초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for determining the location of a leak in a fluid containing pipeline. Plural monitoring stations sample fluid flow criteria which change in the presence of a leak. The change in the criteria as a function of a variable such as time will allow extrapolation to discern the loca

A method and apparatus for determining the location of a leak in a fluid containing pipeline. Plural monitoring stations sample fluid flow criteria which change in the presence of a leak. The change in the criteria as a function of a variable such as time will allow extrapolation to discern the location. At each location either pressure or flow rate or both are measured. The measurements occur at regular intervals and a record of fluid flow criteria is created for each monitoring station. The record of each monitoring station is continually transmitted to a central location where a data processor analyzes the records and establishes the leak\s location. One of three algorithms, or any combination thereof, is used by the data processor to calculate the leak\s location. Each algorithm is tuned to the specific pipeline to compensate for unique characteristics thereof. An output device communicates the location of the leak to an operator or automatically takes appropriate action in response to the leak.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for determining the location of a leakage of a transported fluid from a pipeline, the steps including: defining one or more monitoring locations along a pipeline, and monitoring, at one or more of these monitoring locations, one or more physical characteristics of the transported fluid prio

A method for determining the location of a leakage of a transported fluid from a pipeline, the steps including: defining one or more monitoring locations along a pipeline, and monitoring, at one or more of these monitoring locations, one or more physical characteristics of the transported fluid prior to an occurrence of a leak to establish baseline values of these characteristics, and monitoring the physical characteristics after the occurrence of a leak so that differences between the monitored characteristics before and after the occurrence of a leak are identified, and collecting data representing the differences in the monitored physical characteristics that occur as a result of the leak, the data including measured values of the physical characteristics and a sequence corresponding to when each physical characteristic was recorded, and processing the data representing the differences in the monitored physical characteristics that occur as a result of the leak using an algorithm that determines the leak\s location relative to the monitoring location; and wherein the monitored physical characteristics are selected from a group including fluid pressure and fluid flow rate.