A quick early warning system and method for leakage of an unmanned inspection pipeline crossing a channel without drainage

Abstract

This invention discloses a rapid early warning system for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers. The system includes: a device box equipped with a rapid online chlorophyll detector and a signal transmitter; a remote terminal processor; and an adjustable fixed protective cover. Two or more device boxes are installed near inspection wells upstream and downstream of the pipeline. The rapid online chlorophyll detector is connected to the signal transmitter. The remote terminal processor is connected to the signal transmitter via a GPRS wireless transmission device. The adjustable fixed protective cover includes an adjustable fixing rod, a protective cover, and a support frame. This invention also discloses a rapid early warning method for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers using the above-mentioned early warning system, enabling unmanned inspection without the need for manual drainage. This invention has the advantages of fast detection speed and real-time feedback, reducing the investment cost for pipeline inspection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sewage pipeline inspection technology, and relates to a rapid early warning system and method for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for unmanned inspection and drainage. Background Technology

[0002] Urban pipelines, as a crucial component of urban infrastructure, are a vital foundation and guarantee for the safe, stable operation and sustainable development of cities. Urban pipelines are typically laid underground, and defects are often concealed, leading to a widespread phenomenon of pipelines operating with faults. In particular, pipelines crossing canals and rivers often face the problem of river water infiltration. The introduction of large amounts of external water sources can cause a surge in drainage network flow, increase the treatment load on sewage treatment plants, raise operating costs for drainage companies, and reduce social benefits.

[0003] Drainage pipeline inspection typically requires pre-treatment such as sealing and diversion before selecting appropriate technologies for inspection based on the pipeline's condition. For pipelines crossing canals or rivers, due to their cross-river layout, they are easily affected by the surrounding environment and face objective factors such as high flow velocity, large volume, and long distances. Pre-treatment often presents significant challenges in diversion, including extremely high difficulty, cost, and safety risks, making inspection difficult. However, pipelines crossing canals or rivers are crucial pathways in the pipeline network system, and their defects can adversely affect the river environment. Therefore, timely diagnosis of pipeline defects through reasonable and effective pipeline assessment and detection methods is of paramount importance.

[0004] Pre-diagnostic technology is suitable for baseline surveys of integrated plant-network pipe systems. It is characterized by strong applicability, low operational difficulty, and cost-effectiveness. A complete pre-diagnostic process can be developed based on different external water analysis methods used for different scales and weather conditions. There are many methods for assessing external water inflow into pipe networks, such as water balance methods, isotope methods, distributed temperature sensor technology, and mathematical modeling methods. When selecting an assessment method, its accuracy and applicability must be fully considered. When quantifying external water inflow into pipe networks, water quality characteristic factors such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), conductivity, and ammonia nitrogen are often used for analysis. However, due to cumbersome operation procedures, high monitoring costs, and limited application conditions, these methods are not effective for detecting pipelines crossing canals and rivers, hindering their widespread application. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a rapid early warning method and system for unmanned inspection of pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for drainage. Targeting the characteristic of river water infiltration after leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers, the invention selects chlorophyll, a water quality characteristic factor, as an indicator to preliminarily determine the degree of pipeline leakage, thus solving the problems of difficult drainage and challenging detection.

[0006] This invention provides a rapid early warning system for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers. The system includes: a device box equipped with a chlorophyll rapid online detector and a signal transmitter, a remote terminal processor, and an adjustable fixed protective cover.

[0007] The device box consists of two or more units, which are installed next to the inspection wells at the upstream and downstream positions of the pipeline crossing the canal and river.

[0008] In the device box, the signal transmitter is connected to the chlorophyll rapid online detector. The chlorophyll content data in the upstream and downstream water bodies of the canal-crossing pipeline is detected by the chlorophyll rapid online detector and transmitted to the remote terminal processor through the signal transmitter.

