DELIMITING UNIT, PIPELINE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PIPELINE SYSTEM

Abstract

A delimitation unit (18) for a pipe section (24), in particular a pipe section (24) of a pipeline (12), comprises at least one protective component (46), a control unit (48) for controlling the protective component (46), and a communication unit (50) for communicating with a remote monitoring station (14). The communication unit (50) is arranged to receive at least one control command from the monitoring station (14). The control unit (48) is arranged to operate the protective components (46) in different operating modes to maintain the voltage of the pipe section (24) below at least one limit value, and to change the operating modes due to the control command received by the communication unit (50).

Furthermore, a pipeline system (10) and a method of operating a pipeline system (10) are shown.

Claims

1. A delimitation unit for a pipe section (24), in particular a pipe section (24) of a pipeline (12), comprising at least one protective component (46), a control unit (48) for controlling the protective component (46), and a communication unit (50) for communicating with a remote monitoring station (14), wherein the communication unit (50) is arranged to receive at least one control command from the monitoring station (14), wherein the control unit (48) is arranged to operate the protective components (46) in different operating modes to maintain the voltage of the pipe section (24) below at least one limit value, and to change the operating modes due to the control command received by the communication unit (50).

2. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the at least one protective component (46) is a power electronics (52) and/or in that one of the at least one protective components (46) is a spark gap (54) and/or a varistor (55).

3. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (48) is arranged to determine measured values, in particular the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to earth and/or the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to a reference electrode (34) and/or the current intensity of a discharge current, and to drive the at least one protective component (46) as a function of the measured value.

4. The delimitation unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (48) is arranged to determine the measured values at a sampling rate, the sampling rate being defined by the operating mode.

5. The delimitation unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (48) is arranged to transmit the measured values by means of the communication unit (50), in particular to the monitoring station (14) and/or a calculation device (16).

6. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the operating modes comprises a schedule in which different limit values and/or sampling rates are assigned to different times, and/or in that the at least one control command comprises at least part of a schedule.

7. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one limit value comprises at least one value for transient overvoltages, at least one value for temporary overvoltages and/or at least one value for stationary overvoltages.

8. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one limit value is defined by the operating mode and/or in that the at least one control command comprises at least part of the at least one limit value.

9. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (48) is arranged to operate the protective components (46) in at least three conditions, more particularly an active condition in which the full functionality of the delimitation unit (18) is available, a standby condition in which the protective components (46) are only operated to prevent temporary and transient overvoltages, and a passive condition in which the protective components (46) are deactivated.

10. The delimitation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication unit (50) is a communication unit for mobile radio, for example 4G or 5G mobile radio, for a low power wide area network, in particular Narrowband Tot, and/or for a telecontrol system.

11. A pipeline system having a pipeline (12) comprising at least one pipe section (24), at least one delimitation unit (18) according to claim 1 which is electrically connected to the pipe section (24) of the pipeline (12), and a monitoring station (14) remote from the delimitation unit (18) and arranged to transmit control commands to the at least one delimitation unit (18).

12. The pipeline system according to claim 11, characterized in that the pipeline system (10) includes an additional safety means (21), in particular a contactor (22), a calculation device (16), in particular a server, and/or in that the pipeline system (10) includes at least one cathodic corrosion protection system (20) which is electrically connected to the pipe section (24) of the pipeline (12), in particular also electrically connected to the delimitation unit (18).

13. A method of operating a pipeline system (10), in particular according to claim 11, including a pipe section (24) and a delimitation unit (18), comprising the following steps: a) transmitting at least one control command from a remote monitoring station (14) to the delimitation unit (18), and b) operating at least one protective component (46) of the delimitation unit (18) by means of a control unit (48) of the delimitation unit (18) in an operating mode determined on the basis of the control command.

14. A method according to claim 13, characterized by the following steps: a) determining at least one measured value by means of the delimitation unit (18), in particular a measured value of the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to earth and/or the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to a reference electrode (34) and/or the current intensity of a discharge current, b) transmitting the measured value to the monitoring station (14) and/or the calculation device (16) by means of the delimitation unit (18), c) evaluating the measured value and determining a control command for the at least one delimitation unit (18) on the basis of the measured value by means of the monitoring station (14) and/or the calculation device (16), and d) transmitting the control command from the monitoring station (14) and/or the calculation device (16) to the at least one delimitation unit (18).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the monitoring station (14) determines a loading condition of the pipe section (24) and/or the maintenance condition of the at least one delimitation unit (18), in particular the condition of an earthing system (37) of the delimitation unit (18) on the basis of the transmitted measured value.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the monitoring station (14) and/or the calculation device (16) estimate(s) at least one expected future value on the basis of the at least one measured value and determine(s) an adapted limit value, an adapted schedule, an adapted sampling rate or an adapted condition on the basis of the future value, in particular wherein the control command which takes the adapted limit value, the adapted schedule or the adapted condition into account is generated and transmitted to the delimitation unit (18) by the monitoring station (14).

