ES2503515A2 - Piping for guiding fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to piping for guiding fluids, consisting of at least two layers, an inner layer (1) and an outer layer (2), between which there are means (3) for collecting potential leakages of the fluid transported via the inner layer, and guiding them to a device for detecting the presence of said fluid.

Description

FLUID DRIVING PIPING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pipe for fluid conduction, of structure

5 multilayer, composed of at least two layers, one internal, with sufficient resistance to conduct the fluid by itself and withstand the pressures and physical-chemical conditions of the same, and another external, whose function will be especially to serve as a closing layer, and protection against the environment being both layers of fluid impervious nature to
transport.

10 The different layers that make up the tube can be made of plastic materials, metals, composites, etc.

The object of the invention is a pipe of the indicated type, constituted so as to be able to detect possible leaks of the fluid transported by the inner layer of the tube.

The tube of the invention is applicable in transport and distribution networks of any type of

15 fluids, for example in water supply and distribution networks, especially water for human consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drinking water, as well as other industrial liquids or fluids, are transported in the usual way through pipe systems composed of different types of materials

20 (plastics, metals, composites, etc.). The main problem in the management and maintenance of these networks are leaks.

In the case of water, leaks can be classified as real and apparent.

Real leaks are understood to be those caused by breakages caused by third-party action, network breakdowns or accidental breakage, due to insufficient maintenance or other

25 causes derived from the quality of the materials or the installation techniques used.

On the other hand, apparent leaks are those corresponding to unregistered (and / or not invoiced) flows, measurement errors from the control systems, and frauds (non-legal intrusions) in the piping system.

Based on studies carried out by managing entities of drinking water networks, it is possible that up to 40% of the flow transported by these networks will be lost due to these causes.

In order to detect real water leaks in the distribution networks, different sensor devices are known that are installed in the vicinity of the tube and are capable of detecting the humidity due to possible leaks or leaks of water produced in said tube.

These detection systems are applicable practically only when the water conduction runs through galleries or enclosures in which the humidity produced by a water leak can reach the sensor.

However, the detection system mentioned is not applicable to networks or pipes 10 installed in the open sky.

Detection systems for different purposes are known, for example, from US 2009/0205733 A1, US 7 258 141 B2, US 2009/0308475 A1 in which a detection system based on a complex multilayer system containing fiber sensors is described optics along the entire length of the pipe that monitor parameters such as the

15 pressure, temperature and flow rate to an external real-time control system. These systems are designed for critical sections of the network, rehabilitation (relining) and not for implementation in a complete network.

In EP 1884811 A1 and EP 2 287 587 A2 a complex leak monitoring system is described providing the sensor pipe in its structure, this system is

20 useful when the leak has occurred and tries to locate it somewhere in the network, it is therefore not a preventive system.

From DE 10044039 A1, a pipe is known consisting of two concentric tubes between which a material that swells due to moisture is arranged and is capable of activating a leak warning cable, also arranged between the two tubes. This

The system requires the provision of the warning cable throughout the pipe, forming part of it, and also does not provide accurate information of the point where the leak has occurred.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a pipe which, by means of the introduction of information elements and / or detectors in different configurations of pipe networks, allows to have leak prevention systems that may exist in any fluid transport system.

The solution provided by the present invention will contribute effectively to the improvement of the following aspects:

-

Improvement in fluid management: with the construction of networks that minimize losses due to leakage, illegal collection, poor general condition or maintenance of the network. In addition, the pipeline of the invention will allow the monitoring and automation of all network management elements.

-

Improvement in the materials used: the materials that make up the pipe are optimized both mechanically and environmentally, and are more reliable. On the other hand, the reporting elements will provide the information and capabilities for a better management of the piping system.

-

Improvement in economic performance: reducing the costs associated with maintaining a network. For example, in the case of drinking water, the costs associated with the collection, purification, supply, sewerage and purification are reduced, since the network is managed and automated, which will allow it to be more efficient.

