A chemical pipeline leakage detection system based on multispectral imaging

Abstract

The application provides a chemical pipeline leakage detection system based on multispectral imaging, which comprises a laser gas telemeter, a control unit and a plurality of sub-detection units, the laser gas telemeter is arranged on one side of a pipeline to be detected, each sub-detection unit is arranged on the other side of the pipeline to be detected away from the line of sight of the laser gas telemeter, each sub-detection unit comprises an electrochemical gas sensor and a GPS module which are arranged on the pipeline to be detected, the electrochemical gas sensor is input into the positive input end and the negative input end of a comparator respectively, the output end of the comparator and the enable end of the GPS module are electrically connected, the GPS module and the control unit are wirelessly connected, and the control unit and the laser gas telemeter are wirelessly connected; the real-time leakage alarm of the sub-detection unit avoids the blind area problem of the laser gas telemeter in the time resolution, the GPS module is integrated to send geographic position information, and whether leakage occurs is further confirmed by the laser gas telemeter, so that the accuracy of pipeline leakage is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pipeline leak detection technology, and in particular to a chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging. Background Technology

[0002] In chemical production processes, pipeline systems are widely used to transport various gases, liquids, and mixed media, and their operational safety is of paramount importance. Pipeline leaks can not only cause material loss and environmental pollution, but may also trigger major safety accidents such as fires, explosions, or poisoning. Therefore, developing efficient and reliable pipeline leak detection technologies has always been a key research direction in the field of chemical safety.

[0003] Traditional pipeline leak detection methods mainly include indirect monitoring based on pressure, flow, or acoustic signals, and direct detection methods based on gas sensors. Electrochemical gas sensors are widely used due to their low cost and simple structure, and are typically deployed near leak-prone areas such as pipe flanges and valves. However, these sensors suffer from slow response times, susceptibility to cross-gas interference, and limited lifespan. Furthermore, they usually only provide point-based detection, making it difficult to comprehensively cover long-distance pipelines, and they cannot accurately locate or quantitatively analyze the leak source.

[0004] In recent years, optical remote sensing technologies, such as laser gas telemetry, have been increasingly applied in leak detection. These technologies achieve long-distance, non-contact gas concentration measurement by analyzing the absorption characteristics of specific gases to laser light, offering advantages such as fast response, high sensitivity, and wide coverage. However, laser telemetry also has limitations. For example, it is susceptible to environmental weather conditions (such as fog, rain, and dust), making it difficult to achieve reliable all-weather monitoring in complex industrial environments. Furthermore, laser gas telemetry suffers from a structural defect due to its working principle. To monitor large areas, it typically employs a pre-set point polling method, requiring a laser telemetry instrument to periodically switch its measurement path (e.g., by rotating a pan-tilt unit to drive the laser transmitter / receiver) to scan multiple pre-set pipeline lines sequentially. This means that at any given time, the instrument can only focus on one path, leaving other paths in a blind spot. This poses a high risk of missing leaks in the event of a momentary leak. For example, a short-lived "jet" leak, occurring momentarily during valve opening and closing or due to minor damage, may occur and dissipate before the laser beam reaches its path. By the time the laser finally scans the path, the gas cloud may have already decreased in concentration below the detection limit due to atmospheric diffusion or been dispersed by wind, causing the entire leak to be completely missed. Although such a transient leak is brief, it can be a precursor to a major accident, and its failure to be detected constitutes a significant safety hazard.

[0005] In summary, a single, low-cost point-source electrochemical sensor is insufficient for comprehensive, rapid, and reliable monitoring; while laser telemetry, due to its inherent polling scanning method, has blind spots in temporal resolution and cannot guarantee 100% capture of instantaneous leakage events. Utility Model Content

[0006] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this application proposes a chemical pipeline leakage detection system based on multispectral imaging, which can effectively solve the aforementioned problems.

[0007] This application proposes a chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging, including a laser gas telemetry instrument, a control unit, and several sub-detection units. The laser gas telemetry instrument is set on one side of the pipeline to be tested, and each sub-detection unit is set on the other side of the pipeline to be tested away from the line of sight of the laser gas telemetry instrument. Each sub-detection unit includes an electrochemical gas sensor and a GPS module, which are jointly set on the pipeline to be tested. The electrochemical gas sensor and a reference voltage source are respectively input to the positive and negative input terminals of a comparator. The output terminal of the comparator is electrically connected to the enable terminal of the GPS module. The GPS module and the control unit are wirelessly connected, and the control unit and the laser gas telemetry instrument are wirelessly connected.

