| 摘要 |
An above-ground pipeline is monitored for leaks by a thermal sensor which senses temperature along its length. The sensor is for example a distributed fibre optic sensor or a satellite with an infrared sensor. If a temperature is registere d which is higher by a predetermined amount than the ambient temperature, a leak is suspected. This is particularly useful for oil pipelines containing warm oil which pass through arctic or antarctic terrain. In another embodiment, a pipeline is monitored by a thermal sensor and is al so monitored by a acoustic sensor distributed acoustic sensor (such as a fibre optic sensor) or an array of discrete acoustic sensors. When an acoustic event tha t is similar to the acoustic event made by a collision with the pipeline or fluid escaping from the pipeline is detected, and a thermal anomaly is detected at the same location and approximately the same time, a leak is suspected. |
