Flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring and laying method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring and a laying method thereof, and the flexible flat optical cable comprises an upper protection layer and a lower protection layer which are both flexible layers. An optical fiber in sine wave distribution is embedded between the two protection layers; a fastening sleeve is arranged outside the optical fiber, and an adhesive layer used for being adhered to the outer surface of a pipeline is arranged on the upper protective layer or the lower protective layer. According to the flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring, the problem of winding and twisting of the optical fiber in the prior art is effectively solved by adopting the flexible flat optical cable structure, and the stability of the optical fiber is improved; the design of the flexible flat optical cable meets the requirement of pipeline monitoring, it is guaranteed that the optical cable can be flatly wrapped on the surface of the pipeline, the optical cable can be rapidly and conveniently fixed to the pipeline in cooperation with use of the bonding layer, the construction process is simplified, and the construction efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of pipeline monitoring, and in particular to a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring and a laying method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Pipeline transportation has the advantages of large transportation capacity, not easily affected by external environmental factors, long transportation distance, good sustainability, and low cost. It is widely used in the transportation field and has contributed to the stability and sustainable development of the economy. However, as the service time of pipelines continues to increase, some parts of the pipelines are prone to thinning of the pipe wall and aging of the materials, resulting in leakage, blockage and other situations in the pipelines, affecting the normal transportation of the pipelines. Therefore, it is very necessary to conduct structural health monitoring on long-distance transportation pipelines.

[0003] Fiber optic sensing technology has been widely used in pipeline structural health monitoring due to its advantages such as corrosion resistance, long-distance transmission capability and anti-electromagnetic interference. Spiral winding the sensing optical fiber on the pipeline can expand the contact area between the optical fiber and the pipeline, improve detection accuracy and reduce monitoring blind spots. However, the spiral winding method of laying optical cables is difficult to implement in actual engineering, especially on already laid pipelines, where it is difficult to lay spiral cables over a large area. Moreover, due to the continuous spiral winding of the optical fiber, it is easy for the optical fiber to twist or unevenly wind, which will greatly affect the transmission of the optical signal and thus the detection accuracy, especially in long-distance pipeline monitoring. Summary of the invention

[0004] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring and a laying method thereof, which can effectively improve the laying efficiency of the pipeline monitoring optical cable and enhance the monitoring accuracy and long-term reliability of the optical cable.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0006] Provided is a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring, comprising an upper protective layer and a lower protective layer, both of which are flexible layers; an optical fiber with a sinusoidal distribution is embedded between the two protective layers; a fastening sleeve is provided on the outside of the optical fiber, and an adhesive layer for adhering to the outer surface of the pipeline is provided on the upper protective layer or the lower protective layer.

[0007] According to the above technical solution, the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are both belt-shaped protective layers woven from aramid or Kevlar fibers.

[0008] According to the above technical solution, the optical fiber is fixed between the two protective layers by means of colloid.

[0009] According to the above technical solution, the optical fiber is fixed in the middle position of the two protective layers.

[0010] According to the above technical solution, the adhesive layer is an acrylic adhesive layer.

[0011] According to the above technical solution, the diameter of the optical fiber is 0.9 mm to 3 mm.

[0012] According to the above technical solution, the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are both rectangular.

[0013] According to the above technical solution, the width of the flexible flat optical cable is pre-set according to different pipe diameters.

[0014] The present invention also provides a method for laying a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring, specifically, the flexible flat optical cable is laid along the axial direction of the pipeline and wrapped around the outer periphery of the pipeline; the flexible flat optical cable includes an upper protective layer and a lower protective layer, both of which are flexible layers; an optical fiber with a sinusoidal wave distribution is embedded between the two protective layers, and the period and amplitude of the sinusoidal wave are set according to the pipeline diameter and monitoring accuracy; a fastening sleeve is provided on the outside of the optical fiber, and an adhesive layer for adhering to the outer surface of the pipeline is provided on the upper protective layer or the lower protective layer.

[0015] According to the above technical solution, the width of the flexible flat optical cable is slightly smaller than the circumference of the pipeline.

[0016] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that the flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring of the present invention adopts a flexible flat optical cable structure, and the optical fiber is distributed in a sinusoidal wave inside the optical cable. This structure effectively solves the problem of optical fiber winding and twisting in the prior art, ensures the stable operation of the optical fiber sensing system, and improves the stability of the optical fiber.

[0017] Furthermore, the design of the flexible flat optical cable meets the needs of pipeline monitoring, and its width is customized according to the circumference of the measured pipeline to ensure that the optical cable can be wrapped evenly on the pipeline surface. With the use of the adhesive layer, the optical cable can be quickly and conveniently fixed to the pipeline, simplifying the construction process and improving construction efficiency.

