A new gas leakage detection device

Abstract

A novel gas leak detection device is disclosed for detecting gas leaks in a gas pipe. It includes a detection body, arranged parallel to the gas pipe to receive leaking gas. The leaking gas enters the detection body and is detected as the gas to be tested. Along the gas flow direction, the detection body is sequentially equipped with a drying section for drying the detection body, a detection section for detecting the gas to be tested, and a pressure regulating section for controlling the flow direction of the gas to be tested. The detection section generates a leak signal when it detects gas flowing through it. This invention enables automated, real-time, quantitative monitoring of gas pipelines, helping personnel to track the operation of gas pipelines over long periods and promptly detect and handle gas leaks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model is a novel gas leak detection device, belonging to the field of gas leak detection. Background Technology

[0002] Gas is a common energy source in daily life, with natural gas being the most common. Its main component is alkanes, especially methane (comprising over 85% by mass), and it also includes ethane and propane. Gas is primarily transported through pipelines. In recent years, with the increase in natural gas consumption, the length and capacity of natural gas pipelines have continuously increased. However, with the increase in service life, pipeline aging and the accompanying possibility of gas leaks will rise. Due to the flammable and explosive nature of natural gas, leaks can have extremely serious consequences. For a long time, detecting gas leaks has often required manual inspections using mobile equipment. This method is greatly affected by human factors, may not detect problems in a timely manner, and has high labor costs. Furthermore, mobile equipment cannot accurately detect leaks and is easily affected by other gases in the air. Therefore, the market needs a device that can quantitatively and locally monitor gas leaks in real time. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a new gas leak detection device to solve the existing problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a novel gas leak detection device for detecting gas leaks in a gas pipe, comprising:

[0005] The detection body is arranged parallel to the gas pipe being detected to receive leaked gas from the gas pipe being detected. After the leaked gas enters the detection body, it is detected as the gas to be detected.

[0006] Along the gas detection flow direction, the detection body is sequentially provided with a drying section for drying the detection body, a detection section for detecting the gas to be detected, and a pressure regulating section for controlling the flow direction of the gas to be detected.

[0007] The detection unit generates a leak signal when it detects gas flowing through it.

[0008] The installation distance between the detection unit and the gas pipe should ensure that leaked gas can enter the detection unit when the gas pipe is operating under design conditions and a leak occurs. To maintain a fixed distance between the detection unit and the gas pipe, necessary measures such as brackets can be used to position and install them correctly. The drying section is used to remove water vapor from the detection unit, preventing interference from other gases and also helping to maintain a low gas pressure within the detection unit.

[0009] Furthermore, the pressure regulating unit includes a vacuum pump and a vacuum tank connected to the vacuum pump, with an electric valve located on the side of the vacuum tank away from the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump and vacuum tank are used to maintain a low pressure on the detection body and prevent interference from other gases.

[0010] Furthermore, the detection unit includes a flow meter connected to one side of the electric valve and a combustible gas analyzer connected to the other side of the flow meter. The combustible gas analyzer is used to determine whether the detection body contains a specific combustible gas. More specifically, the combustible gas analyzer is a methane analyzer.

[0011] Furthermore, the detection unit also includes a DCS control center, and the electric valve, flow meter, and combustible gas analyzer are all electrically connected to the DCS control center. This allows data from the flow meter and combustible gas analyzer to be transmitted back to the DCS control center for processing in a timely manner, and enables the opening and closing of the electric valve to be controlled by the DCS control center.

[0012] Furthermore, the DCS control center includes a flow monitoring module, a component detection module, a leak detection module, a location detection module, a data transmission module, and an electric valve control module. The cooperation between these modules enables the present invention to automatically determine whether the gas pipe is leaking, determine the leak status, locate the leak, and transmit data back.

[0013] Furthermore, this utility model also includes a back-end computer, and the data transmission module is a GPRS data remote module, which is responsible for communicating with the back-end computer.

[0014] Furthermore, the detection body is perforated, and a selective permeation membrane that allows combustible gases to pass through is provided on its exterior. A surface layer is also provided on the exterior of the selective permeation membrane. Even further, the selective permeation membrane is a composite functional material made from a blend of modified lignin and vinyl acetate, which has a higher affinity for methane gas. The surface layer is one of polytetrafluoroethylene mesh or glass fiber mesh.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: it can realize automated, real-time, quantitative monitoring of gas transmission pipelines, which helps staff to track the working status of gas transmission pipelines over a long period of time, and promptly detect and handle gas leak accidents. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Other features, objects, and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a novel gas leak detection device according to this utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a novel gas leak detection device according to this utility model.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the DCS control center structure of a novel gas leak detection device according to this utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the detection body structure of a novel gas leak detection device according to this utility model.

