Patent classifications
G01M3/047
FIBER OPTICS INTEGRATED WITH NUMERICAL SIMULATORS FOR PIPELINE LEAK QUANTIFICATION
A system includes a fiber optic cable configured to detect one or more first parameters of a leak event along a fluid conduit, and one or more sensors configured to measure one or more second parameters of a fluid flow along the fluid conduit. The system also includes a controller including a processor, a memory, and instructions stored on the memory and executable by the processor to: detect the one or more first parameters of the leak event via the fiber optic cable, measure the one or more second parameters of the fluid flow via the one or more sensors, input the one or more first parameters and the one or more second parameters into a model configured to simulate operation with the fluid conduit, and output leak information corresponding to the leak event via execution of the model.
Systems and methods for fuel leak detection
In one aspect, systems for detecting a fuel leak are described herein. In some implementations, a system for detecting a fuel leak described herein comprises a fuel-containing vessel having an exterior surface and a carbon nanotube coating layer comprising photoluminescent carbon nanotubes disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the fuel-containing vessel. The system further comprises a fuel-sensitive coating layer substantially covering the carbon nanotube coating layer. The fuel-sensitive coating layer is optically opaque or substantially opaque to wavelengths of light absorbed and/or emitted by the photoluminescent carbon nanotubes.
INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATING
An inspection apparatus includes multiple sensors (including a visual sensor and one or more additional sensor(s), such as an optical gas imager and an anemometer), a real-time clock, and an inertial measurement unit, the sensors having central observation axes aligned in parallel, with the sensors and real-time clock (and optionally a location module) configured to generate data points from multiple poses of the inspection apparatus relative to an observed object. A method for operating an inspection apparatus includes obtaining data by sweeping the inspection apparatus across a region in parallel paths and circumscribing the region, time-stamping and/or attributing location coordinates to the data, correcting for positional offset of the sensors, collocating visual sensor data with data from other sensor(s), generating a point cloud and a 3D texture of the visual data, and generating a textured 3D model.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUEL LEAK DETECTION
In one aspect, systems for detecting a fuel leak are described herein. In some implementations, a system for detecting a fuel leak described herein comprises a fuel-containing vessel having an exterior surface and a carbon nanotube coating layer comprising photoluminescent carbon nanotubes disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the fuel-containing vessel. The system further comprises a fuel-sensitive coating layer substantially covering the carbon nanotube coating layer. The fuel-sensitive coating layer is optically opaque or substantially opaque to wavelengths of light absorbed and/or emitted by the photoluminescent carbon nanotubes.
Pipe and conduit wear detection system
A pipe section, such as a pipe elbow, coated with a ceramic coating containing a fusible link displaced within. The link includes two exposed testing leads which are connected to a sensor which sends a signal across the link. Over time, the pipe section and the coating are worn away by material flowing through the pipe. Eventually the fusible link is severed due to the wear, signaling the sensor to send an alert, notifying that the pipe section needs to be replaced. The method of manufacture includes coating a standard pipe section with a ceramic coating, displacing a fusible link therein, and curing the coating. The coating may contain any number of fusible links in any conceivable arrangement.
Fibre optic acoustic sensing
This invention relates to the fiber optic distributed acoustic sensing to detect P and S waves in a solid medium. Distributed acoustic sensing can be achieved using an unmodified fiber optic by launching optical pulses into the fiber and detecting radiation which is Rayleigh backscattered there from. By analyzing the returns in analysis bins, acoustic disturbances can be detected in a plurality of discrete longitudinal sections of the fiber. The present invention extends such fiber distributed acoustic sensing to detection of S and P waves.
Pressure detecting apparatus made by 3D printing technologies being able to be used in dangerous areas
A pressure detecting apparatus made by 3D printing technologies being able to be used in dangerous areas is provided. It mainly comprises a light source, a processor, a coupler, and at least one pressure transducer. The pressure transducer comprises a main body and a fiber grating. The fiber grating comprises a fiber Bragg grating sensor, and the fiber grating is fixed on the main body and covers the fiber Bragg grating sensor. When the main body is placed in a fluid area, the fluid would flow through the opening to deform the strain layer and generate a strain variation on the fiber Bragg grating sensor to cause a signal variation in the reflection frequency spectrum. The coupler is configured to couple to the light source and the pressure transducer to decode the signal variation into pressure parameters.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION OF HYDROCARBON LEAKAGE FROM AN UNDERWATER PIPELINE IN A BODY OF WATER AND HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION UNIT
A leakage detection system configured to detect hydrocarbon leakage from an underwater pipeline in a body of water having a sensor configured to acquire signals related to the temperature of a liquid inside a chamber that is not watertight and which, in use, is full of water and extends along a portion of underwater pipeline susceptible to leakage, and a control unit, which is connected to the sensor and is configured to control if the temperature of the liquid in the chamber is within an expected range and emit a leakage signal when the temperature of the liquid in the chamber is outside the expected range.
Apparatus, method and system for detecting presence of a fluid
An apparatus, method and system are set forth for detection of fluids using Bragg grating sensors, wherein the Bragg grating sensing element comprises an optical fiber having a Bragg grating inscribed therein characterized by optical properties that are dependent upon the periodicity and effective refractive index of the grating, and a package for subjecting the Bragg grating to a change in strain when contacted by a fluid such that periodicity and effective refractive index of the grating changes, whereby when interrogated with laser light any such change in periodicity and effective refractive index may be detected.
Fiber optic sensor network for subsurface impact protection system
A subsurface impact protection system for protecting an underground asset is provided. The protection system includes a subsurface polymer layer provided above the asset to prevent impact forces from reaching the asset. A sensor network is embedded in the polymer layer. The sensor network comprises optical fibers each including one or more fiber optic sensors. The optical fibers receive an input signal from a source and transmit it through the fiber. At the output end of the fiber is an optical detector that measures light properties of the output optical signal indicative of environmental conditions near the polymer layer. The sensor network transmits a signal including measured light or environmental parameters to a monitoring computing system. In some embodiments, the polymer layer includes a protective mesh made up of a plurality of high density polyethylene strands in a woven pattern. A method of protecting an underground asset is also provided.