Remote Monitoring of Pipelines using Wireless Sensor Network

• US 20050145018A1
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Brossia, Sean, Sabata, Ashok
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light

Abstract

A wireless sensor system 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 leaks and prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of internal corrosion or other damage, such as third party mechanical damage, using multitude of sensors. After establishing the wireless sensor network the network is activated so the sensor can make measurements periodically or continuously using instructions transmitted via the 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 memory. 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 gas pipelines for maintenance and repair, the method comprising:

a wireless sensor network that collects the sensor data from multiple sites for input into a recommendation engine that provides maintenance alerts for repair of the pipeline;

Maintenance includes detection of leaks and prevention of catastrophic failures as a result of internal corrosion or other damage (e.g., third party mechanical damage);

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

activating the sensor to make measurements periodically or continuously;

extracting the sensor data from the sensor using a wireless network to access points in the pipeline to a remote computer that stores the data within the computer memory;

feeding the data into a recommendation engine for maintenance and repair alerts.

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

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter operates substantially within a frequency band spanning 300 MHz to 3,000 MHz.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter operates inside pipes such that the metal pipe acts as a waveguide for the electromagnetic radiation when operating with a frequency band spanning 300 MHz to 3,000 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic flow sensors and pressure sensors are used to detect leaks.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein corrosion sensors with temperature and humidity sensors are used to detect internal corrosion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the integrated sensor-wireless transceiver system is sealed in a package for operation inside gas pipelines.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensed information is received at a server computer connected to the Internet;

and providing requested information in response to Internet-based requests relating to sensed information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensed information at a server computer is analyzed using intelligent software tools to provide maintenance and repair alerts.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the sensors and the wireless transceivers are deployed using an autonomous robot.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless sensors network is deployed by rolling the sensors and wireless transceivers to identified locations.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the location of the sensors, thereby the inspection site, is determined using ultrasonic sensors.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the location of the sensors is determined by an autonomous robot equipped with an inertial sensor.

10. A method for deploying the wireless sensor system inside pipelines comprising the steps of identifying locations for installation of low power wireless transceivers and mote-sensors;

transporting the wireless transceivers and sensors to the identified sites;

determining the physical co-ordinates of where the installation takes place;

activating the wireless sensor network through the base station.