible composite layer

at least one layer of electronic circuitry embedded on the flexible composite layer of the at least one flexible composite layer, a layer of electronic circuitry of the at least one layer of electronic circuitry comprising a plurality of microchips embedded thereon, wherein each microchip of the plurality of microchips comprises coded software each layer thereof, and

a plurality of nanosensors embedded on the flexible composite layer in coupling relationship with the electronic circuitry and the microchips, wherein a combinational arrangement of the plurality of nanosensors, the layer of electronic circuitry and the microchips on the flexible composite layer to obtain a matrix in a rows and columns pattern, wherein intersections of the rows and columns pattern create sensing cells, wherein when the module is disposed on a portion of the pipeline, the sensing cells sense a respective parameter of a plurality of parameters related to the pipeline and the microchip with the coded software monitors and processes the respective parameter of the plurality of parameters associated with the pipeline to generate at least one of the plurality of real time data relating to the pipeline.

23. The module as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a retrofittable configuration which is adapted to include at least two sub-modules coupled to be snugly disposed circumferentially around the portion of the pipeline, wherein each sub-module comprises top and bottom protective casings adapted to encase the at least one flexible composite layer from the top and bottom side of the flexible composite layer.

24. The module as claimed in claim 22, further comprising at least one failsafe layer configured on the flexible composite layer, the failsafe layer having a plurality of photonics boxes on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips, wherein the photonics boxes are actuated via voltage to generate information signals in event of leakage, security breach, breakage and monitoring of the pipeline on real time basis.

25. The module as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a layer of a photovoltaic arrangement disposed on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips to generate required voltage for the operation of the photonics boxes and the flexible composite layer.

26. The module as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a dielectric coating layer over the flexible composite layer to protect the flexible composite layer and the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips.

27. A method of making a module to ensure pipeline protection in an integrated pipeline protection system, the method comprising:

providing a flexible composite layer;

embedding at least one layer of electronic circuitry on the flexible composite layer, a layer of electronic circuitry of the at least one layer of electronic circuitry comprising a plurality of microchips embedded on the layer of electronic circuitry, wherein each microchip of the plurality of microchips comprises coded software, and

embedding a plurality of nanosensors on the flexible composite layer in coupling relationship with the layer of electronic circuitry and the plurality of microchips forming a combinational arrangement of the plurality of nanosensor, the layer of electronic circuitry and the microchips on the flexible composite layer to obtain a matrix in a rows and columns pattern, wherein intersections of the rows and columns create sensing cells, wherein when the module is disposed on a portion of the pipeline, the sensing cells sense a respective parameter of a plurality of parameters related to the pipeline and the microchip with the coded software monitors and processes the respective parameter of the plurality of parameters associated with the pipeline to generate at least one of the plurality of real time data relating to the pipeline.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising encasing the at least one flexible composite layer from the top and bottom side of the flexible composite layer.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising embedding at least one failsafe layer on the flexible composite layer, the failsafe layer having a plurality of photonics boxes on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising embedding a layer of photovoltaic arrangement disposed on the flexible composite layer in coordination with the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips to generate required voltage for the operation of the photonics boxes and the flexible composite layer.

31. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising coating a dielectric layer over the flexible composite layer to protect the flexible composite layer and the combinational arrangement of the nanosensor, the electronic circuitry and microchips.