Natural gas pipeline internal environment monitor under full water condition

Abstract

The utility model discloses a natural gas pipeline internal environment monitor under a full water condition. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitor comprises a buoyancy supporting assembly, a sensor module, a data transmission unit and a fixed adjusting mechanism. The buoyancy supporting assembly stably floats through elastic supporting legs and an air cavity, the sensor module adopts a multi-layer structural design to improve the sensitivity, the data transmission unit enhances the transmission efficiency through low-power-consumption Bluetooth and a signal amplification circuit, and the fixed adjusting mechanism achieves flexible adjustment of the angle and the position through an annular support and a connecting rod. The device can monitor the internal environment of the pipeline in real time under the condition of full water, has the characteristics of compact structure, convenience in installation and strong anti-interference capability, and remarkably improves the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring work.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of pipeline monitoring technology, and in particular to a monitoring instrument for the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in the field of natural gas pipeline maintenance and inspection, some pipelines may be in a state of full water due to long-term operation or special operating conditions. Monitoring the internal environment under such circumstances presents numerous challenges. Traditional monitoring equipment is typically designed for dry or semi-dry pipeline environments, making it difficult to function properly under full water conditions. In particular, the sensitivity and stability of sensors are easily affected by water. Furthermore, the complex fluid environment within a full water pipeline can lead to inaccurate data collection, affecting subsequent analysis and judgment. Conventional detection methods often rely on manual pumping before testing, which is not only inefficient but may also affect the accuracy of monitoring results due to changes in the internal pipeline environment caused by pumping. At the same time, existing equipment also has limitations in terms of waterproofing, pressure resistance, and long-term operational reliability, making it difficult to fully meet the needs of real-time monitoring under full water conditions. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a monitoring instrument for the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions, which solves the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] This invention is implemented as follows: a monitoring instrument for the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions. The instrument mainly consists of a buoyancy support assembly, a sensor module, a data transmission unit, and a fixing and adjusting mechanism. The buoyancy support assembly includes a hollow buoyancy chamber with multiple elastic support feet on its outer surface that contact the inner wall of the pipeline. These elastic support feet are fixed to the side wall of the buoyancy chamber via threaded connections, and each elastic support foot has a replaceable flexible gasket at its end to adapt to pipeline inner walls of different diameters and reduce damage to the pipeline inner wall. The sensor module is embedded in the bottom of the buoyancy chamber and forms a tight connection with the buoyancy chamber through a sealing ring. The probe of the sensor module passes through the bottom plate of the buoyancy chamber, and a porous protective cover is provided outside the probe to filter impurities in the water flow while allowing target gas molecules to pass through. The data transmission unit is located at the top of the buoyancy chamber and contains a wireless communication module and a signal amplification circuit. The data transmission unit is fixed to the top of the buoyancy chamber by bolts and connected to the sensor module via a waterproof cable. The fixed adjustment mechanism includes a ring bracket and several telescopic connecting rods. The ring bracket is connected to the top of the buoyancy chamber through the connecting rods. The two ends of the connecting rods are connected to the ring bracket and the buoyancy chamber through ball joints, respectively, thereby realizing flexible adjustment of the angle.

[0005] The buoyancy chamber is internally divided into upper and lower sections by a partition. The upper section is an air chamber, and the lower section is an equipment mounting chamber. The air chamber is filled with lightweight foam material to enhance the overall buoyancy of the buoyancy chamber, enabling it to maintain stable floating even when fully submerged. The equipment mounting chamber houses a sensor module, a power module, and a control circuit board. The power module is secured to the lower surface of the partition with clips, while the control circuit board is fixed to the side wall of the equipment mounting chamber with screws and connected to the sensor module and data transmission unit via wires. The sensor module's probe employs a multi-layered structure: an outermost porous protective cover, a middle hydrophobic filter membrane, and an inner high-sensitivity gas sensing element. These three layers are secured together by a ring-shaped clamping component to ensure a tight fit between them.