The main objective of the pipeline of the invention is the detection of breakages or leaks in the system, at the moment prior to the real leakage of water; the detection of unwanted intrusions in the pipe system; and the monitoring of these incidents and their knowledge in optimal time.

The term "leaks" should mean both actual leaks, produced for example by the rupture of the inner layer, and apparent leaks, due for example to improper or fraudulent extraction of the transport fluid.

The pipe of the invention also allows the water distribution system to continue operating without loss of fluid in the presence of breakage or intrusion for a suitable time, which allows carrying out the necessary actions.

The pipe of the invention is of the type initially indicated, being constituted in a possible embodiment by two layers, an internal one capable of conducting the

fluid that is transported and resist the pressure of the same, and another external closure being both impervious to the fluid that is transported.

According to the invention, the pipe has, between the two aforementioned layers, means for collecting possible leaks of the fluid transported by the inner layer, and leading them to a device for detecting the presence of said fluid. This detector device will preferably be installed in the distribution network itself.

With this constitution in the event of a leak or leakage of the transported fluid, this circumstance will be known before said leakage reaches the outside of the pipe.

The detection and knowledge of the leak is known from the beginning of the leak, which will allow for the necessary measures to be repaired before the problem that caused the leak can reach undesired proportions.

The inner layer will be designed to withstand the design pressure of the application to which the pipe is intended and may in turn be formed of several layers joined together in solidarity with different materials and with different properties. As an inner layer, it can also incorporate elements or substances that improve or condition the characteristics of the fluid it carries.

The means for collecting possible fluid leaks, which will be arranged between the inner and outer layer of the pipe, are intended to serve as a primary detection element in the event of an illegal leak or intake. In the case of a leak or fracture of the inner layer, the mentioned means will serve as a transport layer for the leaked fluid from the point of rupture, in which the leak occurred, to the point where the presence detectors of fluid. On the other hand, in the event that an illegal collection is carried out, when inserting an intake element, the means responsible for collecting possible leaks will be traversed and the water circulating through the tube will achieve the same path to the detector, as if It will be a leak.

As for the outer layer, it will aim to provide an exterior finish and also serve as a closure for the means of collecting possible leaks. This outer layer can also be formed by one or several layers joined together in solidarity and in any case it will be designed to withstand for a short time the existence of pressure caused by a leak in the inner layer, until it is redirected through the collection means of

leaks The outer layer can incorporate elements that guarantee external, environmental or manipulation aggressions.

In a simpler structure, the pipe of the invention can be composed of only two layers, one internal and the other external, the means being constituted to collect and conduct the fluid leaks by grooves made in the external surface of the inner layer, which they will run along said layer, to the fluid detecting devices, the groove being closed by the outer layer, of a waterproof nature. The channels created on the surface will serve as a means to collect the fluid leaked by the breakage or intrusion of the inner layer and lead it to the detecting elements, since the grooves will extend over the entire outer surface of the inner layer.

The means for collecting and conducting the fluid leaks can also consist of an intermediate layer, arranged between the inner and outer layers, composed of a structure capable of conducting possible leaks of the fluid driven by the inner layer, and leading them to the detection devices of presence of fluid.

The commented structure that forms the intermediate layer can be composed of nerves that delimit between the inner and outer layers passages that lead to the presence sensors of the transported fluid.

According to a possible embodiment, said ribs can form a mesh-shaped structure that will be arranged between the inner and outer layers of the pipe. This mesh can be made of plastic, metal, foam, cotton, etc., the concept of mesh being understood as a system that allows the formation of holes through which the leaked fluid can travel. The selection of different solutions can be derived from the type of fluid that you want to transport through the network. A film type sheet can be placed on the mesh, to finally be able to extrude the outer layer of finish from the pipe.

According to a variant of execution, the mentioned ribs of the mesh can run along the tube, with a straight or helical path.

The intermediate layer may be constituted on the basis of a material that, due to the pressure of a leak of the transported fluid, deforms and delimits with the internal or external layer a channel or path capable of conducting said leakage to the detecting devices. This

Intermediate layer will preferably be impermeable to the fluid being transported.

