Acoustic vibration detection of fluid leakage from conduits
US5038614A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 1989 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N29/07
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Fluid leakage from a crack or other leakage point and other vibration-generating events in pipes and conduits may be located and analyzed by sensing axial and torsional vibrations and pressure fluctuations created by such events by placing accelerometers and/or strain gauges and pressure sensors on the conduit at selected points. The location of the event may be determined by comparing the travel time of selected pairs of signals such as axial propagated signals as compared with torsional propagated signals as a result in the difference of the acoustic wave speed of axial versus torsional waves. Cross correlation and deconvolution processes are carried out on the measured signals to determine differential signal arrival times at the sensors and to eliminate pipe response signals. An apparatus having axial and torsional vibration sensing accelerometers thereon includes mechanism for clamping the apparatus to the inside wall of the tubing or pipe and sensing the vibratory output signals of the accelerometers to determine the nature of and location of the vibration inducing event.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.