[0006] The flexible support foot employs a two-section structure. The section closer to the buoyancy chamber is a rigid metal rod, while the section further away is a flexible rubber sleeve. A spring is embedded inside the rubber sleeve, with one end fixed to the metal rod and the other end connected to a flexible gasket. This design allows the flexible support foot to deform appropriately under external pressure, better adapting to changes in the shape of the pipe's inner wall. Simultaneously, the spring's elastic restoring force ensures the support foot remains in contact with the pipe's inner wall. The flexible gasket is made of silicone with micro-textured bumps on its surface to increase friction and further reduce wear on the pipe's inner wall.

[0007] The wireless communication module of the data transmission unit employs Bluetooth Low Energy technology. The signal amplification circuit amplifies the weak signals collected by the sensor using an operational amplifier. The amplified signal is then converted from analog to digital before being transmitted to the wireless communication module. The housing of the data transmission unit is made of high-strength engineering plastic and coated with a waterproof layer to improve its durability in submerged environments. A detachable antenna radome is located on the top of the housing, housing a helical antenna to enhance the transmission distance and stability of the wireless signal.

[0008] The annular support of the fixed adjustment mechanism adopts a split design, consisting of two semi-circular supports connected by bolts. Each semi-circular support has an anti-slip rubber pad on its inner side to prevent slippage against the inner wall of the pipe. The length of the connecting rod can be adjusted via a knob. The knob has an internal threaded joint; rotating the knob causes the threaded joint to extend or retract the connecting rod, thereby changing the distance between the annular support and the buoyancy chamber. A reflective strip is also provided on the outer side of the annular support. The surface of the reflective strip is coated with fluorescent material to assist in locating the monitoring instrument in low-light conditions.

[0009] The bottom of the buoyancy chamber has a drain hole, inside which is installed a one-way valve. The valve core of the one-way valve is made of stainless steel, and a sealing surface is formed between the valve core and the valve seat through precision machining, ensuring that the one-way valve can effectively prevent water from entering the buoyancy chamber when closed. A removable filter screen is also installed on the outside of the drain hole to prevent larger impurities from entering the one-way valve.

[0010] This invention solves the floating and positioning problems of monitoring equipment under full water conditions through the design of a buoyancy support component. The synergistic effect of elastic support feet and a ring bracket achieves stable fixation of the monitoring instrument within the pipeline. Simultaneously, the multi-layered sensor probe design improves the sensor's sensitivity and anti-interference capability in complex fluid environments. Furthermore, the low-power design of the data transmission unit and the application of signal amplification circuits further enhance the accuracy of data acquisition and transmission efficiency. This invention features a compact structure and convenient installation, enabling real-time monitoring of the internal environment of natural gas pipelines under full water conditions, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring work. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the buoyancy chamber of this utility model.

[0013] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1. Buoyancy chamber; 2. Elastic support foot; 3. Flexible pad; 4. Sensor module; 5. Porous protective cover; 6. Data transmission unit; 7. Wireless communication module; 8. Signal amplification circuit; 9. Ring bracket; 10. Connecting rod; 11. Ball joint; 12. Air cavity; 13. Equipment mounting cavity; 14. Power module; 15. Control circuit board; 16. One-way valve; 17. Filter screen; 18. Anti-slip rubber pad; 19. Reflective strip; 20. Knob. Detailed Implementation

[0014] This utility model provides a monitoring instrument for the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions, the structure of which is as follows: Figures 1 to 2As shown. The monitoring instrument mainly includes a buoyancy chamber 1, elastic support feet 2, a sensor module 4, a data transmission unit 6, and a fixing and adjusting mechanism. The buoyancy chamber 1 is a hollow structure with multiple elastic support feet 2 evenly distributed on its outer surface. The elastic support feet 2 are fixed to the side wall of the buoyancy chamber 1 by threaded connections. A flexible gasket 3 is installed at the end of each elastic support foot 2. The flexible gasket 3 is made of silicone and has a slightly raised texture. The sensor module 4 is embedded in the bottom of the buoyancy chamber 1. The sensor module 4 is tightly connected to the buoyancy chamber 1 by a sealing ring. The probe part passes through the bottom plate of the buoyancy chamber 1 and is equipped with a porous protective cover 5. The data transmission unit 6 is located at the top of the buoyancy chamber 1 and is fixed by bolts. The data transmission unit 6 contains a wireless communication module 7 and a signal amplification circuit 8, and is connected to the sensor module 4 by a waterproof cable. The fixed adjustment mechanism includes an annular support 9 and several connecting rods 10. The annular support 9 is connected to the top of the buoyancy chamber 1 through the connecting rods 10. The two ends of the connecting rods 10 are connected to the annular support 9 and the buoyancy chamber 1 through ball joints 11, respectively.

