PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION APPARATUS, AND METHODS THEREOF
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.
1 - 18 . (canceled)
19 . A pipeline leak detection apparatus for detection and location of a leak in a pipeline, the apparatus comprising:
a first pressure sensing device and a second pressure device fluidly connected to the pipeline;
a memory;
a processor disposed in communication with the memory and communicatively connected to the first and second pressure sensing devices, wherein the processor is configured to issue a plurality of instructions stored in the memory causing the processor to:
upon a first trigger event, instruct the first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a first data set to the processor;
analyze the first data set to identify a first pressure event to determine whether the first data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing device;
analyze the first data set for the first pressure event responsive to determining the first data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determine a location of the first pressure event along the pipeline.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to, if the location is not within a distance uncertainty of the first pressure sensing device or located at the first pressure sensing device, report the location of the first pressure event is to a user via a user interface.
21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to use a temperature measurement from a temperature sensing device to determine the location of the first pressure event.
22 . The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to use a third data set from a third pressure sensing device, responsive to determining the location of the first pressure event is within the distance uncertainty of the first pressure sensing device, to determine the location of the first pressure event, wherein the third pressure sensing device is adjacent to the second pressure sensing device but not adjacent to the first pressure sensing device.
23 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:
wait for a second trigger event when the first pressure event is not present; and
instruct the first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a second data set to the processor upon the second trigger event;
analyze the second set to identify a second pressure event;
determine whether the second data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing device;
analyze the second data set for the second pressure event, if the second data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determine a location of the second pressure event along the pipeline.
24 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein one or more of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes a fitting configured to dispose the pressure sensing device having the fitting on a pipeline or pipeline network.
25 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein one or more of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes a ball valve, bleed-off valve, a quarter turn valve or a small-bore valve.
26 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein one or more of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes a fitting configured to connect to a hose.
27 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes a differential pressure transducer.
28 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes an absolute pressure transducer.
29 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second pressure sensing devices includes a gauge referenced pressure transducer.
30 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium and one or more computer programs embedded therein, the computer programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer device having a processor, cause the computer device to:
instruct a first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a first data set to the processor upon a first trigger event;
analyze the first data set to identify a first pressure event;
determine whether the first data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from a second pressure sensing device;
analyze the first data set for the first pressure event if the first data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determine a location of the first pressure event along the pipeline.
31 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer device to report the location of the first pressure event is to a user via a user interface if the location is not within a distance uncertainty of the first pressure sensing device or located at the first pressure sensing device.
32 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer device to use a temperature measurement from a temperature sensing device to determine the location of the first pressure event.
33 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer device to use a third data set from a third pressure sensing device to determine the location of the first pressure event when the location of the first pressure event is within the distance uncertainty of the first pressure sensing device, wherein the third pressure sensing device is adjacent to the second pressure sensing device but not adjacent to the first pressure sensing device.
34 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer device to use a temperature measurement from a temperature sensing device to determine the location of the first pressure event.
35 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer device to:
wait for a second trigger event when the first pressure event is not present;
instruct the first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a second data set to the processor upon the second trigger event;
analyze the second data set to identify a second pressure event; and
determine whether the second data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing device;
analyze the second data set for the second pressure event if the data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determine a location of the second pressure event along the pipeline.
36 . A computer-implemented process for detecting and determining a location of a pipeline leak, comprising the steps:
instructing a first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a first data set to the processor upon a first trigger event;
analyzing the first data set to identify a first pressure event;
determining whether the first data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from a second pressure sensing device;
analyzing the first data set for the first pressure event if the first data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determining a location of the first pressure event along the pipeline.
37 . The computer-implemented process as recited in claim 36 , further including the step using a third data set from a third pressure sensing device to determine the location of the first pressure event when the location of the first pressure event is within the distance uncertainty of the first pressure sensing device, wherein the third pressure sensing device is adjacent to the second pressure sensing device but not adjacent to the first pressure sensing device.
38 . The computer-implemented process as recited in claim 36 , further including the steps:
waiting for a second trigger event when the first pressure event is not present;
instructing the first pressure sensing device to measure pressure and to transmit a second data set to the processor upon the second trigger event;
analyzing the second data set to identify a second pressure event; and
determining whether the second data set is the only data set or if it is a data set received from the second pressure sensing device;
analyzing the second data set for the second pressure event if the data set was received from the second pressure sensing device; and
determining a location of the second pressure event along the pipeline.