In-pipe leak detection systems, devices, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10845007-B2
Application number	US-201716341139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2017
Priority date	Oct 17, 2016
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

In-pipe leak detection systems and related methods are disclosed for detecting in-pipe leaks while fluid is actively flowing through the pipe. The system can include a sensing element coupled to a membrane that are disposed parallel to or in-line with an axial direction of a fluid flow. The membrane is configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a leak. The leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element indicative of a stretch or strain on the membrane. The sensing element and the membrane is coupled to a support structure configured to position the membrane adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe. The support structure can include a mechanism that couples the membrane and the sensing element to the support structure and is configured to help in discriminating between leaks and false detections.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An in-pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a membrane;
a sensing element coupled to the membrane, wherein the sensing element and the membrane are configured to be disposed substantially parallel to or in-line with an axial direction of a fluid flow in a pipe to identify a possible in-pipe leak;
a support structure coupled to at least one of the sensing element and the membrane and configured to position the membrane adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe in which a search for an in-pipe leak is being performed;
a mechanism coupling the membrane, and thereby the sensing element, to the support structure,
wherein the membrane is configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a fluid leak in the pipe,
wherein the mechanism is configured to artificially dampen a natural frequency of the membrane and the sensing element in response to a stretch in the axial direction of the fluid flow when an obstacle or an extrusion on the inner wall of the pipe pushes the membrane away from the inner wall of the pipe, and
wherein the fluid leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element that is indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane.

2. An in-pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a membrane;
a sensing element coupled to the membrane, wherein the sensing element and the membrane are configured to be disposed substantially parallel to or in-line with an axial direction of a fluid flow in a pipe to identify a possible in-pipe leak;
a processor coupled to the sensing element and
a support structure coupled to at least one of the sensing element and the membrane and configured to position the membrane adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe in which a search for an in-pipe leak is being performed,
wherein the membrane is configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a fluid leak in the pipe,
wherein the fluid leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element that is indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane, and
wherein the processor is configured to detect an obstacle or extrusion on the inner wall of the pipe in response to a dominant frequency of the transient output of the sensing element being less than the natural frequency of the membrane and the sensing element in response to the stretch in the axial direction of the fluid flow.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect a fluid leak in response to the dominant frequency of the transient output of the sensing element being equal to or greater than the natural frequency of the membrane and the sensing element in response to the stretch in the axial direction of the fluid flow.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises at least one radially extending support arm having an end coupled to a slot, an outer wall of the end of the support arm being configured to be in contact with the inner wall of the pipe and maintain the membrane placed inside the slot, and thereby the sensing element, at a substantially fixed distance away from the inner wall of the pipe.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises:
a slot coupling the membrane to the support structure, the slot being configured to artificially dampen the natural frequency of the membrane and the sensing element in response to the stretch in the axial direction of the fluid flow when an obstacle or an extrusion on the inner wall of the pipe pushes the membrane into contact with a bottom of the slot.

6. An in-pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a plurality of membranes;
a plurality of sensing elements, the plurality of sensing elements being respectively coupled to the plurality of membranes, the plurality of sensing elements and the plurality of membranes being configured to be disposed substantially parallel to or in-line with the axial direction of the fluid flow in the pipe to identify a possible in-pipe leak;
at least one processor coupled to the plurality of sensing elements; and
a support structure including a plurality of radially extending support arms respectively coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensing elements and the plurality of membranes, the support structure being configured to position the plurality of membranes adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe in which a search for an in-pipe leak is being performed, wherein respective ends of the plurality of radially extending support arms are configured to expand to be in contact with the inner wall of the pipe in response to pressure from the fluid flow,
wherein the plurality of membranes are configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a fluid leak in the pipe,
wherein the fluid leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element that is indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane, and
wherein the at least one processor is configured to discriminate between a fluid leak and a false leak detection based on a comparison of a plurality of concurrent transient outputs from the plurality of sensing elements.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of radially extending support arms are respectively coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensing elements and the plurality of membranes such that the plurality of membranes substantially cover a circumference of the inner wall of the pipe.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect a false fluid leak in response to more than one of the plurality of concurrent transient outputs from the plurality of sensing elements being indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect a fluid leak in response to one of the plurality of concurrent transient outputs from the plurality of sensing elements being indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane.

10. An in-pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a plurality of membranes;
a plurality of sensing elements, the plurality of sensing elements being respectively coupled to the plurality of membranes, the plurality of sensing elements and the plurality of membranes being configured to be disposed substantially parallel to or in-line with the axial direction of the fluid flow in the pipe to identify a possible in-pipe leak;
a support structure including a plurality of radially extending support arms respectively coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensing elements and the plurality of membranes, wherein respective ends of the plurality of radially extending support arms are configured to expand to be in contact with the inner wall of the pipe in response to pressure from the fluid flow;
at least one position encoder coupled to the plurality of radially extending support arms; and
a processor configured to detect a false fluid leak in response to the at least one position encoder outputting a signal indicating a change in a position of at least one of the plurality of radially extending support arms,
wherein the plurality of membranes are configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a fluid leak in the pipe, and
wherein the fluid leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element that is indicative of a pulling force or strain on the membrane.

11. An in-pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a plurality of membranes;
a plurality of sensing elements, the plurality of sensing elements being respectively coupled to the plurality of membranes, the plur

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology
• Univ King Fahd Pet & Minerals

Inventors

• Wu You
• Youcef-Toumi Kamal
• Kim Kristina S
• Henry Michael Finn
• Mansour Rached Ben

Classifications

• G01M3/2823

  using pigs or moles traveling in the pipe · CPC title

• G01M3/24 Primary

  using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations · CPC title

• G01M3/08

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds} · CPC title

• G01M3/005

  using pigs or moles (G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/28

  for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves {; for welds} · CPC title