[0009] The detection probe of the rapid online chlorophyll detector extends into the water body of the pipeline crossing the canal through the inspection well to detect the water body in the pipeline in real time. The detection probe can convert light signals into electrical signals and transmit them to the processor in the detector. The processor processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content in the water body of the upstream and downstream pipelines.

[0010] Furthermore, an adjustable fixed protective cover is also assembled outside the probe. The entire structure of the adjustable fixed protective cover is made of stainless steel. The structure of the adjustable fixed protective cover includes: an adjustable fixing rod, a protective cover, and a support frame.

[0011] The adjustable fixing rod has a segmented structure, including a hollow main rod and two adjusting rods. The hollow main rod is connected to the protective cover through a support frame. The adjusting rod extends into the hollow main rod and its extension length can be adjusted by fixing bolts. The adjusting rod can be embedded into the inner wall of the inspection well to fix the probe of the detector inside the well and prevent the probe from shifting due to changes in water flow in the river crossing pipeline.

[0012] The protective cover has a semi-enclosed structure with perforated mesh on both the sides and bottom. The circular part at the top of the protective cover has a perforated mesh structure, and the middle of the top is hollow. The mesh structure on the sides of the protective cover is connected to the mesh structure on the bottom. The protective cover is in a semi-sealed state and covers the probe to prevent the probe from being damaged by collision with solids in the sewage.

[0013] The support frame is cross-shaped and is connected to the protective cover and the adjustable fixing rod by welding. Specifically, the intersecting part of the cross-shaped structure is welded to the adjustable fixing rod, and the tail of the diverging end of the cross-shaped structure is welded to the mesh structure on the top of the protective cover.

[0014] The hollow main rod of the adjustable fixing rod is provided with threaded openings at both ends for the fixing bolt to pass through. The fixing bolt mainly consists of a knob bolt and a base. The base is fixedly installed inside the hollow main rod at the position corresponding to the opening. The knob bolt is inserted into the hollow main rod through the opening and can be screwed in by matching the thread. A circular channel structure is formed between the knob bolt and the base for the adjusting rod to pass through. In use, the knob bolt can be rotated to adjust the tightness of the adjustable fixing rod. At the same time, a rubber sheet is provided at the position opposite to the base and the knob bolt. The rubber sheet is used to increase the friction between the fixing bolt and the adjusting rod, strengthen the tightness, and thus prevent the adjustable fixing rod from loosening, thereby preventing it from possibly coming loose from inside the inspection well.

[0015] The adjustable fixing rod also has a central hole in the middle. The shape of the central hole is the same as that of the cross buckle that holds the probe, but its size is slightly larger than that of the cross buckle. When the probe is clamped by the cross buckle, it passes through the central hole from top to bottom and is then placed inside the protective cover.

[0016] The remote terminal processor is used to process the chlorophyll content data of the upstream and downstream water bodies obtained through transmission and to provide early warning information.

[0017] The signal transmitter is connected to the remote terminal processor via a GPRS wireless transmission device.

[0018] This invention utilizes the aforementioned early warning system to implement a rapid early warning method for leaks in pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for unmanned inspection and drainage, comprising the following steps:

[0019] Step 1: Install the chlorophyll rapid online detector in the device box next to the inspection well. The detector in the box is connected to the signal transmitter. Then, assemble the detector probe with the adjustable fixed protective cover and place it in the inspection well. The combined device should be placed below the water level in the pipeline.

[0020] Step 2: The probe performs real-time detection of the sewage in the pipe. The probe converts the light signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the processor. The processor processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content C1 and C2 (unit: μg / L), where C1 is the chlorophyll content of the upstream inspection well and C2 is the chlorophyll content of the downstream inspection well.

[0021] Step 3: The data obtained by the processor is transmitted to the remote terminal processor via the signal transmitter using GPRS wireless communication technology. The terminal processor calculates the factor Ca used to determine pipeline leakage using the obtained data through a formula. The formula for calculating the factor is Ca = C2 - C1.

