Pipe assembly
Disclosed herein is a pipe assembly containing a pipe, an insulating jacket coupled to the pipe via an attachment base; and a tracer wire within the insulating jacket. The width of the attachment base is greater than width of the insulating jacket. Also disclosed herein are methods of locating a pipe concealed below a ground surface, and detecting the presence and the position of a leak in a pipe concealed below a ground surface.
1. A method comprising:
connecting a pulse generator to a pipe assembly comprising a pipe, an insulating jacket coupled to the pipe via an attachment base, and a tracer wire within the insulating jacket, wherein width of the attachment base is greater than width of the insulating jacket, wherein the insulating jacket and the attachment base define a T-shape such that the attachment base is positioned between the tracer wire and the pipe;
passing pulses through the tracer wire by the pulse generator;
receiving reflections of the pulses from the tracer wire; and
analyzing the reflections to determine presence of a leak in the pipe.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the reflections to determine position of the leak.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the insulating jacket narrows in thickness toward the attachment base.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attachment base has a width within a range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflections are received via an oscilloscope.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe includes a non-metallic material.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe includes a high-density polyethylene.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracer wire includes an electrically conductive material.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe includes a plurality of pipes that are butt welded together to form a continuous pipeline.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tracer wire is included in a flexible multi strand cable.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible multi strand cable has an end portion inclusive of a lug.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lug is configured for crimping.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lug is tubular.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lug includes metal.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulse generator is connected to the pipe assembly while the pipe assembly is positioned below a ground surface.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulses are passed through the tracer wire while the pipe assembly is positioned below a ground surface.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflections are received from the tracer wire while the pipe assembly is positioned below a ground surface.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflections are analyzed above a ground surface.