[0008] By adopting the above technical solution, a three-dimensional monitoring network combining points, lines, and areas is realized. By combining electrochemical gas sensors deployed at key pipeline nodes with laser gas telemetry instruments performing area scanning, a three-dimensional detection network is constructed, greatly eliminating monitoring blind spots. Utilizing the rapid response of the electrochemical gas sensors as the triggering unit and the precise measurement and wide range of the laser gas telemetry instruments as the confirmation and quantification units, a closed-loop detection process from "initial alarm" to "precise confirmation" is achieved. Each sub-detection unit integrates a GPS module. Once its own electrochemical sensor triggers an alarm, the GPS module can immediately upload precise geographical location information, enabling maintenance personnel to know the location of the leak immediately, greatly shortening emergency response time. Based on the geographical location information, the laser gas telemetry instrument can be controlled to the corresponding leak location, or the laser gas telemetry instrument can automatically interrupt preset point scanning based on the geographical location information to directly scan the leak location; thus avoiding the blind spot problem of laser gas telemetry instruments in terms of time resolution.

[0009] In a specific embodiment, each electrochemical gas sensor is located at the flange and / or valve of the pipeline under test.

[0010] By adopting the above technical solutions, targeted deployments are made in important areas that are blind spots for laser gas telemetry instruments. Flanges and valves are recognized as the weakest links in pipeline systems most prone to leakage. By prioritizing the placement of sensors at these critical points, the highest risk areas can be covered with the fewest number of sensors, achieving optimal resource allocation.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the laser gas telemetry instrument includes a fixed column, a laser detector and a camera are disposed outside the fixed column, and the bottom of the fixed column is movably connected to a gimbal via a rotating shaft.

[0012] In a specific embodiment, the control unit and the gimbal are wirelessly connected, and the control unit is used to receive the geographical location information of the GPS module and drive the gimbal to rotate.

[0013] In a specific embodiment, the sub-detection unit further includes a LoRa wireless communication module. The data input terminal of the LoRa wireless communication module is electrically connected to the data output terminal of the GPS module, and the LoRa wireless communication module is wirelessly connected to the control unit.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, the LoRa wireless communication module is used for communication between the sub-detection unit and the control unit, which solves the problems of poor signal coverage and high power consumption of traditional Wi-Fi or 4G / 5G modules in remote industrial environments. This ensures that alarm information can be stably and reliably transmitted back to the control center over long distances, making it suitable for large-scale chemical pipe corridors.

[0015] In a specific embodiment, the sub-detection unit further includes a protective box, on the outer wall of which a solar panel is fixedly installed, and inside which a storage battery is fixedly installed; the output terminal of the solar panel is electrically connected to the charging terminal of the storage battery, and the discharge terminal of the storage battery supplies power to the electrochemical gas sensor, comparator and reference voltage source.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the sub-detection unit achieves energy self-sufficiency. The power supply scheme, combining solar panels and batteries, provides a continuous and stable energy supply to the sub-detection unit. This allows the sub-detection unit to be independently deployed along the pipeline corridor, far from mains power, without the need for laying power lines. This significantly reduces installation difficulty and cost, and enables long-term automated operation of the device, reducing maintenance frequency. It is particularly suitable for use in harsh or unattended environments.

[0017] In a specific embodiment, the reference voltage source is an adjustable digital potentiometer, and the adjustment knob of the adjustable digital potentiometer extends out of the protective box.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the reference voltage source is set as an adjustable digital potentiometer, and its adjustment knob is brought out, so that the staff can conveniently adjust the reference voltage value on site without opening the protective box. This allows the staff to flexibly set different sensitivities according to the hazard level of the medium transported in different pipeline sections or according to seasonal changes, thereby improving the system's adaptability and maintainability.