The intermediate layer could consist of a material that is incompatible with the plastic materials that make up the adjacent layers. Its mode of operation, before

5 an incident produced in the inner layer, is to protect the outflow of the fluid, deforming by its poor resistance to the pressure of said fluid, to open a communication channel between adjacent layers, which leads the leakage of the fluid to the detectors .

Additionally the pipe could include other layers, for example designed for improvement

10 of the mechanical or pressure resistance properties of the overall system, or other function defined by the fluid to be transported or by special installation and operating conditions.

In a manner known per se, a pipe is composed of consecutive sections, of a certain length, connected for example by means of intermediate sleeves.

15 The detecting devices can be installed in the connecting sleeves between consecutive sections of pipe.

Also the detecting devices may consist of at least one sensor cable that runs outside the pipeline, parallel and close to it, and that is related to said pipeline through fluid presence detector contacts.

20 The detecting devices could also consist of two electrically conductive cables, isolated from each other, that run along the pipe, between the inner and outer layer and between which a short circuit would occur in the event of a water leak or leakage transported by the inner layer.

According to another variant of execution, an external auxiliary conduit could be arranged, parallel to

25 the pipe, in which additional detector systems could be housed, as well as means commonly used in the inspection of networks, for example network monitoring video cameras and others. This auxiliary conduit may or may not be integral with the main pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The attached drawings show possible embodiments of the pipe of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with different types and arrangements of leak detectors of the transported fluid. In the drawings:

5 Figure 1 shows in perspective a pipe constituted according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are views similar to Figure 1 showing as many variants of execution.

Figure 4 shows in diametral section two sections of pipe, constituted according to the invention, connected by means of a sleeve that includes the housings for the

10 leak detection devices.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing a variant of the leak detection device.

Figure 6 and 7 are views similar to Figure 5, showing as many variants of execution.

Figure 8 is a cross section of the pipe, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section similar to Figures 6 and 7, showing another variant of execution.

Figure 10 is a section of the pipe, taken along the line X-X of Figure

9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT MODE.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a portion of a pipe constituted according to the invention, composed, in its simplest structure, of two layers, an internal one (1), whose characteristics and resistance will allow the fluid to circulate on its own. to

25 through the pipe, and an outer layer (2) of closure, as a coating, which provides the external finish. The layers (1 and 2) will be impermeable to the fluid being transported.

Additionally, other devices can be used as a detector device, to indicate the exact point of leakage.

To the described embodiments, an external, parallel auxiliary conduit can be added, which will serve to house different elements of the sensor devices. The use of the external parallel duct will provide greater automation to the system, thanks to the possibility of introducing elements that can be replaced over time through this duct, even changing some initial option for others raised or future depending on the technological evolution of the transmission systems

An exemplary embodiment is shown in Figure 6 that includes an auxiliary conduit (10) through which an antenna cable (11) runs which will automatically read the RFID capsules.

Through the auxiliary conduit (10), an optical fiber could be passed that would allow to precisely geolocate the area of the network where an incident has occurred. The moment the optical fiber undergoes a certain pressure it will cause its signal transmission mode to vary, producing a change in the wavelength and frequency that will be what the external control software interprets as leakage.

A sensor cable can also be arranged through the auxiliary conduit (10). The housings (6) or (6´) of the sleeves where the leaked fluid is directed will cause pressure changes on the sensor cable. This will automatically detect where the leak has occurred.

Another possible solution would be based on the encapsulation of TAG tags or RFID capsules. One of these capsules would be arranged in a sleeve housing, from which it would be dragged, in the event that a fluid leak reached said sleeve, to the detection point. In essence, as shown in Figure 7, the capsule (13) is disposed in a housing (14) of the sleeve (7). When a fluid leak reaches said housing, it drags the capsule (13) until it reaches the auxiliary conduit (10), Figure (8), through which it will be led, by the leaked fluid, to a control box of the network, where all identification and location data of the conduction point where the leak occurred can be read in the capsule.