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the delimitation unit (18) determines at least one measured value, in particular a measured value of the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to earth and/or the voltage of the pipe section (24) with respect to a reference electrode (34) and/or the current intensity of a discharge current, and in that the monitoring station (14) and/or the delimitation unit (18) activate(s) the additional safety means (21), in particular if the measured value exceeds a safety threshold value.

Description

[0050] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description below and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made and in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a pipeline system according to the invention comprising a plurality of delimitation units according to the invention,

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of a delimitation unit according to FIG. 1, and

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention.

[0054] A pipeline system 10 is schematically shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] The pipeline system includes a pipeline 12, a monitoring station 14, a calculation device 16, a plurality of delimitation units 18, a plurality of cathodic corrosion protection systems 20 (CCP) and at least one additional safety means 21 having a contactor 22.

[0056] The pipeline 12 has a plurality of pipe sections 24, which are all interconnected by an insulating piece 26.

[0057] The monitoring station 14 is provided remotely from the pipeline 12 and has at least one control computer 28 and a communication module 30.

[0058] The monitoring station 14 is, for example, a pipeline control measuring station, such as a measuring station of the operator of the pipeline 12.

[0059] The calculation device 16 is a computer, for example a server, which can also be configured in a decentralized manner, i.e. in a cloud.

[0060] In the case shown, the calculation device 16 is configured separately from the monitoring station 14. However, it can also be part of the monitoring station 14, for example of the control computer 28, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1.

[0061] Two delimitation units 18 each are assigned to one of the pipe sections 24 and are electrically connected thereto. The CCP 20 and the additional safety means 21 are also assigned to one of the pipe sections 24 of the pipeline 12.

[0062] The CCP 20 are connected to the respective pipe section 24 in a manner known per se for corrosion protection.

[0063] The safety means 21 are electrically connected to the respective CCP 20 or the respective delimitation unit 18 of the associated pipe section 24.

[0064] The additional safety means 21 has, for example, an electrical bypass 23 which runs parallel to the delimitation unit 18 and which connects the pipe section 24 and the earthing system 37. The contactor 22 which can interrupt or switch the bypass 23 to be conducting is provided in the bypass 23. In other words, the pipe section 24 can be directly electrically connected to the earthing system 37 via the bypass 23with the contactor 22 in the appropriate position.

[0065] The CCP 20 can also be electrically connected to the delimitation unit 18 of the respective pipe section 24.

[0066] FIG. 2 schematically shows a delimitation unit 18 in an exemplary manner.

[0067] The delimitation unit 18 has a housing 32 and an earthing system 37. Furthermore, the delimitation unit 18 can have a reference electrode 34 and/or an antenna 36.

[0068] For example, the housing 32 comprises a pipeline connection 38 and a ground connection 40 and may comprise a reference electrode connection 42 and/or an antenna connection 44.

[0069] Within the housing 32, the delimitation unit 18 has a plurality of protective components 46, a control unit 48, and a communication unit 50.

[0070] In the example embodiment shown, the protective components 46 are a power electronics 52 and a spark gap 54 and/or a varistor 55.

[0071] The power electronics 52 is configured to limit temporary and/or stationary overvoltages, and the spark gap 54 and/or the varistor 55 are/is configured to limit transient overvoltages.

[0072] For this purpose, the protective components 46, i.e. the power electronics 52 and the spark gap 54 or the varistor 55 are electrically connected to the control unit 48 for control.

[0073] To discharge overvoltages, the delimitation unit 18 is electrically connected to the pipeline by means of the pipeline connection 38 and earthed by means of the earthing connection 40. In the example embodiment shown, the protective components 46 and the control unit 48 are connected in parallel and are thus each provided between the pipeline connection 38 and the earthing connection 40.

[0074] The delimitation unit 18 is earthed via the earthing system 37, which is connected to the earthing connection 40.

[0075] The earthing system 37 is for example a rod made of conductive metal inserted into the ground and intended to actively participate in the current conduction.

[0076] On the other hand, the reference electrode 34 is provided to determine the local earth potential. Thus, no discharge current is conducted via the latter. The reference electrode 34 can be a metal part, but can also be a liquid electrode made of a copper/copper sulfate solution.

[0077] If a reference electrode 34 is present, it is connected to the control unit 48 via the reference electrode connection 42.