[0019] In a specific embodiment, an audible and visual alarm is also included. The audible and visual alarm is communicatively connected to the control unit and is used to receive signals from the laser gas telemetry instrument and / or the sub-detection unit to issue an alarm.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0021] This system achieves three-dimensional monitoring combining points, lines, and areas. By combining electrochemical gas sensors deployed at key pipeline nodes with laser gas telemetry for area scanning, blind spots in monitoring are eliminated. The rapid response of the electrochemical gas sensors serves as the triggering unit, while the precise measurement and wide range of the laser gas telemetry serve as the confirmation and quantification unit, realizing a closed-loop detection process from "initial alarm" to "precise confirmation." Each sub-detection unit integrates a GPS module. Once its own electrochemical sensor triggers an alarm, the GPS module immediately uploads precise geographical location information, enabling maintenance personnel to know the location of the leak immediately, shortening emergency response time. Based on the geographical location information, the laser gas telemetry can be directed to the corresponding leak location, or the laser gas telemetry can automatically interrupt preset point scanning and directly scan the leak location, avoiding the blind spot problem of laser gas telemetry in terms of time resolution. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. Other embodiments and many anticipated advantages of the embodiments will be readily recognized as they become better understood through reference to the following detailed description. Elements in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The same reference numerals refer to corresponding similar parts.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging according to an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a multispectral imaging-based chemical pipeline leak detection system installed in a pipe gallery according to an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection of internal modules of a sub-detection unit according to an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a power supply device for a sub-detection unit according to an embodiment of this application.

[0027] The meaning of each number in the diagram:

[0028] Laser gas telemetry instrument 01, control unit 02, sub-detection unit 03, electrochemical gas sensor 031, comparator 032, GPS module 033, pipeline to be tested 04, flange 041, protective box 05, solar panel 06, storage battery 07, adjustment knob 08, audible and visual alarm 09. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description and illustrate illustrative specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,” etc., are used with reference to the orientation of the described figures. Because components of the embodiments can be positioned in several different orientations, directional terms are used for illustrative purposes and are by no means limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0030] This application proposes a chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging is shown. Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the connection of internal modules of a sub-detection unit according to an embodiment of this application is illustrated, as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the system includes a laser gas telemetry instrument 01, a control unit 02, and several sub-detection units 03. The laser gas telemetry instrument 01 is positioned on one side of the pipe 04 to be tested. Each sub-detection unit 03 is positioned on the other side of the pipe 04 to be tested, away from the line of sight of the laser gas telemetry instrument 01. Each sub-detection unit 03 includes an electrochemical gas sensor 031 and a GPS module 033, both of which are mounted on the pipe 04 to be tested. The electrochemical gas sensor 031 and the reference voltage source Uref are respectively input to the positive and negative input terminals of the comparator 032. The output terminal of the comparator 032 is electrically connected to the enable terminal of the GPS module 033. The GPS module 033 is wirelessly connected to the control unit 02, and the control unit 02 is wirelessly connected to the laser gas telemetry instrument 01.

[0031] In a specific embodiment, the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 can be positioned above or below several pipes 04 to be measured.

[0032] By adopting the above technical solution, a three-dimensional monitoring network combining points, lines, and surfaces is realized. By combining electrochemical gas sensors 031 deployed at key pipeline nodes with laser gas telemetry instruments 01 performing area scanning, monitoring blind spots are eliminated. The rapid response of the electrochemical gas sensors 031 serves as the triggering unit, while the precise measurement and wide range of the laser gas telemetry instruments 01 serve as the confirmation and quantification unit, achieving a closed-loop detection process from "initial alarm" to "precise confirmation." Each sub-detection unit 03 integrates a GPS module 033. Once its own electrochemical sensor triggers an alarm, the GPS module 033 can immediately upload precise geographical location information, enabling maintenance personnel to know the location of the leak immediately, greatly shortening the emergency response time. Based on the geographical location information, the GPS module 033 can be controlled to move the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 to the corresponding leak location, or the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 can automatically interrupt preset point scanning based on the geographical location information to directly scan the leak location; this avoids the blind spot problem of the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 in terms of time resolution.

[0033] In a specific embodiment, each electrochemical gas sensor 031 is located at the flange 041 and / or valve of the pipeline 04 to be tested.

[0034] By adopting the above technical solution, targeted deployment of sensors in important blind spots of the laser gas telemetry instrument 01, flange 041 and valves are recognized as the weakest links in the pipeline system most prone to leakage. Prioritizing the placement of sensors at these key points allows for the coverage of the highest risk areas with the fewest number of sensors, achieving optimal resource allocation.

