Pipeline leak location using ultrasonic flowmeters

摘要

Fluid leaks are identified and located by successively monitoring changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid at a plurality of locations in the pipe with flow meters, such as with ultrasonic flow meters. Preferably the successive monitoring sampling rates are sufficiently high to measure instantaneous velocity changes. A controller coupled to the meters associates changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities in two locations along the pipe with a leak event occurring between those locations. The controller identifies the association event at each location and correlates pipe leak location based at least in part on difference in time between the respective location events. The system and method may be used in liquid and gas pipeline transmission systems.

主权项

1. A pipe leak detection system, comprising:
a plurality of meter pairs, each respective pair having a fluid flow meter and a sound velocity meter at a plurality of locations along a common pipe, each pair successively monitoring respective changes in fluid flow and sound velocities of fluid in the pipe, and each pair comprising a meter controller; and a master controller, coupled to the meter controllers of the meter pairs, for associating changes in monitored fluid flow and sound velocities by two of the meter pairs at two locations along the common pipe with a leak event in the pipe occurring between those locations, wherein each meter controller gathers samples of both sound velocity and fluid flow velocity, records time of each sample and periodically transmits batches of samples to the master controller, wherein the master controller receives time-stamped fluid flow and sound velocities data from each meter controller of the meter pairs and associates changes in the time-stamped fluid flow and sound velocities data with a leak event.