[0078] The communication unit 50 is electrically connected to the control unit 48 and may in particular be part of the control unit 48.

[0079] The communication unit 50 may be electrically connected to the antenna 36, for example via the antenna connection 44. However, it is also conceivable that the antenna 36 is implemented within the housing 32, for example on a printed circuit board, such as the printed circuit board of the control unit 48.

[0080] The communication unit 50 is a communication unit for mobile radio, for example 4G or 5G mobile radio, for a low power wide area network (also called LPWAN or LPN), in particular Narrowband IoT, and/or for a telecontrol system.

[0081] Accordingly, the communication module 30 of the monitoring station 14 is also a communication unit for mobile radio, for a low power wide area network and/or for a telecontrol system.

[0082] The control unit 48 may be electrically connected to the CCP 20 and/or the corresponding contactor 22 of the associated pipe section 24 via suitable further connections 56 for control purposes.

[0083] The delimitation unit 18, more specifically the control unit 48, is arranged to determine measured values, for example the voltage of the pipe section 24 with respect to earth, i.e. the earthing system 37, the voltage of the pipe section 24 with respect to the reference electrode 34 and/or the current intensity of a discharge current from the pipe section 24 to the earthing system 37.

[0084] The measured values may be determined at a sampling rate by the control unit 48 and stored in the control unit 48.

[0085] For example, the measurement data does not include the current introduced into the pipe section 24 by the CCP 20.

[0086] The control unit 48 is arranged to operate and therefore control the protective components 46, i.e. the power electronics 52 and the spark gap 54 or the varistor 55.

[0087] To limit transient overvoltages, temporary overvoltages and stationary overvoltages between the associated pipe section 24 and the unloaded earth, at least one limit value is stored in the control unit 48, which comprises a value for transient overvoltages, a value for temporary overvoltages and a value for stationary overvoltages.

[0088] Of course, further values can be defined within a type of overvoltage depending on the duration of a current surge. For example, temporary overvoltages are divided into ranges with three different durations, with a different value being stored as a limit value for each of these ranges.

[0089] Furthermore, the control unit 48 is arranged to deactivate individual, several or all protective components 46.

[0090] For example, the control unit can activate all protective components 46 (active condition) so that the full functionality of the delimitation unit 18 is available.

[0091] The control unit 48 can also operate the protective components 46 only to prevent temporary and transient overvoltages, for example, to drive the power electronics 52 and the spark gap 54 or the varistor 55 such that only the limit values for temporary and transient overvoltages are monitored (standby condition).

[0092] In addition, the control unit 48 can run a passive condition in which the protective components 46 are switched off.

[0093] In the passive condition, however, measurements by the control unit 48 are still possible. This means that the delimitation unit 18 is not completely switched off.

[0094] The control unit 48 may also include one or more schedules which comprise specific times within a week, month, year or other time division, different limit values, sampling rates or conditions for measurements.

[0095] Thus, the control unit 48 may operate the protective components 46 at different thresholds and/or sampling rates, using different schedules, and in different conditions, thus allowing for different operating modes. For example, an operating mode comprises a limit value, a schedule, a sampling rate and/or a condition.

[0096] To operate the pipeline system 10, the individual components, in particular the monitoring station 14, the delimitation unit 18, in particular the communication unit 50 and the control unit 48, carry out the method shown in FIG. 3.

[0097] The individual components, in particular the monitoring station 14, the delimitation unit 18, the control unit 48 and the communication unit 50, are of course arranged to carry out the steps of the method.

[0098] In step S1, the delimitation unit 18, more precisely the control unit 48, determines a measured value.

[0099] Subsequently, the control unit 48 transmits the measured value by means of the communication unit 50 and the antenna 36.

[0100] The transmission can take place directly after the measurement. However, it is also conceivable that measurements are taken at intervals of the sampling rate over a predetermined period of time and the measurements are transmitted collectively. This cyclical transmission of measurement data saves energy.

[0101] For this purpose, the measured values are transmitted by means of the communication unit via a mobile radio network, a low power wide area network or a telecontrol system. For reasons of clarity, only the case of wireless transmission via mobile radio or a low power wide area network (each symbolized by the transmission mast 58) is shown symbolically in FIG. 1.

[0102] The measured values are received by the monitoring station and/or the calculation device 16 (step S3), and a control command is generated on the basis of the measured values (step S4).

[0103] The control command includes, for example, an instruction to the control unit 48 to change the operating mode, i.e. a limit value or values of the limit value, a modified sampling rate, a modified schedule and/or a modified condition for operating the protective components 46.

[0104] The control command is then transmitted to the delimitation unit 18 in step S5. For this purpose, the communication unit 50 and the communication module 30 are again used, which transmit the control commands accordingly.

