Method and system for detecting a leak in a pipeline

摘要

System and method for detecting a leak in a pipeline with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element. At least one heat pulse is propagated through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and fluid exposed to the sensing cable. A temperature profile of the sensing cable corresponding to the heat pulse at each of a plurality of sensor locations on the optical fiber sensor array is measured over time. A leak in a pipeline is detected by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.

主权项

1. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, comprising:
providing along a length of a perimeter of a wall of a pipeline a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element; wherein the sensing cable further includes a power cable for optical signal amplification; propagating at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and fluid exposed to the sensing cable; measuring, over time, a temperature profile of the sensing cable corresponding to the heat pulse at each of a plurality of sensor locations on the optical fiber sensor array; and detecting a leak in a pipeline by determining one or more properties of the fluid exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.