Pipeline leak detection apparatus, and methods thereof
AssigneePipesense, LLC
InventorsMichael David Nash, Stuart Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for the continuous monitoring of a pipeline or a pipeline network carrying flowing media that can not only detect the presence of a leak but also locate the source of the leak through the use of rarefraction wave detection and methods of using the same is disclosed within. The apparatus and method are specifically configured to locate the leak source within less than 36 inches using a calibration means and a noise cancellation means.
Claims18
A pipeline leak detection apparatus for detection and location of a leak in a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
- a first pressure sensing means fluidly connected to the pipeline;
- a second pressure sensing means fluidly connected to the pipeline, wherein the second pressure sensing means is a known distance from the first pressure sensing means;
- a processor means, wherein the first pressure sensing means is communicatively connected to the processor means and wherein the second pressure sensing means is communicatively connected to the processor means;
- a memory storage means operatively coupled to the processor means;
- instructions stored in the memory storage means and executable by the processor means to instruct the apparatus to:
- upon a first trigger event, instruct the first pressure sensing means to measure pressure and to transmit a first data point to the processor means;
- contemporaneously store the first data point into a first data set located in the memory storage means;
- analyze the first data point to identify a first pressure event;
- if the first pressure event is temporally located in the center of the first data set, store the first data set in the memory storage means;
- determine whether the first data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing means;
- if the first data set was received from the second pressure sensing means, analyze the first data set for the first pressure event;
- and
- determine a location of the first pressure event along the pipeline.
One or more nontransitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executed instructions to instruct a computing device to:
- upon a first trigger event, instruct the first pressure sensing means to measure pressure and to transmit a first data point to the processor means;
- contemporaneously store the first data point into a first data set located in the memory storage means;
- analyze the first data point to identify a first pressure event;
- if the first pressure event is temporally located in the center of the first data set, store the first data set in the memory storage means;
- determine whether the first data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing means;
- if the first data set was received from the second pressure sensing means, analyze the first data set for the first pressure event;
- and
- determine a location of the first pressure event along the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.