[0105] In step S6, the control unit 48 evaluates the control command and, if necessary, changes the operating mode of the protective components 46 based on the contents of the received control command. In other words, the control unit 48 now operates the protective components 46 in an operating mode determined on the basis of the control command.

[0106] Of course, the control unit 48 also drive the protective components 46 independently based on the measured value, i.e. without and before a control command has been transmitted, for example if a limit value for an overvoltage is exceeded (step S7).

[0107] It is also possible for the monitoring station 14 and/or the delimitation unit 18 to activate the additional safety means 21, such as the contactor 22, if the measured value exceeds a safety threshold value. The safety threshold value can be different from the limit value.

[0108] For example, the delimitation unit 18 switches the contactor 22 independently, e.g. in the event of a defect in the delimitation unit 18.

[0109] The monitoring station 14 may also send a command to the delimitation unit 18 to activate or switch the contactor 22, as a result of which the delimitation unit 18 switches the contactor 22 accordingly.

[0110] The control command may be determined in step S4 in various ways by the monitoring station 14 and/or the calculation device 16.

[0111] For example, in step B1, the monitoring station 14 determines a maintenance condition of the delimitation unit 18, in particular a condition of the earthing system 37. Subsequently, the monitoring station 14 determines an operating mode of the delimitation unit 18 which is optimally adapted to the maintenance condition (step B2) and then determines a control command causing the control unit 48 to change the operating mode to the previously determined optimal operating mode (step B3).

[0112] Furthermore, the monitoring station 14 may initiate maintenance of the corresponding delimitation unit 18 if the load condition determined in step B1 requires maintenance (step B4).

[0113] The monitoring station 14 can also determine the load condition of the pipe section 24 associated with the corresponding delimitation unit 18 based on the measured values (step P1) and determine modified limit values based on the load condition (i.e. the occurring voltages or currents) (step P2).

[0114] For this purpose, the monitoring station 14 may make use of the calculation device 16. Alternatively, the calculation device 16 may receive the measured values directly from the delimitation unit 18 and transmit modified limit values to the monitoring station 14 according to stored algorithms.

[0115] In step P3, the monitoring station 14 determines a control command based on the modified limit values.

[0116] In addition, control commands can be transmitted to the CCP 20 on the basis of the measured values by means of the monitoring station 14 or the delimitation unit 18 itself, to achieve improved control of the CCP 20.

[0117] In a further possibility for generating the control command according to step S4, the calculation device 16 may receive the measured values. Alternatively, the monitoring station 14 may transmit the measured values to the calculation device 16.

[0118] The calculation device 16 then determines in step Z1, on the basis of the current measured values of the same and/or another delimitation unit 18 and optionally measured values of the past, expected future values of the corresponding measured value, for example a future expected voltage of the pipe section 24 with respect to the reference electrode 34 or the earth and/or a current intensity of the discharge current.

[0119] The past measured values can be immediately past measured values, but also measured values which were measured at the same point in time in a schedule, for example on a certain day of the week at a certain time.

[0120] Based on the expected future value, the calculation device 16 determines an adjusted limit value, an adjusted schedule, an adjusted sampling rate or an adjusted condition in step Z2 and transmits this to the monitoring station 14.

[0121] The monitoring station 14 then determines a corresponding control command in step Z3.

[0122] In other words, the calculation device 16 performs a simulation based on the obtained measurements. In this way, it is possible that the operating mode of the delimitation unit 18 is adapted to the actual conditions on site and is not only based on estimated values.

[0123] It is of course also conceivable that the simulation itself is improved on the basis of the measured values obtained, for example in the case that the simulation is based on an artificial neural network.

[0124] It is of course also possible that the monitoring station 14 creates a control command which is not based on received measured values. For example, if maintenance is to be performed on certain pipe sections 24, the monitoring station 14 may send a control command to the corresponding delimitation unit 18 to adjust the operating mode accordingly.

[0125] For example, based on past values and expected future values, it may be determined that the load on the pipe section 24 is decreasing at a particular time during the week. This may be the case, for example, if the pipe section 24 is located near a commercial area where there is no work at the weekend. In this case, the monitoring station 14 or the calculation device 16 can create a schedule which, for example, reduces the sampling rate for days on weekends, thereby saving energy.

[0126] In this way, it is possible to both operate the pipeline system 10 efficiently and to be able to perform predictive maintenance on individual delimitation units 18. In addition, the measured values can be used to document the safety of the system in a particularly simple manner, for example compliance with personal protection.

[0127] Furthermore, the transmitted measured values enable a comparison between simulation results and real system data, which can also be used to improve or calibrate simulations.