As a variant to the previous embodiment and as shown in Figures 9 and 10, two TAG tags or RFID capsules (13-13 ') are encapsulated and housed in different cavities

(14-14´) of the sleeve (7). The novelty in this solution is the existence of an emergency RFID capsule (13´) which, once the cavity (14´) is flooded, goes up to a vertical outlet (15) that has been designated for each sleeve. The purpose of this elevation from its initial position is to facilitate reading from the level of burial of the system until its

5 surface. That is, on the one hand we would have the safety capsule (13) that would travel to the reading point in the box, as in the case of Figure 7, and on the other a static emergency capsule (13´) that would serve as identification exact leakage under test (in situ), if any incident had occurred in the reading of the safety sensors.

The pipe of the invention can be used as a means for the transport and / or distribution of different types of fluids, using in each case detecting devices that are sensitive to said fluid, so that they can detect possible leaks thereof.

Other solutions and embodiments are possible without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1.-Pipe for fluid conduction, composed of at least two layers, one internal, capable of conducting the fluid by itself and withstanding the pressure of the same, and another external of 5 closure, and of a nature impervious to the fluid being transported, characterized in that it has between the two mentioned layers of means for collecting possible leaks of the fluid transported by the inner layer, and leading them to a device for detecting the presence of said fluid. 2.-Pipe according to claim one, characterized in that the means mentioned for 10 collecting and conducting the fluid leaks consist of grooves made on the outer surface of the inner layer, which run along said layer, to the leak detecting devices of the transported fluid, whose grooves are closed by the outer layer, of waterproof nature. 3.-Pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for collecting and 15 to conduct the fluid leaks consists of an intermediate layer, composed of a structure capable of collecting possible leaks of the fluid, produced through the inner layer, and leading them to the leak detecting devices of said fluid. 4.-Pipe according to claim 3, characterized in that the structure that forms the intermediate layer is composed of ribs that delimit between the inner and outer layers 20 passages that lead to the leak detectors of the transported fluid. 5.-Pipe according to claim 4, characterized in that said ribs form a mesh-shaped structure. 6.-Pipe according to claim 4, characterized in that said ribs run along the tube, with a straight path. 7. Pipe according to claim 4, characterized in that said ribs run along the tube, with a helical path. 8.-Pipe according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate layer is constituted based on a material that, due to the pressure of a leak of the transported fluid, deforms and delimits with the internal or external layer a channel or path capable of driving such a leak 30 to the detecting devices. 9.-Pipe according to claim 8, characterized in that the intermediate layer is of a waterproof nature to the transported fluid. 10.-Pipe according to claim 1, consisting of consecutive sections connected by intermediate sleeves, characterized in that the leak detection devices 5 of the transported fluid are arranged in housings formed in the connecting sleeves of consecutive sections, whose housings are in communication with the means for collecting and conducting leaks. 11.-Pipe according to claim 1, characterized in that the leak detection devices of the transported fluid are arranged in an external auxiliary conduit, which runs 10 parallel and close to the pipe, which is in communication with the means for collecting and conducting leaks. 12.-Pipe according to claim 11, characterized in that the external auxiliary conduit is in communication with the means for collecting and conducting leaks through a passage formed in the connecting sleeves of consecutive sections of the conduit. 13. 13. Pipe according to claim 9 and 10, characterized in that the leak detecting devices of the transported fluid are arranged in capsules located in housings of the connecting sleeves between consecutive sections of the conduit, whose housings are in communication with the auxiliary conduit external through intermediate passages, said passages being larger in diameter than the capsules. 14. 14. Pipe according to claim 13, characterized in that each sleeve has two axially separated housings that are in communication with the means for collecting and conducting leaks, in which housings are housed as many capsules bearing leakage reporting means of the transported fluid, one of the housings being vertically aligned with the passage that communicates with the auxiliary conduit 25 externally and the other housing vertically aligned with a vertical outlet that starts from the sleeve.