[0035] In a specific embodiment, the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 includes a fixed column, with a laser detector and a camera mounted outside the fixed column. The bottom of the fixed column is movably connected to a gimbal via a rotating shaft. The control unit 02 is wirelessly connected to the gimbal and is used to receive the geographical location information from the GPS module 033 and drive the gimbal to rotate.

[0036] It should be noted that the Laser Gas Remote Sensing Instrument 01 is based on Transient Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology, capable of radar-style 360-degree rotating scanning within a maximum radius of 300 meters. It adopts an integrated design of laser detector, camera, and pan-tilt unit, allowing the device to operate independently. Without external control, it can perform scanning, detection, alarm functions, and communication with a host computer. It provides real-time monitoring of gas concentrations combined with high-definition video images for remote online visual intelligent monitoring, enabling leak location. It also has detection capabilities for gases such as methane, ethylene, and acetylene, and supports manual and polling scanning strategies with 255 preset points.

[0037] In a specific embodiment, the control unit 02 is located in the host computer, which collects the gas leak detected by the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 monitoring the spectrum, and uses a camera to capture the collected image information for relevant personnel to view in real time.

[0038] In a specific embodiment, the sub-detection unit 03 further includes a LoRa wireless communication module. The data input terminal of the LoRa wireless communication module is electrically connected to the data output terminal of the GPS module 033, and the LoRa wireless communication module is wirelessly connected to the control unit 02.

[0039] By adopting the above technical solution, the LoRa wireless communication module is used for communication between the sub-detection unit 03 and the control unit 02, which solves the problems of poor signal coverage and high power consumption of traditional Wi-Fi or 4G / 5G modules in remote industrial environments. This ensures that alarm information can be stably and reliably transmitted back to the control center over long distances, making it suitable for large-scale chemical pipe corridors.

[0040] In a specific embodiment, Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the connection of internal modules of a sub-detection unit according to an embodiment of this application is illustrated, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the power supply terminal of comparator 032 is connected to power supply Vcc, and power supply Vcc is also connected to the output terminal of comparator through a pull-up resistor R1 to power the enable terminal of GPS module 033, activating GPS module 033 to send the current area's geographical location information to control unit 02, so that control unit 02 displays the geographical location information for relevant personnel to view. At the same time, the pan-tilt unit of laser gas telemetry instrument 01 can be manually controlled to directly rotate to the corresponding area for detection; or the polling of the preset point of the pan-tilt unit can be interrupted by the geographical location information, and the unit can directly rotate to the corresponding area for detection based on the geographical location information; even in extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain or heavy fog, when its laser monitoring is affected, it can still quickly and accurately detect instantaneous gas leaks in pipelines.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, the system also includes an audible and visual alarm 09, which is configured to issue an alarm to relevant personnel based on a common signal from the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 and the sub-detection unit 03, a signal from the gas telemetry instrument 01 alone, or a signal from the sub-detection unit 03 alone.

[0042] In a specific embodiment, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a sub-detection unit power supply device according to an embodiment of this application is shown, such as... Figure 4As shown, the sub-detection unit 03 also includes a protective box 05. A solar panel 06 is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the protective box 05, and a storage battery 07 is fixedly installed inside. The output terminal of the solar panel 06 is electrically connected to the charging terminal of the storage battery 07, and the discharge terminal of the storage battery 07 supplies power to the electrochemical gas sensor 031, the comparator 032, and the reference voltage source. The reference voltage source is an adjustable digital potentiometer, and the adjustment knob 08 of the adjustable digital potentiometer extends out of the protective box 05.

[0043] By adopting the above technical solution, the sub-detection unit 03 achieves self-sufficiency in energy operation. A power supply scheme combining solar panels 06 and batteries 07 provides a continuous and stable energy supply for the sub-detection unit 03. This allows the sub-detection unit 03 to be independently deployed along pipe corridors far from mains power, eliminating the need for power lines, significantly reducing installation difficulty and cost, and enabling long-term automated operation of the device, reducing maintenance frequency. It is particularly suitable for use in harsh or unattended environments. The reference voltage source is set as an adjustable digital potentiometer, and its adjustment knob 08 is brought out, allowing personnel to conveniently adjust the reference voltage value on-site without opening the protective box 05. This allows personnel to flexibly set different sensitivities according to the hazard level of the pipeline medium in different sections or according to seasonal changes, improving the system's adaptability and maintainability.