[0022] Step 4: The remote terminal processor provides a rapid early warning of leakage in the pipe crossing the canal or river based on the pipe leakage factor Ca. When Ca ≤ 0.5 (unit: μg / L), the pipe crossing the canal or river is in good condition or does not require further investigation for the time being; when 0.5 < Ca ≤ 1, the pipe crossing the canal or river needs to be investigated, and the remote terminal processor issues an orange warning; when Ca > 1, the pipe crossing the canal or river urgently needs detailed testing, and the remote terminal processor issues a red warning.

[0023] The rapid early warning method for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for unmanned inspection and drainage, as described in this invention, has the following beneficial effects:

[0024] While water quality and quantity analysis methods can quantify incoming water to some extent, they are susceptible to misjudgments and omissions due to variations in water usage periods and service areas. This invention addresses the unique environmental conditions of pipelines crossing canals and rivers by analyzing river water infiltration. Considering that existing water quality indicators for pipeline leakage primarily rely on common factors like water temperature, conductivity, and flow rate, without addressing the impact of river water, this invention selects chlorophyll, a specific environmental factor found only in pipelines crossing canals and rivers, as a diagnostic indicator. This allows for efficient and accurate identification of leaks in such pipelines. By sampling water from upstream and downstream inspection wells of the pipeline and detecting its chlorophyll content, and using the pipeline leakage factor Ca, a rapid early warning system for leaks in this section of the pipeline is provided. This enables wastewater discharge-free and rapid assessment of pipeline leaks, reducing the cost of inspecting pipelines crossing canals and rivers. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the construction area involved in the embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 2 A front view of an adjustable fixed protective cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 3 A top view of an adjustable fixed protective cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 4 A schematic flowchart illustrating the early warning system for leakage of pipelines crossing canals and rivers, as shown in an embodiment of the present invention, is presented.

[0029] Figure 5 The front and side views of the fixing bolts in the adjustable fixed protective cover of the present invention are shown.

[0030] In the above attached figures:

[0031] 1- Pipeline to be inspected crossing the canal / river; 2- Upstream inspection well; 3- Downstream inspection well; 4- Adjustable fixed protective cover; 5- Chlorophyll detection probe; 6- Chlorophyll rapid online detector; 7- Signal transmitter; 8- Remote terminal processor; 9- Adjustable fixing rod; 10- Fixing bolt; 11- Center hole; 12- Probe; 13- Protective cover; 14- Support frame; 15- Knob bolt; 16- Base; 17- Rubber sheet. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Except for the contents specifically mentioned below, the processes, conditions, and experimental methods for implementing the present invention are all common knowledge and general knowledge in the art, and the present invention does not have any particular limitations.

[0033] This invention proposes a rapid early warning method for leaks in pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for drainage or unmanned inspection, as well as a system for implementing the method. Addressing the characteristic of external water seeping into the river after pipeline damage, a rapid early warning method for leaks in pipelines crossing canals and rivers based on chlorophyll is constructed. This method involves real-time detection of the chlorophyll content of wastewater in upstream and downstream inspection wells of the pipeline, transmitting the data in real-time to a remote terminal processor. The leakage discrimination factor Ca is used to determine whether the pipeline is leaking, ultimately achieving rapid early warning of leaks in pipelines crossing canals and rivers. This method eliminates the need for drainage in the pipeline under test, offering advantages such as fast detection speed and real-time feedback, reducing the investment cost of pipeline inspection in canals and rivers, and providing a simple and advantageous solution to the problem of high difficulty in inspecting pipelines crossing canals and rivers in existing technologies.

[0034] Specifically, the present invention provides a rapid early warning system for leakage of pipelines crossing canals and rivers. The system includes: a device box equipped with a chlorophyll rapid online detector 6 and a signal transmitter 7, a remote terminal processor 8, and an adjustable fixed protective cover 4.

