Leak detection system

US8820143B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Sanjay Sarma · Cambridge, US
• Kamal Youcef-Toumi · Cambridge, US
• Stephen Ho · Saginaw, US
• Dimitrios Chatzigeorgiou · Somerville, US
• Rached Ben Mansour · Dhahran, SA

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 2, 2014
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M3/2807
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The system includes structure for supporting at least one tube within a pipe. The tube has one end disposed close to, or in contact with, a wall of the pipe. A sensor is disposed within the at least one tube to detect a pressure gradient or fluid movement within the tube. Such pressure gradient or fluid movement indicates a leak in the pipe adjacent to the tube location. In a preferred embodiment, the structure is a ring sized to fit within the pipe and the ring supports a plurality of tubes. In another aspect, the tube includes a restriction to prevent flow and pressure is measured on each side of the restriction.