[0044] In a specific embodiment, the system of this application is typically monitored in real time by a laser gas telemetry instrument 01. When a leak is detected in any pipeline 04 to be tested, the electrochemical gas sensor 031 in the sub-detection unit 03 identifies the leaking gas and outputs a corresponding voltage signal. The voltage signal is compared with the voltage of a pre-set reference voltage source by a comparator 032. If the voltage signal is higher than the voltage of the reference voltage source, it indicates that there is a gas leak. A high level is output to enable the GPS module 033, which sends the geographical location information to the control unit 02. The control unit 02 then controls the laser gas telemetry instrument 01 to directly switch to the relevant geographical location for long-term pipeline leak monitoring. The confirmation of dual leak signals ensures the accuracy of gas leak monitoring.

[0045] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0046] A three-dimensional monitoring system combining point, line, and area detection is achieved. By combining electrochemical gas sensors 031 deployed at key pipeline nodes with laser gas telemetry instruments 01 performing area scanning, monitoring blind spots are eliminated. The rapid response of the electrochemical gas sensors 031 serves as the triggering unit, while the precise measurement and wide range of the laser gas telemetry instruments 01 serve as the confirmation and quantification unit, realizing a closed-loop detection process from "initial alarm" to "precise confirmation." Each sub-detection unit 03 integrates a GPS module 033. Once its own electrochemical sensor triggers an alarm, the GPS module 033 immediately uploads precise geographical location information, enabling maintenance personnel to know the location of the leak immediately, shortening emergency response time. Based on the geographical location information, the system can control the laser gas telemetry instruments 01 to the corresponding leak location, or automatically interrupt preset point scanning to directly scan the leak location, avoiding the blind spot problem of the laser gas telemetry instruments 01 in terms of time resolution.

[0047] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the embodiments of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. In this way, this utility model is also intended to cover such modifications and changes if they fall within the scope of the claims of this utility model and their equivalents. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps not listed in the claims. The simple fact that certain measures are described in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used for profit. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be considered as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A chemical pipeline leak detection system based on multispectral imaging, characterized in that, The device includes a laser gas telemetry instrument, a control unit, and several sub-detection units. The laser gas telemetry instrument is positioned on one side of the pipe to be tested. Each sub-detection unit is positioned on the opposite side of the pipe from the line of sight of the laser gas telemetry instrument. Each sub-detection unit includes an electrochemical gas sensor and a GPS module, both mounted on the pipe to be tested. The electrochemical gas sensor and a reference voltage source are respectively input to the positive and negative input terminals of a comparator. The output terminal of the comparator is electrically connected to the enable terminal of the GPS module. The GPS module is wirelessly connected to the control unit, and the control unit is wirelessly connected to the laser gas telemetry instrument.

2. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the electrochemical gas sensors is located at the flange and / or valve of the pipeline under test.

3. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The laser gas telemetry instrument includes a fixed column, and a laser detector and a camera are installed outside the fixed column. The bottom of the fixed column is movably connected to a gimbal via a rotating shaft.

4. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control unit and the gimbal are wirelessly connected, and the control unit is used to receive the geographical location information of the GPS module and drive the gimbal to rotate.

5. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sub-detection unit further includes a LoRa wireless communication module, the data input terminal of which is electrically connected to the data output terminal of the GPS module, and the LoRa wireless communication module is wirelessly connected to the control unit.

6. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sub-detection unit also includes a protective box, on the outer wall of which a solar panel is fixedly installed, and inside which a storage battery is fixedly installed; the output terminal of the solar panel is electrically connected to the charging terminal of the storage battery, and the discharge terminal of the storage battery supplies power to the electrochemical gas sensor, comparator and reference voltage source.

7. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The reference voltage source is an adjustable digital potentiometer, and the adjustment knob of the adjustable digital potentiometer extends outside the protective box.

8. The chemical pipeline leak detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an audible and visual alarm, which is communicatively connected to the control unit and is used to receive signals from the laser gas telemetry instrument and / or the sub-detection unit to issue an alarm.

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