[0035] The device box consists of two or more units, which are installed next to the inspection wells at the upstream and downstream positions of the pipeline crossing the canal and river.

[0036] In the device box, the signal transmitter 7 is connected to the chlorophyll rapid online detector 6. The chlorophyll content data in the upstream and downstream water bodies of the canal-crossing pipeline obtained by the chlorophyll rapid online detector 6 is transmitted to the remote terminal processor 8 through the signal transmitter 7.

[0037] The detection probe 5 of the rapid online chlorophyll detector 6 is inserted into the water body of the pipeline crossing the canal through the inspection well to detect the water body in the pipeline in real time. The detection probe 5 can convert the light signal into an electrical signal and transmit it to the processor in the rapid online chlorophyll detector 6. The processor processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content in the water body of the upstream and downstream pipelines.

[0038] Furthermore, an adjustable fixed protective cover 4 is also assembled outside the probe. The entire structure of the adjustable fixed protective cover is made of stainless steel. The structure of the adjustable fixed protective cover 4 includes: an adjustable fixing rod 9, a protective cover 13, and a support frame 14.

[0039] The adjustable fixing rod 9 has a segmented structure, including a hollow main rod and two adjusting rods. The hollow main rod is connected to the protective cover 13 through the support frame 14. The adjusting rod extends into the hollow main rod and can be adjusted by fixing bolts 10 to adjust the length. The adjusting rod can be embedded into the inner wall of the inspection well to fix the probe of the detector inside the well and prevent the probe from shifting due to changes in the water flow in the river crossing pipeline.

[0040] The protective cover has a semi-enclosed structure with hollow mesh on both the sides and bottom. The circular part at the top of the protective cover has a hollow mesh structure, and the middle of the top is a hollow structure. The mesh structure on the side of the protective cover is connected to the mesh structure on the bottom. The protective cover 13 is in a semi-sealed state and covers the probe to prevent the probe from being damaged by collision with solids in the sewage.

[0041] The support frame 14 is cross-shaped and is connected to the protective cover 13 and the adjustable fixing rod 9 by welding. Specifically, the intersecting part of the cross-shaped structure is welded to the adjustable fixing rod 9, and the tail of the diverging end of the cross-shaped structure is welded to the mesh structure on the top of the protective cover.

[0042] The hollow main rod of the adjustable fixing rod 9 is provided with threaded openings at both ends for the fixing bolt 10 to pass through. The fixing bolt 10 mainly consists of a knob bolt 15 and a base 16. The base 16 is fixedly installed inside the hollow main rod at a position corresponding to the opening. The knob bolt 15 is inserted into the hollow main rod through the opening and can be screwed in by matching the thread. A circular channel structure is formed between the knob bolt 15 and the base 16 for the adjustment rod to pass through. In use, the knob bolt 15 can be rotated to adjust the tightness of the adjustable fixing rod 9. At the same time, a rubber sheet 17 is provided at the opposite position between the base 16 and the knob bolt 15. The rubber sheet 17 is used to increase the friction between the fixing bolt 10 and the adjustment rod, strengthen the tightness, and prevent the adjustable fixing rod from loosening, thereby preventing it from possibly coming loose from inside the inspection well.

[0043] The adjustable fixing rod 10 also has a central hole 11 in the middle. The shape of the central hole 11 is the same as that of the cross buckle that holds the probe, but its size is slightly larger than that of the cross buckle. When the probe is clamped by the cross buckle, it passes through the central hole 11 from top to bottom and is then placed inside the protective cover 13.

[0044] The remote terminal processor 8 is used to process the chlorophyll content data of the upstream and downstream water bodies obtained through transmission and to provide early warning information.

[0045] The signal transmitter 7 is connected to the remote terminal processor 8 via a GPRS wireless transmission device.

[0046] Example

[0047] This embodiment utilizes the early warning system and method of the present invention to provide rapid early warning of leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers.