[0015] The buoyancy chamber 1 is internally divided into upper and lower parts by a partition plate. The upper part is an air chamber 12, and the lower part is an equipment mounting chamber 13. The air chamber 12 is filled with lightweight foam material to enhance the overall buoyancy of the buoyancy chamber 1, enabling it to maintain a stable floating state even when fully filled with water. The equipment mounting chamber 13 houses a sensor module 4, a power module 14, and a control circuit board 15. The power module 14 is fixed to the lower surface of the partition plate by clips, and the control circuit board 15 is fixed to the side wall of the equipment mounting chamber 13 by screws and connected to the sensor module 4 and the data transmission unit 6 by wires. The probe of the sensor module 4 adopts a multi-layer structure design. The outermost layer is a porous protective cover 5, the middle layer is a hydrophobic filter membrane, and the inner layer is a high-sensitivity gas sensing element. The three layers are fixed together by a ring clamping component to ensure a tight fit.

[0016] The elastic support foot 2 adopts a two-section structure. The section closer to the buoyancy chamber 1 is a rigid metal rod, and the section further away from the buoyancy chamber 1 is a flexible rubber sleeve. A spring is embedded inside the rubber sleeve, with one end of the spring fixedly connected to the metal rod and the other end connected to the flexible gasket 3. This design allows the elastic support foot 2 to deform appropriately when subjected to external pressure to adapt to the shape changes of the pipe's inner wall. At the same time, the elastic restoring force of the spring ensures that the support foot always maintains contact with the pipe's inner wall. The flexible gasket 3 is made of silicone with micro-protruding textures on its surface to increase friction and reduce wear on the pipe's inner wall.

[0017] The housing of the data transmission unit 6 is made of high-strength engineering plastic and coated with a waterproof layer. A detachable antenna cover is located on the top of the housing, housing a helical antenna to enhance the transmission distance and stability of the wireless signal. The wireless communication module 7 uses low-power Bluetooth technology. The signal amplification circuit 8 amplifies the weak signal collected by the sensor using an operational amplifier. The amplified signal is then converted from analog to digital and transmitted to the wireless communication module 7. The ring bracket 9 of the fixed adjustment mechanism adopts a split design, consisting of two semi-circular brackets connected by bolts. Each semi-circular bracket has an anti-slip rubber pad 18 on its inner side to prevent it from sliding on the inner wall of the pipe. The length of the connecting rod 10 can be adjusted by a knob 20. The knob 20 has a threaded joint inside; rotating the knob 20 causes the connecting rod 10 to extend or retract, thus changing the distance between the ring bracket 9 and the buoyancy chamber 1. A reflective strip 19 is also provided on the outer side of the ring bracket 9. The surface of the reflective strip 19 is coated with fluorescent material to assist in locating the monitoring device in low-light conditions.

[0018] The bottom of the buoyancy chamber 1 is equipped with a drain hole, inside which a one-way valve 16 is installed. The valve core of the one-way valve 16 is made of stainless steel, and a sealing surface is formed between the valve core and the valve seat through precision machining to ensure that the one-way valve 16 can effectively prevent water from entering the buoyancy chamber 1 when closed. A removable filter screen 17 is also provided on the outside of the drain hole to block larger impurities from entering the one-way valve 16. During use, the buoyancy chamber 1 is provided with buoyancy by the lightweight foam material in the air cavity 12. The elastic support feet 2 and the ring bracket 9 work together to keep the monitor stable and fixed in the pipeline. The multi-layer probe design of the sensor module 4 ensures high sensitivity and anti-interference ability in complex fluid environments. The data transmission unit 6 achieves high-precision acquisition and efficient transmission of monitoring data through low-power design and the application of signal amplification circuit.

