Leak detection method and system in nonmetallic underground pipes
AssigneeGeo Estratos, S.A. de C.V.
InventorVincente González Dávila
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for locating leaks in nonmetallic pipes on the principal of measuring and graphing the intensity of electric fields. Leaks are located by creating a closed circuit with a negatively charged metallic electrode submersed in water inside a manhole connected to the nonmetallic pipe and several positively charged metallic electrodes placed in several reference holes in the ground above the nonmetallic pipe. A leak is determined by finding segments of nonmetallic pipe that corresponds with greater electric field intensity measurements.
Claims16
A method of locating leaks in an underground nonmetallic pipe, said underground nonmetallic pipe being in connecting relationship with a plurality of manholes, said method comprising the steps of:
- locating an underground nonmetallic pipe;
- determining a portion of said underground nonmetallic pipe to be tested for at least one leak;
- installing a leak locating system along said portion of underground nonmetallic pipe to be tested;
- taking at least one measurement of electric field intensity along said portion of nonmetallic pipe to be tested;
- plotting said at least one measurement of electric field intensity onto a graph;
- interpreting said graph;
- and
- wherein said installing step comprises placing at least two plugs inside said underground nonmetallic pipe at the outer edges of said portion of underground nonmetallic pipe for defining an area of the nonmetallic pipe desired to be tested for leaks and preventing the leaks of a fluid inside the area of the nonmetallic pipe while testing.
A leak locating system for underground nonmetallic pipe, said underground nonmetallic pipe being in connecting relationship with a plurality of manholes and at least one manhole being located approximately in the center of a portion of said underground nonmetallic pipe to be tested, said system comprising:
- at least two plugs placed inside said underground nonmetallic pipe at the outer areas of said portion of underground nonmetallic pipe for defining an area of the nonmetallic pipe desired to be tested for leaks and preventing the leaking of a fluid inside the area of the nonmetallic pipe while testing;
- an electric field transmitter;
- an electric field measuring device;
- to measure electric field intensity along said portion of nonmetallic pipe to be teste;
- at least one negatively charged metallic electrode;
- a plurality of positively charged metallic electrodes;
- and
- a plurality of electric conductors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.