Method and apparatus for determining proper curing of pipe liners using distributed temperature sensing
US8940113B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K11/324
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus utilizing distributed temperature sensing (DTS) to monitor the temperature of a cured-in-place pipe liner to determine if proper curing temperatures and times are achieved. More particularly, an optical fiber is placed between the pipe and the liner running the entire length of the liner. The optical fiber is coupled to a DTS unit. During curing of the liner, the DTS unit sends light pulses down the fiber from one end and detects the characteristics and time delay of light backscattered to the unit. The characteristics are indicative of the temperature of the optical fiber, while the delay is indicative of the round trip time of the light within the fiber, and thus the distance from the DTS unit from which any particular backscatter signal originated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.