Control unit and system of control units for detecting and locating liquid leaks

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit for detecting and locating liquid leaks using at least one detection cable (4), the control unit (1) comprising at least one leak detection circuit (3), each leak detection circuit (3) being configured to receive the at least one detection cable (4), characterised in that the control unit comprises a power supply interface (6) via Ethernet cable configured to receive a single network cable (5) for powering the control unit and providing network communication.

Description

[0001] Central unit and system of central units for the detection and location of liquid leaks.

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a control unit for detecting and locating liquid leaks from detection cables. It also relates to a system of control units for detecting and locating liquid leaks from detection cables.

[0004] State of the prior art

[0005] To detect liquid leaks, over long lengths such as oil or water pipelines or over large areas such as industrial premises or computer rooms, it is known to install detection cables connected together in series to form a detection line.

[0006] In such a detection line, each cable comprises an elongated portion which includes over all or part of its length a means sensitive to the liquid(s) to be detected. The cables also comprise in their elongated portion a communication bus, which are connected together to form an interrogation bus running the entire length of the detection line. The end of the detection line is connected to a control unit.

[0007] Today, various central systems exist to manage the cable detection line. However, the number of cables processed by said central system can quickly become limited in large-scale use. Powering these central systems can sometimes be a real problem.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve at least one of these drawbacks.

[0009] Statement of the invention

[0010] This objective is achieved with a central unit for detecting and locating liquid leaks from at least one detection cable, the central unit comprising at least one leak detection circuit, each leak detection circuit being configured to receive at least one detection cable, characterized in that said central unit comprises an Ethernet cable power supply interface configured to receive a single network cable for powering said central unit and ensuring network communication.

[0011] The advantage of the control panel according to the invention is that it simplifies its wiring. This makes it possible to have a control panel that communicates with a parent control panel via a communication network delivered by a network cable for power supply and network. The power delivered by the dedicated network cable depends on the class of the source equipment to which it is connected.

[0012] In addition, this control panel allows the number of detection cables to be monitored to be extended when it is coupled to a mother control panel thanks to the detection circuits present in the control panel. The control panel then allows at least one additional detection circuit to be added.

[0013] The control unit according to the invention makes it possible to supervise a large number of cables, for example, forty water / acid detection cables per detection circuit or equivalent. In another embodiment, the control unit makes it possible to supervise fifty-nine hydrocarbon detection cables or equivalent per detection circuit.

[0014] The control panel also allows for a drastic reduction in power consumption since it is powered by the cable delivering the Ethernet network and not by a mains power supply. This modification also makes it possible to connect more control panels to each other on the same communication network, for example Ethernet.

[0015] A first detection cable is connected to the detection circuit of said control unit. The detection cable connected at a first end can be connected at a second end to a second detection cable. The number of cables connected in series is not limited. This series of detection cables forms a detection line.

[0016] In addition, the detection line, regardless of the number of detection cables that compose it, can be connected to a detection circuit by one of its ends or to two detection circuits of the same control unit, each end being connected to one of the detection circuits of said control unit.

[0017] Advantageously, said central unit may comprise at least two leak detection circuits. Depending on the embodiments, a single circuit may be used, for example, on both.

[0018] The at least one leak detection circuit may correspond to a water / acid detection circuit or a hydrocarbon detection circuit. Depending on the embodiments, the control unit may, for example, comprise only water / acid detection circuits or only hydrocarbon detection circuits. The control unit may also comprise a mixture of both types of detection circuits. This makes it possible to detect different types of leaks via a single control unit.

[0019] According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system of control units for detecting and locating liquid leaks from detection cables comprising a mother control unit and at least one control unit according to the invention, the mother control unit and the at least one control unit communicating with each other via a communication network delivered via the single network cable. The mother control unit makes it possible both to cut / stop defective detection circuits and / or to detect leaks. The mother control unit can also, advantageously, communicate with other systems such as: PLCs, supervision computer for example via a Modbus or Ethernet network.

[0020] The communication network may correspond to an Ethernet network. The mother station communicates with the stations according to the invention via the Ethernet communication network delivered by the single network cable enabling said station to be powered and ensuring network communication.

[0021] Each control panel, as well as the parent control panel, has a single network cable connected to the communications network. The communications network, such as Ethernet, then becomes common to all the control panels connected to it. However, only the parent control panel is powered by a mains supply.

[0022] The main control unit may include at least one human-machine interface and at least one communication device. This allows the user to interact with the control unit system. Advantageously, the communication device corresponds to a touch-sensitive LCD screen. This then allows the user to view, for example, any leaks in the system.