[0048] S1: Install the chlorophyll rapid online detector 5 in the device box next to the inspection well. The detector in the box is connected to the signal transmitter 6. Then assemble the detector probe with the adjustable fixed protective cover 4 and place it in the inspection well. The combined device is placed below the water level in the pipeline.

[0049] S2: The probe performs real-time detection of the sewage in the pipes of the upstream inspection well 2 and the downstream inspection well 3. The probe converts the light signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the chlorophyll rapid online detector 5. The chlorophyll rapid online detector 5 processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content C1 and C2, where C1 is the chlorophyll content of the upstream inspection well and C2 is the chlorophyll content of the downstream inspection well.

[0050] S3: The data obtained by the chlorophyll rapid online detector 5 is transmitted to the remote terminal processor 7 via the signal transmitter 6 using GPRS wireless communication technology. The remote terminal processor 7 calculates the factor Ca used to judge pipeline leakage based on the obtained data using the formula. The calculation formula for the factor is Ca = C2 - C1.

[0051] S4: The remote terminal processor calculated a pipeline leakage factor Ca = 1.185, concluding that the pipeline crossing the canal urgently needs detailed inspection and issuing a red warning for pipeline leakage. After pretreatment such as drainage and dredging, CCTV inspection revealed three leaks in this section of the pipeline: one dripping leak and two gushing leaks. The structural condition is affected and may be damaged in the short term, requiring immediate repair. Another pipeline crossing the canal, calculated by the remote terminal processor, had a leakage factor Ca = 0.67, indicating that this pipeline needs further investigation, and the remote terminal processor issued an orange warning. After pretreatment such as drainage and dredging, CCTV inspection revealed one dripping leak, requiring further repair measures.

[0052] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the unmanned inspection method for rapid early warning of leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers, which is free from guide pipes, can provide timely and effective early warning for pipeline leakage. It has the advantages of fast detection speed and real-time feedback. It does not require pretreatment of the pipeline to be tested, nor does it consume any reagents. It also does not have complicated operation steps, providing a simple and advantageous method for rapid inspection and early warning of pipelines crossing canals and rivers.