[0019] The specific operating principle of the monitor is as follows: When the monitor is placed inside a natural gas pipeline filled with water, the buoyancy chamber 1 floats in the water due to the buoyancy provided by the lightweight foam material in the air cavity 12. The elastic support foot 2 contacts the inner wall of the pipeline through the flexible pad 3 and uses the elastic restoring force of the spring to maintain a tight fit with the inner wall, thereby achieving the initial fixation of the monitor inside the pipeline. At this time, the ring bracket 9 is connected to the buoyancy chamber 1 through the connecting rod 10, and the length of the connecting rod 10 is adjusted by the knob 20 to make the anti-slip rubber pad 18 on the inner side of the ring bracket 9 contact the inner wall of the pipeline, further enhancing the stability of the monitor. The probe part of the sensor module 4 passes through the bottom plate of the buoyancy chamber 1 and is exposed to the water flow. The porous protective cover 5 filters impurities in the water flow while allowing target gas molecules to pass through. The hydrophobic filter membrane further prevents water from entering the probe. The high-sensitivity gas sensing element detects the concentration of the target gas and transmits the signal to the control circuit board 15. After initial processing of the received signal, the control circuit board 15 transmits it to the data transmission unit 6 via a waterproof cable. The signal amplification circuit 8 within the data transmission unit 6 amplifies the weak signal and, after analog-to-digital conversion, transmits it to the wireless communication module 7. The wireless communication module 7 then transmits the data to an external receiving device via a helical antenna. Throughout the entire operation, the one-way valve 16 remains closed to prevent water from entering the buoyancy chamber 1. The filter screen 17 outside the drain hole blocks larger impurities from entering the one-way valve 16, ensuring the normal operation of the monitor. When it is necessary to remove the monitor, the length of the connecting rod 10 can be shortened by adjusting the knob 20, allowing the annular bracket 9 to detach from the inner wall of the pipe. Then, the monitor can be removed from the pipe through the elastic deformation of the flexible gasket 3. To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and implement this invention, the following supplementary explanation of the monitor's operating principle and implementation steps is provided in conjunction with specific application scenarios.

[0020] In practical applications of monitoring the internal environment of natural gas pipelines under full-water conditions, the monitoring instrument is first placed inside the target pipeline. After the instrument enters the pipeline, the buoyancy chamber 1 floats in the water thanks to the buoyancy provided by the lightweight foam material within the air cavity 12. At this time, the elastic support foot 2 contacts the inner wall of the pipeline through the flexible gasket 3, and the elastic restoring force of the spring inside the rubber sleeve maintains a tight fit, initially fixing the position of the monitoring instrument. The tiny raised textures on the surface of the flexible gasket 3 increase friction while reducing wear on the inner wall of the pipeline, ensuring the stability of the monitoring instrument inside the pipeline. In addition, the annular bracket 9 is connected to the buoyancy chamber 1 through the connecting rod 10. The operator can adjust the length of the connecting rod 10 through the knob 20, so that the inner anti-slip rubber pad 18 of the annular bracket 9 contacts the inner wall of the pipeline, further enhancing the fixing effect of the monitoring instrument. This fixing method, with the elastic support foot 2 and the annular bracket 9 working together, effectively solves the problem of displacement of the monitoring instrument due to water flow impact in a full-water environment.

[0021] The probe portion of sensor module 4 passes through the bottom plate of buoyancy chamber 1 and is exposed to water flow. Its multi-layered structure design ensures high sensitivity and anti-interference capability in complex fluid environments. When water flows past the probe, the porous protective cover 5 filters out larger impurities, allowing target gas molecules to pass through. The hydrophobic filter membrane further prevents water from entering the probe, thus protecting the highly sensitive gas sensing element from water interference. After detecting the target gas concentration, the gas sensing element transmits the signal to the control circuit board 15. The control circuit board 15 performs preliminary processing on the received signal and then transmits it to the data transmission unit 6 via a waterproof cable. The signal amplification circuit 8 in the data transmission unit 6 amplifies the weak signal. The amplified signal is then converted from analog to digital and transmitted to the wireless communication module 7, and finally sent to an external receiving device via a helical antenna. This process achieves high-precision acquisition and efficient transmission of environmental data inside the pipeline.