[0023] Description of figures and embodiments

[0024] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:

[0025] [Fig. 1] illustrates a power plant according to the invention. These embodiments being in no way limiting, it will be possible in particular to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence comprising these other characteristics), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, and / or with only a part of the structural details if this part only is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention compared to the state of the prior art.

[0026] The control unit according to the invention belongs to a system of control units for detecting and locating liquid leaks using detection cables connected in series. This system comprises a mother control unit called the main control unit and at least one control unit 1 according to the invention. The mother control unit can communicate with a plurality of control units 1.

[0027] For the sake of vocabulary, the central unit according to the invention will be called a “secondary central unit” in this description. The parent central unit and the at least one secondary central unit 1 communicate with each other via a communication network. The communication network is an Ethernet network. The Ethernet network is delivered via a single cable for powering said central unit 1 and ensuring network communication. The parent central unit and the at least one secondary central unit 1 each have a network cable and dedicated power supplies. The parent central unit has a so-called mains power supply while the at least one secondary central unit 1 is powered via the single cable described above.

[0028] Each detection cable comprises a detector. This detector comprises a management module which is connected to a detection member elongated over the entire length of the detection cable. For detection of a conductive liquid such as for example water / acid base detection, the resistivity of the detection member decreases upon contact with said liquid. For detection of a non-conductive liquid such as hydrocarbon or solvent for example, the resistivity of the detection member increases upon contact with said liquid. In addition to the detection element, the linear sensor comprises a communication element which includes on the one hand two communication conductors and two current supply conductors over the entire length of the detection cable. A detection line is formed by a plurality of detection cables 4 placed in series. The detection line makes it possible to detect leaks.When a leak is detected, the information is sent to the parent control unit or secondary control unit 1 via the said detection line.

[0029] We will now describe, with reference to Figure 1, a secondary power station according to the invention.

[0030] The secondary power station 1 according to the invention comprises an input 5 configured to receive and connect a network cable for supplying the secondary power station 1 with network and current. Each secondary power station 1 is connected to a single network cable. Each single network cable is connected to the Ethernet communication network, which allows all the power stations connected to it to communicate with each other. In the context of the present invention, the secondary power station 1 does not comprise an input dedicated to a mains power supply.

[0031] In the embodiment presented, the secondary control unit 1 comprises two detection circuits 3 intended to receive, via dedicated inputs, each, a detection line composed of a plurality of sensor cables 4 placed in series. The other end of the detection lines can be connected either to the same control unit on a second detection circuit 3, or to the parent control unit, or to another secondary control unit 1 on one of its detection circuits 3, or to an end-of-line plug. Here, only one detection circuit 3 is used. The number of detection circuits in a secondary control unit 1 is not limited and the number of detection circuits used depends on the need. The secondary control unit 1 also comprises a power supply unit (PSU) and a microcontroller unit (MCU).

[0032] The secondary control unit 1 includes an Ethernet network cable power supply interface 6 configured to receive the single network cable on an input 5. The network cable can correspond to a FU45 type cable.

[0033] The various elements making up the secondary control unit 1, such as the microcontroller, the power supply unit and the detection circuits, are supplied with current and network via the Ethernet / PoE (Power over Ethernet) interface 6 where the single cable is connected.

[0034] Typically at least one of the means of the device according to the invention previously described, preferably each of the means of the device according to the invention previously described are technical means. Typically, each of the means of the device according to the invention previously described may comprise at least one computer, a central or computing unit, an analog electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), a digital electronic circuit (preferably dedicated), and / or a microprocessor (preferably dedicated), and / or software means.

[0035] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0036] Of course, the various features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above may be combined with each other.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Central unit for detecting and locating liquid leaks from at least one detection cable (4), the central unit (1) comprising at least one leak detection circuit (3), each leak detection circuit (3) being configured to receive at least one detection cable (4), characterized in that said central unit comprises an electrical power supply interface (6) by Ethernet cable configured to receive a single network cable (5) for powering said central unit and ensuring network communication.

2. A power plant according to claim 1, wherein said power plant (1) comprises at least two leak detection circuits (3).

3. Plant according to claim 1, in which the at least one leak detection circuit (3) corresponds to a water / acid detection circuit or to a hydrocarbon detection circuit.

4. System of control units for the detection and localization of liquid leaks from detection cables comprising a mother control unit and at least one control unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the mother control unit and the at least one control unit (1) communicating with each other via a communication network delivered via the single network cable.

5. A power plant system according to claim 4, wherein the communication network corresponds to an Ethernet network.

6. A central system according to any one of claims 4 to 5, wherein the mother central comprises at least one human-machine interface and at least one communication device.

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