System and method for identifying a pipe

A method for identifying a pipe and/or associated component parts of a piping system, comprising:

• (i) detecting a pre-existing or background vibration in a second pipe section;
• (ii) generating a vibration in a first pipe section using a vibration generation arrangement, said vibration forming an identification signal propagating along the pipe, and the identification signal being modified in response to the detected pre-existing or background vibration in the second pipe section in step (i);
• and
• (iii) detecting the vibration in a second pipe section using a vibration detection arrangement, and thus identify whether the second pipe section and the first pipe section form part of the same pipe or pipe assembly.

A system for identifying the integrity of a pipe or pipe assembly, comprising:

• a vibration generation arrangement configured for engagement with, for coupling to and/or operatively associated with a first pipe section of a pipe or pipe assembly, the vibration generation arrangement configured to generate a vibration in the first pipe section, said vibration forming an identification signal propagating along the pipe;
• and
• a vibration detection arrangement configured for engagement with, for coupling to and/or operatively associated with a second pipe section of said pipe or pipe assembly, the vibration detection arrangement configured to detect vibration in the second pipe section, wherein the absence of said vibration identifies a lack of integrity between the first pipe section and the second pipe section,
• wherein:
• the vibration detection arrangement is configured to detect a pre-existing or background vibration in the second pipe section, and
• the vibration generation arrangement is configured to modify the vibration forming the identification signal in response to the detected pre-existing or background vibration in the second pipe section.

A method for identifying the integrity of a pipe or pipe assembly, comprising:

• (i) detecting a pre-existing or background vibration in a second pipe section;
• (ii) generating a vibration in a first pipe section of a pipe or pipe assembly using a vibration generation arrangement, said vibration forming an identification signal propagating along the pipe, and the identification signal being modified in response to the detected pre-existing or background vibration in the second pipe section in step (i);
• and
• (ii) detecting the vibration in a second pipe section of said pipe or pipe assembly using a vibration detection arrangement,
• wherein the absence of said vibration identifies a lack of integrity between the first pipe section and the second pipe section.