[0018] Furthermore, the amplitude and period of the sinusoidal wave distribution of the optical fiber can be adjusted according to the pipeline diameter and monitoring accuracy requirements. This design provides high flexibility, allowing the optical cable to adapt to different pipeline diameters and meet different monitoring requirements, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the optical fiber sensing system.

[0019] Of course, any product implementing the present invention does not necessarily need to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a top view schematic diagram of a flexible flat optical cable according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the layered structure of a flexible flat optical cable according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic side view of a flexible flat optical cable according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of laying a flexible flat optical cable wrapped in a pipeline according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] In the figure: 1. Flexible flat optical cable; 2. Optical fiber; 3. Upper protective layer; 4. Lower protective layer; 5. Adhesive layer; 6. Pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0027] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to illustrate the basic concept of the present invention in a schematic manner. Therefore, the drawings only show components related to the present invention rather than being drawn according to the number, shape and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity and proportion of each component may be changed arbitrarily, and the component layout type may also be more complicated.

[0028] In the present invention, it is also necessary to explain that, if the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc. appear, the orientation or position relationship indicated is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, if the terms "first" and "second" appear, they are only used for description and distinction purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0029] In addition, it should be noted that the features of the various embodiments of the present invention may be combined or combined in part or in whole, and may interact and operate in different ways as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Each embodiment may be implemented independently of one another, or in an associated relationship.

[0030] like Figure 1-3As shown, the flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring of the present invention is a three-layer flat sandwich structure, including an optical fiber 2, an upper protective layer 3, a lower protective layer 4 and an adhesive layer 5. The optical fiber 2 is embedded in the flexible flat optical cable in a sine wave shape, and is used to monitor the health status of the pipeline. The lower surface of the upper protective layer 3 and the upper surface of the lower protective layer 4 contain an adhesive layer (such as double-sided adhesive) to firmly fix the optical fiber 2 in the middle of the flexible flat optical cable; the adhesive layer 5 is located on the surface of the flexible flat optical cable, that is, on the surface of the upper protective layer 3 or the lower protective layer 4, and is used to fix the flexible flat optical cable to the pipeline so that it is wrapped around the outer surface of the pipeline.

[0031] In this embodiment, the flexible flat optical cable is rectangular (i.e., the upper protective layer 3 and the lower protective layer 4 are also rectangular), and its width W needs to be designed according to different pipe diameters D. Specifically, the flexible flat optical cable should completely wrap the pipe to be measured, and at this time, the width of the flexible flat optical cable and the pipe diameter need to satisfy W=πD. In practice, the relationship between the two can be determined according to actual monitoring needs, that is, the width of the flexible flat optical cable and the pipe diameter need to satisfy W≤πD.

[0032] Furthermore, the diameter of the optical fiber 2 is 0.9 mm to 3 mm, and specifically, an optical fiber with a diameter of 0.9 mm or 3 mm can be selected. The optical fiber 2 is embedded in the flexible flat optical cable and is distributed in a sinusoidal wave. Specifically, a tightening sleeve is provided on the outside of the optical fiber 2, and the tight sleeve structure can not only effectively protect the internal optical fiber, but also enhance its tensile strength and prevent the optical fiber from being subjected to excessive mechanical stress during the laying process.

[0033] In this embodiment, further, the amplitude and period of the sine wave can be adjusted according to the pipeline diameter and the requirements of monitoring accuracy. Specifically, when the monitoring accuracy requirement is high, the optical fiber 2 can be embedded in the flexible flat optical cable using a large amplitude and small period sine waveform; when the monitoring accuracy requirement is low, the optical fiber 2 can be embedded in the flexible flat optical cable using a small amplitude and large period sine waveform. This design provides high flexibility, allowing the optical cable to adapt to different pipeline diameters and meet different monitoring requirements.

[0034] In this embodiment, the upper protective layer 3 and the lower protective layer 4 can be made of high-strength Kevlar material, which is distributed in a mesh shape in the protective layer. Specifically, the Kevlar material can not only effectively prevent the optical fiber from being damaged due to stretching or external impact during long-term use, but also has excellent high temperature resistance and light weight, which can ensure that the flexible flat optical cable can be easily wrapped on the surface of the pipeline during the laying process, and can also reduce the overall weight of the flexible flat optical cable, which is convenient for long-distance installation.

[0035] Furthermore, the lower surface of the upper protective layer 3 and the upper surface of the lower protective layer 4 are coated with double-sided adhesive for firmly fixing the optical fiber 1 in the middle of the flexible flat optical cable to prevent it from shifting during use.

[0036] In this embodiment, the flexible flat optical cable is laid along the axial direction of the pipeline, and the optical cable is fixed to the outer surface of the pipeline through the adhesive layer 5 at the bottom to prevent the optical cable from shifting or falling off. When there is no special requirement, the width of the flexible flat optical cable is slightly smaller than the circumference of the pipeline to ensure that it fits the curved surface of the pipeline and maintains good stability in different monitoring environments.