[0053] The scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Any variations and advantages that can be conceived by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention are included in this invention and are protected by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rapid early warning system for pipeline leakage across canals and rivers, characterized in that, The system includes: a device box equipped with a chlorophyll rapid online detector (6) and a signal transmitter (7), a remote terminal processor (8), and an adjustable fixed protective cover (4); The device box consists of two or more units, which are installed next to the inspection wells at the upstream and downstream positions of the pipeline crossing the canal and river. The chlorophyll rapid online detector (6) is connected to the signal transmitter (7); the detection probe (5) of the chlorophyll rapid online detector extends into the water body of the canal-crossing pipeline through the inspection well to detect the water body in the pipeline in real time. The detection probe (5) converts the light signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the processor in the chlorophyll rapid online detector. The processor processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content C1 of the upstream inspection well and the chlorophyll content C2 of the downstream inspection well, and transmits it to the remote terminal processor (8) through the signal transmitter (7). The remote terminal processor (8) is connected to the signal transmitter (7) via a GPRS wireless transmission device. The chlorophyll content C1 of the upstream inspection well and the chlorophyll content C2 of the downstream inspection well are transmitted to the remote terminal processor (8) using GPRS wireless communication technology. The remote terminal processor (8) calculates the obtained data using a formula to determine the factor Ca for pipeline leakage. The formula for calculating the factor is Ca = C2 - C1. The remote terminal processor (8) provides a rapid early warning of leakage in the canal-crossing pipe based on the pipe leakage factor Ca. When Ca ≤ 0.5, the canal-crossing pipe is in good condition or does not require further investigation for the time being; when 0.5 < Ca ≤ 1, the canal-crossing pipe needs to be investigated and the remote terminal processor (8) issues an orange warning; when Ca > 1, the canal-crossing pipe urgently needs to be thoroughly inspected and the remote terminal processor (8) issues a red warning. The adjustable fixed protective cover (4) includes an adjustable fixing rod (9), a protective cover (13), and a support frame (14). The adjustable fixing rod (9) is a segmented structure, including a hollow main rod and two adjusting rods; the hollow main rod is connected to the protective cover (13) through the support frame (14), the adjusting rod extends into the hollow main rod, and the extension length of the adjusting rod can be adjusted by the fixing bolt (10) to make the length adjustment so that the adjusting rod is embedded in the inner wall of the inspection well and the detection probe (5) is fixed inside the inspection well; The protective cover (13) has a semi-closed structure with hollow mesh on both the side and bottom. The circular part at the top of the protective cover has a hollow mesh structure, and the middle of the top is a hollow structure. The mesh structure on the side of the protective cover (13) is connected to the mesh structure on the bottom. The protective cover (13) is in a semi-sealed state and covers the detection probe (5) of the detector. The support frame (14) is cross-shaped and is connected to the protective cover (13) and the adjustable fixing rod (9) by welding. The cross-shaped structure is welded to the adjustable fixing rod (9), and the tail of the diverging end of the cross-shaped structure is welded to the mesh structure on the top of the protective cover (13). The hollow main rod of the adjustable fixing rod (9) is provided with threaded openings at both ends for the fixing bolt (10) to pass through; the fixing bolt (10) includes a knob bolt (15) and a base (16). The base (16) is fixedly installed inside the hollow main rod at a position corresponding to the opening. The knob bolt (15) is inserted into the hollow main rod through the opening and can be screwed in by matching the thread; a circular channel structure is formed between the knob bolt (15) and the base (16), and the adjusting rod can pass through the circular channel structure; a rubber sheet (17) is also provided at the position opposite to the base (16) and the knob bolt (15) to increase the friction between the fixing bolt (10) and the adjusting rod; The adjustable fixing rod (9) is also provided with a central hole (11) in the middle. The size of the central hole (11) matches the cross buckle that holds the detection probe. When the detection probe is clamped by the cross buckle, it passes through the central hole (11) from top to bottom and is then placed inside the protective cover (13).

2. A rapid early warning method for leakage in pipelines crossing canals and rivers without the need for unmanned inspection and drainage, characterized in that... The early warning system as described in claim 1 includes the following steps: Step 1: Set up the early warning device. Install the chlorophyll rapid online detector in the device box next to the inspection well. Connect the detector in the box to the signal transmitter. Then assemble the detector probe with the adjustable fixed protective cover and place it in the inspection well. The combined device should be placed below the water level in the pipeline. Step 2: The probe performs real-time detection of the sewage in the pipe. The probe converts the light signal into an electrical signal and transmits it to the processor. The processor processes the data to obtain the chlorophyll content C1 and C2, where C1 is the chlorophyll content of the upstream inspection well and C2 is the chlorophyll content of the downstream inspection well. Step 3: The data obtained by the processor is transmitted to the remote terminal processor via a signal transmitter using GPRS wireless communication technology. The remote terminal processor calculates the factor Ca used to determine pipeline leakage using the obtained data through a formula. The formula for calculating the factor is Ca = C2 - C1. Step 4: The remote terminal processor provides a rapid early warning of leakage in the pipe crossing the canal or river based on the pipe leakage factor Ca. When Ca ≤ 0.5, the pipe crossing the canal or river is in good condition or does not require further investigation for the time being; when 0.5 < Ca ≤ 1, the pipe crossing the canal or river needs to be investigated, and the remote terminal processor issues an orange warning; when Ca > 1, the pipe crossing the canal or river urgently needs detailed inspection, and the remote terminal processor issues a red warning. The units for chlorophyll content and pipeline leakage factor are both μg / L.

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