Method for detecting leaks in pipelines

A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:

• applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals;
• processing the received signals with processors associated with the sensors to produce digital signals representative of the received signals, each of the digital signals including a sequence of digital samples, and the processing of a received signal including amplifying the received signal using a gain;
• periodically adjusting the gain used to process a received acoustic signal to control a resolution of the corresponding digital signal relative to the received acoustic signal;
• transmitting the digital signals to the base station, the base station being located remotely from the processors, and the transmitting of a digital signal including:
• transmitting a set of digital samples, the digital samples all resulting from using a particular gain to amplify a received acoustic signal, and
• transmitting with the set of digital samples information identifying the particular gain associated with the set of digital samples;
• and
• analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, the analyzing of a set of digital samples using the information identifying the particular gain associated with the set of digital samples.

A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:

• applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals;
• processing the received signals with processors;
• transmitting the processed signals digitally to a base station;
• and
• analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline,
• wherein the analyzing step further includes estimating a distance through the pipeline between sensors by:
• transmitting a control message from the base station to one processor to instruct the processor to generate a token signal;
• generating a token signal, vibrating the pipe with the token signal from one processor, and simultaneously transmitting the token signal from said processor;
• transmitting the acoustic signal received at one or more other processors;
• computing an approximate measure of the time difference in the transmitted signals at the base station;
• and
• obtaining an approximate measure of the distance between the sensors by analyzing the measured time difference in reception of the token signal at two processors.