[0021] In the diagram, 11-vacuum pump, 12-vacuum tank, 13-electric valve, 21-flow meter, 22-methane analyzer, 23-DCS control center, 3-detection body, 31-selective permeation membrane, 32-surface layer, 4-drying section, P-gas pipe, P1-leak point, 5-back-end computer. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0023] Example

[0024] Please see Figure 1 This utility model provides a novel gas leak detection device: a novel gas leak detection device for detecting gas leaks in a gas pipe P, including a detection body 3, which is arranged parallel to the gas pipe P to receive leaked gas from the gas pipe P. The leaked gas enters the detection body 3 and is detected as the gas to be detected. Along the gas detection flow direction, the detection body 3 is sequentially provided with a drying section 4 for drying the detection body 3, a detection section 2 for detecting the gas to be detected, and a pressure regulating section 1 for controlling the flow direction of the gas to be detected. The detection section 2 generates a leak signal when it detects gas flowing through it.

[0025] The drying section 4 is used to remove water vapor from the detection body 3, preventing interference from other gases and also helping to maintain a low gas pressure in the detection body 3. The installation distance between the detection body 3 and the gas pipe P should be such that when the gas pipe P is operating under design conditions and a leak occurs, the leaked gas can enter the detection body 3. To fix the distance between the detection body 3 and the gas pipe P, necessary measures such as brackets can be used to position and install the detection body 3 and the gas pipe P.

[0026] Preferably, the pressure regulating unit includes a vacuum pump 11 and a vacuum tank 12 connected to the vacuum pump 11. The vacuum tank 12 is also provided with an electric valve 13 on the side away from the vacuum pump 11. When the electric valve 13 is opened and the vacuum pump 11 is working, the gas inside the detection body 3 is drawn into the vacuum tube 2, thereby avoiding interference from other gases and giving the detection body 3 a lower pressure.

[0027] Preferably, the detection unit includes a flow meter 21 connected to one side of the electric valve 13 and a combustible gas analyzer connected to the other side of the flow meter 21. The flow meter 21 is used to measure the gas flow rate inside the detection body 3. Since other gases inside the detection body 3 have been removed by the operation of the vacuum pump 11 and the drying unit 4, the higher the flow rate, the more serious the gas leak. The combustible gas analyzer can determine whether the detection body 3 contains a specific combustible gas.

[0028] Preferably, the detection unit further includes a DCS control center 23 for determining the leakage amount and location, and the electric valve 13, flow meter 21, and combustible gas analyzer are all electrically connected to the DCS control center 23. This allows the data from the flow meter 21 and the combustible gas analyzer to be transmitted back to the DCS control center 23 for processing in a timely manner, and allows the opening and closing of the electric valve 13 to be controlled by the DCS control center 23.

[0029] Preferably, the combustible gas analyzer is a methane analyzer 22, whose main function is to determine whether the gas in the detection body 3 contains methane. Depending on the composition of the gas transported in the gas pipe P, other combustible gas detection units or combinations of different combustible gas detection units can also be selected here.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3Preferably, the DCS control center 23 includes a flow monitoring module, a component detection module, a leak detection module, a location detection module, a data transmission module, and an electric valve control module. Preferably, this invention also includes a backend computer 5. Since the gas pipeline is often laid far from the backend computer 5, the data transmission module is a GPRS remote data module, which can realize real-time wireless data transmission with the backend computer 5. The flow monitoring module processes the gas flow data input from the flow meter 21 into the detection body 3; the composition detection module processes the gas composition data input from the combustible gas analyzer, specifically the methane content data input from the methane analyzer 22; the outputs of the flow monitoring and composition detection modules are input together into the leak detection module to determine if a gas leak has occurred. If a leak is detected, the location detection module is executed to locate the leak in the gas pipe P. The location detection module then wirelessly transmits the potential leak locations to the backend computer 5 in real time via a GPRS data remote module. When there is no gas leak, i.e., when the leak detection module determines that no gas leak has occurred, the GPRS data remote module also sends real-time data to the backend computer 5 to reflect the ongoing operation and real-time status of the detection department. The backend computer 5 can then summarize and organize the data received from the GPRS remote module to form the detection department's operation log. Staff can also send commands to the GPRS remote module to open or close the electric valve 13 via the backend computer 5, based on the data transmitted and other needs.

