JPH0246840B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a pipeline monitoring device that detects locations where clogging, damage, etc. occur in pipelines that transport fluid.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In pipelines that are laid over long distances above ground, underground, or underwater to transport liquids and gases, any clogging, damage, or leakage along the way can have a serious impact on the entire plant, so early detection is essential. Conventionally, as a means of knowing the occurrence of the above abnormality,
Detection was done by measuring the pressure on the sending side and the pressure on the receiving side, or the flow rate on the sending side and the flow rate on the receiving side, and monitoring the difference between them. However, with this method, it is difficult to determine where on the pipeline the outbreak is occurring. It was necessary to establish points and monitor each category. In this case, not only a large number of highly accurate measuring instruments are required, but also the installation method becomes a problem if the installation location is underground or underwater.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pipeline monitoring device that can be installed underground or underwater relatively easily and at low cost, and that can detect the location of an abnormality on a section-by-section basis.

[Summary of the invention]

In a pipeline that transports fluid from a sending base to a receiving base, the present invention provides an insertion machine that inserts into the pipe a passage device that is installed at the sending base and generates a sound, and an insertion machine that is installed at the receiving base and inserts a passage device that generates a sound into the pipe. a recovery machine that collects the passers from inside the pipe; a group of sound collectors that are scattered at key points of the pipeline and capture the sounds emitted by the passers; and a group of sound collectors that are installed at at least one of the sending and receiving bases, The intended purpose was achieved by realizing a pipeline monitoring device comprising a detection device that counts and displays sound signals sent from each sound collector via a transmission means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of a pipeline monitoring device according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration, in which a pipeline 3 is laid from a sending base 1 to a receiving base 2 via underground 5 and underwater 6 in rivers, lakes, the sea, etc. It's on. At the sending base 1, the pressure is increased by the pump P, and the valve V ₃ is opened to send the fluid into the pipeline 3, and at the receiving base 2, the valve V ₄ is opened.
It opens and sends fluid to the next base. The sending base 1 is provided with a pipe that bypasses the valve V ₃ , and an insertion machine 10 having a valve V ₁ and a valve V ₂ at the front and rear is provided on this pipe.

The insertion machine 10 is for inserting the passage device 9 into the pipeline, and normally opens the valve V ₃ and closes the valves V ₁ ,
Fluid is sent to the pipeline 3 by the pump P with V ₂ closed, but when inserting the passage device 9, first equip the insertion machine 10 with the passage device 9, then close the valve V ₃ , and close the valve V _1. , V ₂ are opened, the passage device 9 is pressurized by the pump P and moves along with the fluid in the pipeline 3.

The passage device 9 is, for example, a ball made of plastic or rubber with a bell-like sounding body placed inside it.
It flows along with the fluid through the pipeline 3 while emitting sound.

The receiving base 2 is provided with a recovery machine 11 in which a branch pipe is provided in front of a valve V ₄ and this pipe is opened through a valve V ₅ . That is, normally valve V ₄ is opened and valve V ₅ is closed to send out fluid, but when the passage device 9 arrives, valve V 4 is closed and valve V ₅ is closed.
By opening the valve _V5 , the passer 9 can be recovered by the recovery machine 11. Note that at this time, the fluid that has entered the recovery machine 11 can be returned into the pipeline.

A sound collector 8, such as a microphone, is provided at each key point of the pipeline 3, and these sound collectors 8 groups are connected in a line to transmit sound signals from each sound collector 8. A transmission line 4 is installed along the pipeline 3. One end of this transmission line 4 is connected to a detection device 7 provided at the sending base 1, and the other end is connected to a detection device 7 provided at the receiving base 2.

This detection device 7 is configured as shown in FIG. 2, for example. That is, the sound collectors 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ , installed at key points of the pipeline 3 ,
The sound signal sent through the transmission line 4 that connects ...8 _i ...8 _o in a line is sent to an amplifier 12,
The signal is processed by the filter 13, the level adjuster 14, and the converter 15, the number of sound signals is counted by the counter 16, and the count value is displayed on the display 17.
Displayed by In FIG. 2, numeral 9 indicates a passage device, and numeral 20 indicates a clogged or damaged portion of the pipeline 3.