[0037] Furthermore, the adhesive layer 5 includes acrylate glue, which is applied to the lower surface of the adhesive layer 5 and is used to wrap the flexible flat optical cable on the surface of the pipe 6 to facilitate the laying of the flexible optical cable. Specifically, acrylate has high strength and long-lasting adhesion performance, can well adapt to the environmental factors of outdoor pipelines, in addition, it also has the characteristics of good weather resistance and not easy to age, which is very suitable for long-term monitoring needs.

[0038] The upper and lower layers are respectively a belt-shaped protective layer woven from aramid or Kevlar fibers, and the middle layer is a 0.9mm or 3mm optical fiber. The optical fiber is distributed in a sinusoidal shape in the upper and lower protective layers. The optical fiber of this diameter can be easily embedded in the flat structure of the belt. The tight sleeve structure can effectively protect the internal optical fiber, enhance its tensile strength, and prevent the optical fiber from being subjected to excessive mechanical stress during the laying process. Aramid or Kevlar materials are resistant to high temperatures and impacts, which can not only effectively protect the internal optical fiber, but also ensure that the optical cable is tightly wrapped on the outer surface of the pipe during the laying process.

[0039] Furthermore, the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are preferably made of high-strength Kevlar flexible material. The Kevlar material is distributed in a mesh pattern in the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer, which can not only effectively prevent the optical fiber from being damaged due to stretching or external impact during long-term use, but also has excellent high temperature resistance. At the same time, it can ensure that the optical cable can be easily wrapped on the surface of the pipe during laying, with high fit and easy installation, avoiding construction difficulties or displacement problems caused by excessive rigidity of the optical cable.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, when laying the flexible flat optical cable, it only needs to be laid along the axial direction of the pipeline 6 so that it is wrapped around the pipeline as a whole. Its width is customized according to the circumference of the pipeline to ensure that the optical cable can wrap the pipeline surface evenly. After the flexible flat optical cable is laid, pipeline monitoring can overcome the problem of unstable optical fiber winding in the prior art and ensure the long-term reliable operation of the optical fiber sensing system.

[0041] In summary, the flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring and the laying method thereof of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0042] (1) Improved optical fiber stability: By adopting a flexible flat optical cable structure, the optical fiber is distributed in a sinusoidal wave inside the cable. This structure effectively solves the problem of optical fiber winding and twisting in the prior art, ensuring the stable operation of the optical fiber sensing system.

[0043] (2) Easy installation: The design of the flexible flat optical cable meets the needs of pipeline monitoring. Its width is customized according to the circumference of the measured pipeline to ensure that the optical cable can be wrapped evenly on the pipeline surface. With the use of the adhesive layer, the optical cable can be quickly and conveniently fixed on the pipeline, simplifying the construction process and improving construction efficiency.

[0044] (3) Customized monitoring accuracy: The amplitude and period of the sine wave distribution of the optical fiber can be adjusted according to the pipeline diameter and monitoring accuracy requirements. This design provides high flexibility, allowing the optical cable to adapt to different pipeline diameters and meet different monitoring requirements, thereby improving the measurement accuracy of the optical fiber sensing system.

[0045] It should be pointed out that, according to the needs of implementation, the various steps / components described in this application can be split into more steps / components, and two or more steps / components or partial operations of steps / components can be combined into new steps / components to achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0046] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or changes based on the above description, and all these improvements and changes should fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring, characterized in that: It comprises an upper protective layer and a lower protective layer, both of which are flexible layers; an optical fiber with a sinusoidal distribution is embedded between the two protective layers; a fastening sleeve is arranged outside the optical fiber, and an adhesive layer for adhering to the outer surface of the pipeline is arranged on the upper protective layer or the lower protective layer.

2. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are both belt-shaped protective layers woven from aramid or Kevlar fibers.

3. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber is fixed between two protective layers by a gel.

4. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical fiber is fixed in the middle of the two protective layers.

5. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adhesive layer is an acrylic adhesive layer.

6. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the optical fiber is 0.9 mm to 3 mm.

7. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper protective layer and the lower protective layer are both rectangular.

8. The flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The width of the flexible flat cable is pre-set according to different pipe diameters.

9. A method for laying a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring, characterized in that: Specifically, the flexible flat optical cable is laid along the axial direction of the pipeline and wrapped around the outer periphery of the pipeline; the flexible flat optical cable includes an upper protective layer and a lower protective layer, both of which are flexible layers; an optical fiber with a sinusoidal wave distribution is embedded between the two protective layers, and the period and amplitude of the sinusoidal wave are set according to the pipeline diameter and monitoring accuracy; a fastening sleeve is provided on the outside of the optical fiber, and an adhesive layer for adhering to the outer surface of the pipeline is provided on the upper protective layer or the lower protective layer.

10. The method for laying a flexible flat optical cable for pipeline monitoring according to claim 9, characterized in that: The width of the flexible flat cable is slightly smaller than the circumference of the pipe.

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