[0031] Please see Figure 4 Preferably, the detection body 3 is perforated, with a selective permeation membrane 31 on its inner wall that allows combustible gases to pass through, and a surface layer 32 on the outer side of the selective permeation membrane 31. In this embodiment, the selective permeation membrane 31 is a composite functional material made of modified lignin and vinyl acetate blend, which has a high affinity for methane gas and facilitates its passage; the selective permeation membrane 31 can also be other selective permeation membranes that allow combustible gases to pass through. The surface layer is one of polytetrafluoroethylene mesh or glass fiber mesh. Both of these materials, like the detection body 3, have a porous structure, so they do not block the passage of combustible gases and can protect the selective permeation membrane 31. The surface layer can also be made of other materials with similar structures and functions.

[0032] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4When this utility model is in operation, the background computer 5 first issues an instruction to open the electric valve 13, and then starts the vacuum pump 11 to draw air and other gases from the detection body 3 into the vacuum tank 12. At the same time, the drying unit 4 is started to remove water vapor from the detection body 3. These measures help to minimize the amount of gas in the detection body 3 that may interfere with the operation of the detection unit, reduce the possibility of the leakage judgment module in the DCS control center 23 making incorrect judgments and thus false alarms, and create a low-pressure environment close to vacuum in the detection body 3. When the gas pipe P is in operation and there is at least one leak point P1 on it, the gas transported in the gas pipe P will escape from the leak point P1 and diffuse outside the gas pipe P. Subsequently, the leaked gas will pass through the surface layer 32 and the selective permeation membrane 31 and enter the detection body 3, forming a high gas pressure in a part of the detection body 3. Due to the operation of the vacuum pump 11, the gas pressure at the detection section is still maintained at a low pressure. Under the action of the pressure difference, the leaked gas entering the detection body 3 will move towards the detection section and pass through the methane analyzer 22 and the flow meter 21. The methane analyzer 22 can analyze whether the gas in the detection body 3 contains methane and transmit the result to the DCS control in real time. The component detection module in the control center 23 and the flow meter 21 can transmit the real-time flow of the detection body 3 to the flow monitoring module in the DCS control center 23. Then, the outputs of the flow monitoring module and the component detection module are input together to the leak judgment module to determine whether a gas leak accident has occurred according to preset conditions. When the judgment is yes, the point judgment module is executed to find the leak location of the gas pipe P. Then, the point judgment module transmits the possible leak location back to the background computer 5 in real time via the GPRS data remote module. The staff can then learn about the location and situation of the leak through the background computer 5, and can take measures and go to the corresponding area for further inspection.

[0033] This invention has a simple structure and principle, and can realize automated, real-time, quantitative monitoring of gas transmission pipelines. It helps staff to track the working status of gas transmission pipelines over a long period of time, and promptly detect and handle gas leak accidents.

[0034] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this utility model is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of this utility model. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects. The scope of this utility model is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and thus all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this utility model. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0035] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A novel gas leak detection device for detecting gas leaks in a gas pipe (P) under test, characterized in that: include: The detection body (3) is arranged in parallel around the gas pipe (P) to receive the leaked gas from the gas pipe (P). The leaked gas enters the detection body (3) and is detected as the gas to be detected. Along the gas detection flow direction, the detection body (3) is provided with a drying section (4) for drying the detection body (3), a detection section (2) for detecting the gas to be detected, and a pressure regulating section (1) for controlling the flow direction of the gas to be detected. The detection unit (2) generates a leakage signal when it detects gas flowing through.

2. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure regulating unit (1) includes a vacuum pump (11), a vacuum tank (12) connected to the vacuum pump (11), and an electric valve (13) connected to the side of the vacuum tank (12) away from the vacuum pump (11).

3. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detection unit (2) includes a flow meter (21) connected to one side of the electric valve (13) and a combustible gas analyzer connected to the other side of the flow meter (21).

4. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The combustible gas analyzer is a methane analyzer (22).

5. A novel gas leak detection device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The detection unit (2) also includes a DCS control center (23), and the electric valve (13), flow meter (21) and combustible gas analyzer are all electrically connected to the DCS control center.

6. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The DCS control center includes a flow monitoring module, a component detection module, a leakage detection module, a location detection module, a data transmission module, and an electric valve control module.

7. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a back-end computer (5), and the data transmission module is a GPRS data remote module, which is responsible for communicating with the back-end computer (5).

8. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detection body (3) is hollow and has a selective permeation membrane (31) on its outside that allows combustible gases to pass through. The selective permeation membrane (31) has a surface layer (32) on its outside.

9. The novel gas leak detection device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The surface layer (32) is one of polytetrafluoroethylene mesh or glass fiber mesh.

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