The operation of the pipeline monitoring device according to one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be explained using FIG. 2 as an example. The passage device 9 inserted into the pipeline 3 and pumped together with the fluid in the direction of the arrow passes successively through the installation points of the sound collectors, if there is no blockage or damage 20 in the pipeline 3. . At this time, the level v and time t of the passing sound collected by each sound collector 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₃ . . . _{8 i} . However, since the transmission line 4 that transmits the sound signal is connected in a linear manner, the detection device 7
The level v and time t of the sound signal received by the receiver are as shown in F of FIG. This signal is amplified by an amplifier 12,
The waveform is adjusted by the filter 13. Next, the level adjuster 14 selects signals above a certain level as shown in G in FIG. 3, adjusts the waveform, and amplifies the signals to produce a signal with the waveform shown in H in FIG.

Furthermore, if this signal is converted into a pulsed rectangular wave signal by the converter 15 as shown in FIG. This instruction value indicates which sound collector 8x the sound is passing through. Therefore, when this indicated value reaches a value indicating the total number of installed sound collectors, it is confirmed that no abnormality such as clogging or damage has occurred in the pipeline 3.

If there is a blockage or damage point 20 on the way, the passage device 9 will stop at that point and the indicator 17 will continue to show a certain value.
In the example of FIG. 2, the sound collectors 8 ₂ and 8 ₃ are stopped, so the display 17 indicates 2. In other words, when stopping midway, a value indicating the rank of the sound collector before the stopping point is specified, and it is possible to know in which section the abnormality has occurred.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented with various modifications as described below.

(a) The passage device 9 is not limited to one in which a sounding body is placed inside a ball made of plastic or rubber.
It may be a metal ball or a cylindrical object that flows together with the fluid and generates sound due to friction or impact with the inner surface of the pipe.

(b) The detection device 7 is not limited to the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 2, and may be provided with means for detecting and counting passing sounds.

(c) The transmission line 4 is not limited to having a detection device at one end of the line as shown in FIG. 2, but may have detection devices at both ends of the line as shown in FIG. It may be formed into a loop and both ends thereof may be connected to one detection device. Both have the advantage that measurements can be made even if the transmission line 4 is cut midway.

(d) Sound collectors such as wireless microphones may be used instead of connecting with transmission lines.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a pipeline that transports fluid from a sending base to a receiving base, there is provided an insertion machine that inserts a passage device installed at the sending base and that emits sound into the pipe, and a receiving machine. a collection machine installed at a side base to collect the arriving passage device from inside the pipe; a group of sound collectors scattered at key points of the pipeline to capture the sounds emitted by the passage device;
A pipeline monitoring device is provided, comprising a detection device that is provided in at least one of the sending and receiving bases and counts and displays sound signals sent from each of the sound collectors via a transmission means. By inserting the passer into the pipeline from the insertion machine, each sound collector captures the passing sound of the passer, and this sound signal is sequentially received by the detection device, processed, counted, and displayed on the display. Since a value indicating the rank of the sound collector that has passed is indicated, the position of the sound collector can be known. Therefore, if there is no abnormality in the pipeline, the indicated value will advance to the final rank of the sound collector, and if there is a blockage or damage on the way, the passage device will stop there and the display will show just before the point where the abnormality occurred. Since the numerical value indicating the rank of the sound collecting device is continuously indicated, it is possible to know in which section the abnormality is occurring.

As described above, the pipeline monitoring device according to the present invention can be installed relatively easily even when the pipeline runs underground or underwater, since it is only necessary to install a sound collector on the pipeline. Without solving the various problems of how to install pressure and flow rate measuring instruments in underwater and underground pipelines,
It is possible to detect abnormalities in intervals of about 100 meters, and is effective in places that cannot be easily accessed, such as on the ocean floor, or where it is necessary to know the location in a certain level of detail. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a pipeline monitoring device, Figure 2 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a transmission line from a sound collector installed in a pipeline and a detection device, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing each part of Figure 2. 3 is a time chart showing the signal waveform at . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Sending side base, 2...Receiving side base, 3...Pipeline, 4...Transmission line, 7...Detection device, 8...Sound collector, 9...Passer, 10...Insertion machine, 11...Recovery machine, 12... Amplifier, 13... Filter, 14... Level adjuster, 15... Converter, 16... Counter, 17
...Indicator, _V1 to _V5 ...Valve, P...Pump.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a pipeline that transports fluid from a sending base to a receiving base, an insertion machine that inserts a sound-emitting passage device installed at the sending base into the pipe;
a recovery machine installed at the receiving base to collect the arriving passers from inside the pipe; a group of sound collectors scattered at key points of the pipeline to capture the sounds emitted by the passers; A pipeline monitoring device comprising: a detection device provided at at least one of the side bases and counting and displaying sound signals transmitted from each of the sound collectors via a transmission means.