[0022] Throughout the monitoring process, the one-way valve 16 remains closed to prevent water from entering the buoyancy chamber 1. The filter screen 17 on the outside of the drain hole blocks larger impurities from entering the one-way valve 16, ensuring its long-term stable sealing performance. Furthermore, the reflective strip 19 on the outside of the annular bracket 9 assists in locating the monitor in low-light conditions, allowing operators to quickly find the monitor when needed.

[0023] After the monitoring task is completed, the operator can shorten the length of the connecting rod 10 by rotating the knob 20, allowing the annular support 9 to detach from the inner wall of the pipe. Then, utilizing the flexible deformation characteristics of the elastic support foot 2, the monitor can be removed from the pipe. This design not only simplifies the installation and disassembly process of the monitor but also avoids damage to the inner wall of the pipe caused by frequent operation.

[0024] As can be seen from the above steps, the design of the monitor fully considers the actual needs of monitoring the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions. The lightweight foam material of the buoyancy chamber 1 provides stable buoyancy support, while the synergistic effect of the elastic support feet 2 and the ring bracket 9 ensures the monitor is firmly fixed inside the pipeline. The multi-layered structure design of the sensor module 4 significantly improves its sensitivity and anti-interference capability in complex fluid environments, and the low-power design of the data transmission unit 6 and the application of signal amplification circuits further enhance the accuracy of data acquisition and transmission efficiency. These designs collectively enable the monitor to perform real-time monitoring under full water conditions, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring work.

[0025] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A monitoring instrument for the internal environment of a natural gas pipeline under full water conditions, characterized in that, The monitoring device includes a buoyancy chamber (1), elastic support feet (2), a sensor module (4), a data transmission unit (6), and a fixing and adjusting mechanism. The buoyancy chamber (1) is a hollow structure. The elastic support feet (2) are fixed to the side wall of the buoyancy chamber (1) by threaded connection. The sensor module (4) is embedded in the bottom of the buoyancy chamber (1) and forms a tight connection with the buoyancy chamber (1) through a sealing ring. The data transmission unit (6) is set on the top of the buoyancy chamber (1) and connected to the sensor module (4) through a waterproof cable. The fixing and adjusting mechanism includes a ring bracket (9) and several connecting rods (10). The ring bracket (9) is connected to the top of the buoyancy chamber (1) through the connecting rods (10).

2. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The buoyancy chamber (1) is divided into upper and lower parts by a partition plate. The upper part is an air cavity (12) and the lower part is an equipment installation cavity (13). The air cavity (12) is filled with lightweight foam material. The equipment installation cavity (13) is equipped with a sensor module (4), a power module (14) and a control circuit board (15).

3. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic support foot (2) adopts a two-section structure. The section closer to the buoyancy chamber (1) is a rigid metal rod, and the section further away from the buoyancy chamber (1) is a flexible rubber sleeve. A spring is embedded inside the flexible rubber sleeve. One end of the spring is fixedly connected to the rigid metal rod, and the other end is connected to the flexible pad (3).

4. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The probe part of the sensor module (4) passes through the bottom plate of the buoyancy chamber (1) and is provided with a porous protective cover (5). The probe part adopts a multi-layer structure design, with the outermost layer being a porous protective cover (5), the middle layer being a hydrophobic filter membrane, and the inner layer being a high-sensitivity gas sensing element. The three layers are fixed together by an annular clamping component.

5. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell of the data transmission unit (6) is made of high-strength engineering plastic and coated with a waterproof coating. The data transmission unit (6) is equipped with a wireless communication module (7) and a signal amplification circuit (8). The wireless communication module (7) adopts low-power Bluetooth technology.

6. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the connecting rod (10) of the fixed adjustment mechanism are connected to the ring bracket (9) and the buoyancy chamber (1) respectively through ball joints (11). The ring bracket (9) is composed of two semi-circular brackets connected by bolts. The inner side of the ring bracket (9) is provided with anti-slip rubber pads (18), and the outer side of the ring bracket (9) is provided with a ring of reflective strips (19).

7. The natural gas pipeline internal environment monitoring instrument under full water conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the buoyancy chamber (1) is provided with a drain hole, and a one-way valve (16) is installed inside the drain hole. The valve core of the one-way valve (16) is made of stainless steel, and a removable filter screen (17) is provided on the outside of the drain hole.

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