Method and apparatus of estimating wave velocity of negative pressure wave in a fluid transportation pipeline

A method for servicing a fluid transportation pipeline, wherein a negative pressure wave is generated due to leakage at the fluid transportation pipeline, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a processor unit, a plurality of pressure signals from a plurality of sensors, wherein the transportation pipeline includes a plurality of sensor segments, each of which is disposed between corresponding two adjacent sensors of the plurality of sensors;
• determining, by said processor unit, time differences produced by the negative pressure wave reaching the adjacent sensors, based on the received plurality of pressure signals;
• determining, by said processor unit, a wave source sensor segment of the plurality of sensor segments based on the determined time differences, wherein the wave source sensor segment is a sensor segment where a wave source of the negative pressure wave is located;
• estimating, by said processor unit, the wave velocities of the negative pressure wave in one or more non-wave source sensor segments and the wave source sensor segment, based on the determined time differences, wherein the one or more non-wave source sensor segments are sensor segments other than the wave source sensor segment of the plurality of sensor segments;
• and
• determining, by said processor unit, a location of said leakage at the fluid transportation pipeline using said estimated negative pressure wave velocities.

An apparatus for servicing a fluid transportation pipeline, wherein a negative pressure wave is generated due to a normal operation on the fluid transportation pipeline, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory element;
• at least one processor coupled to the memory element;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a plurality of pressure signals from a plurality of sensors, wherein the transportation pipeline includes a plurality of sensor segments, each of which is disposed between corresponding two adjacent sensors of the plurality of sensors;
• determine a location of a wave source of the negative pressure wave;
• determine at least one non-wave source sensor segment of the plurality of sensor segments based on the determined location of the wave source, wherein the at least one non-wave source sensor segment is a sensor segment where the wave source is not located;
• determine a wave source sensor segment of the plurality of sensor segments based on the determined location of the wave source, wherein the wave source sensor segment is a sensor segment where the wave source is located;
• determine time differences produced by the negative pressure wave reaching adjacent sensors based on the plurality of pressure signals;
• and
• estimate the wave velocities of the negative pressure wave in the at least one non-wave source sensor segment and the wave source sensor segment, based on the determined time differences;
• and
• determine the location of the unit that is performing the operation as the location of the wave source of the negative pressure wave using said estimated negative pressure wave velocities and a working schedule of said operating unit.

An apparatus for servicing a fluid transportation pipeline, wherein a negative pressure wave is generated due to leakage at the fluid transportation pipeline, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory element;
• at least one processor coupled to the memory element;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive a plurality of pressure signals from a plurality of sensors, wherein the transportation pipeline including a plurality of sensor segments, each of which is disposed between corresponding two adjacent sensors of the plurality of sensors;
• determine time differences produced by the negative pressure wave reaching the adjacent sensors based on the received pressure signals;
• determine a wave source sensor segment of the plurality of sensor segments based on the determined time differences, wherein the wave source sensor segment is a sensor segment where a wave source of the negative pressure wave is located;
• and
• estimate the wave velocities of the negative pressure wave in one or more non-wave source sensor segments and the wave source sensor segment, based on the determined time differences;
• and
• determine a location of said leakage at the fluid transportation pipeline using said estimated negative pressure wave velocities.