WATER LEAK DETECTOR DEVICE AND LEAK DETECTION PROCEDURE

Abstract

A device is produced as a small sphere with neutral buoyancy, within which there is, at least, one hydrophone that is connected to a signal processor, which stores the information on a memory card and that is powered by at least one battery. This signal processor has a clock module, through which the sailing time elapsed for each audio signal received by the hydrophone is recorded in the memory. Therefore, based on the sailing time, the exact position of the detected anomalies or leaks can be ascertained. The device is complemented by a series of external synchronisation systems, laid out every certain distance, by which the position error that could be accumulated by the device is neutralised. Thus, a simple device is attained, which is cheap, solid, durable and highly effective.

Claims

1. A device for detecting water leaks in pipelines, fitted with means for the emission/receipt of sounds for the analysis of these within a pipeline through which a fluid that may leak flows, such as one or more hydrophones associated with a circuit for analysing these sound signals, which is made of a casing with an essentially spherical configuration, of neutral buoyancy, within which there is at least one hydrophone that is connected to a signal processor, which stores the information on a memory card and which is powered by at least one battery, the processor has the signal of a clock module, through which the sailing time elapsed for each audio signal received by the hydrophone is recorded in the memory.

2. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a communication module, so that the device can communicate on a real-time basis with a series of synchronisation systems, fitted externally every certain distance all along the piping, from which the start/end of delimited and known stretches are defined, in which there is no positioning error, resetting the positional parameters of the device, the synchronisation systems consist of a communication module, a clock module and a power-supply module.

3. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a communication module that can be one-way or bi-directional.

4. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication modules are based on the usage of beaters, tone generators and/or Bluetooth or, in the case of bi-directional communication, on communications using radio or ultrasound.

5. A device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing of the device has an essentially spherical configuration, obtained by using two semi-spheres that can be coupled and sealed between each other, which are fitted with holes and windows through which connections are made with the hydrophone, determinants of receptor media of the sound occurring in the water.

6. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, which includes a start up system through which the device starts to monitor the time it has been travelling along the inside of the pipeline.

7. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing includes numerous peripheral grooves into which the related joints are inserted, to determine the adhesive elements that facilitate rolling in the event of a possible jam.

8. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an accessory for the insertion of the device into the pipeline that is comprised of a rod of a suited size to be inserted through the access valve to the pipeline to be monitored, associated with a lower plate that has an O-ring and a flexible metal sleeve on which the device is fitted, optionally include a flow meter.

9. The device for detecting water leaks in pipelines in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an accessory for the removal of the device from the pipeline, which is comprised of a rod, of a suited size to be inserted through the access valve to the pipeline, associated to a net intended to receive the device, an O-ring, a metal sleeve and a couple of flexible plates (22) to which the net is attached, fitted with electronic equipment including a camera, an arrival detector of the device and a flow meter.

10. A procedure for detecting water leaks in pipelines, which consists of the emission/receipt of acoustic signals from within the pipeline, all along its length, the signals are recorded together with the time stamp of the exact time at which they occurred, analysed and interpreted to detect possible anomalies relating to potential water leaks, so that, based on the time elapsed and the water flow circulating through the inside of the pipeline and that is known, one obtains the exact distance of each of the detected anomalies.

Description

PREFERENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0075] As can be seen in the reviewed diagrams and particularly in diagrams 1 to 3, the device of the invention is comprised of an essentially spherical casing, obtained from two semi-casings (1-1) that can be coupled and sealed between each other, within which there is a hydrophone (2), the semi-casings being fitted with holes (3) and windows (4) to which connections are fitted (7-8), connected to the hydrophone (2), in order to capture the sound that occurs in the water.

[0076] The hydrophone (2) is connected to a signal processor (9), which stores the information on a memory card (10) and is powered by a battery (11). This signal processor (9) is fitted with a clock module (12) or timer, through which the receipt of the signals is associated with the specific time at which they were received. Thus, from the water speed or flow, the exact location of the detected leak can be ascertained with great accuracy, based on the time elapsed until the time of its detection.

[0077] The housing is complemented by a series of peripheral grooves into which the related gaskets are inserted (33). They constitute adherent mediums that allow the device to roll in the event of a jam. However, as has already been mentioned above, the means that determine the positioning of the device and, consequently, of the possible leaks, are fully functional and regardless of the relative rotation position or otherwise in which the device is at the time.

[0078] These joints are in charge of increasing the drag surface so that the force of the water moves the device. Due to having neutral buoyancy, the device sails through the area of the pipeline that has the highest water speed, that is, the centre of the pipeline.

[0079] The device can be fitted with a communication module (13), so that it can communicate on a real-time basis with a series of synchronisation systems, arranged externally and every certain distance all along the piping. The communication module is used to send data from the device to outside the pipe. Said data may be stored in the synchronisation system or be sent to an outside server that stores the information by means of a GSM/GPRS module.

[0080] Communication can be one-way communication, from the synchronisation system to the device, using beaters, tone generators and Bluetooth or bi-directional communication, between the synchronisation system and the device, using radio or ultrasound communication. By using said synchronisation systems, the positional parameters of the device are reset, preventing the accumulation of errors in the calculation of the distance travelled by it.

[0081] Diagram 4 shows how the device is inserted into a large diameter pipeline using the access system (14) of the manholes of the water distribution network. In order to ensure that the leak detection system enters the pipeline (15), a rod is connected (16) with the access system though the access valve (17). Thus, the access valve is opened (17) and the leak detector is pushed in using the rod (16). More specifically the rod is inserted by means of its lower end through a metal sleeve (21) that is used, together with its anchorages, to create an area with the same pressure as that of the inside of the large diameter pipe, to which one has access.

[0082] The assembly is complemented with a non-referenced O-ring, which is used as the inside pressure of the metal sleeve is high. Were this O-ring not used, water would come out of the joint.

[0083] To ensure the proper removal of the leak detector, diagram 5 shows a device with a rod (16), which has a net on its lower part (18) for receiving the device. Similar to what occurs with the insertion device, the rod (16) is passed through the access valve (17) of the access inlet (14) and is joined by means of an O-ring.

[0084] The device is complemented with a metal sleeve (21), a couple of flexible plates (22) to which the net is attached (18) and electronic equipment (23) that includes a camera, an arrival detector and a flow meter.

[0085] Thus, the extraction system is fitted in a large diameter pipe valve, it is joined to the metal sleeve and it is pushed to the end of the pipe, where the plates open and the net expands.

[0086] The net traps the device when it approaches, as the camera displays it and the arrival detector is activated.

[0087] Next, the rod is pulled upwards, the plates close and the device is removed from inside the sleeve.

[0088] Likewise, the flow meter measures the water speed, an essential piece of information to determine the exact distances at which the possible leaks are located.

[0089] As can be seen in diagram 6, dragged by the force of the water current (19), the leak detector system will start sailing through the pipeline (15). When a water leak is detected (20) on the wall of the piping (15), it will emit a different sound (21) that is captured by the hydrophone (2).

[0090] With regards to the dimensions of the sphere, even though these may vary due to different design criteria, as an example, it may have a radius of between 50 and 150 mm and a thickness of 0.8 mm, with hermetic sealing and preferably made of plastic, although it may be made of other materials or combinations of these.