Leak Detection Device Frequency Band Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current leak inspection devices require significant maintenance efforts due to their often underground or hard-to-reach installations, leading to high energy consumption and reduced operational life.

Innovation Solution

A leak inspection device with signal acquisition, inspection signal extraction, and determination means that divides frequency bands to detect leaks, allowing for sequential determination of leak presence across multiple frequency bands, reducing unnecessary processing and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous inspection of all frequency bands is performed, then leak detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak detection precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency band is divided into multiple partial frequency bands, and inspection signals are extracted and determined sequentially for each band. This segmentation allows the system to process frequency bands in parts rather than all at once, reducing peak energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive leak detection capability across the full frequency spectrum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The determination means performs sequential determination of leak presence for each partial frequency band. When a leak is detected in one band, further inspection can be focused on that specific band, performing only the necessary inspection actions rather than exhaustive analysis of all frequency bands, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Use of energy by moving object

If sequential determination across multiple frequency bands is implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but inspection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sequential determination process allows the system to stop inspection early when a leak is detected in one of the partial frequency bands. This means that in many cases, the full sequential inspection of all frequency bands is not required, and the inspection can be completed in less time than a traditional comprehensive inspection, thereby reducing inspection time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If multiple leak inspection devices are installed for pipe coverage, then leak detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleak detection reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency band segmentation and sequential determination approach allows a single inspection device to effectively analyze multiple frequency characteristics of leak signals. This functional segmentation compensates for having fewer physical devices, maintaining leak detection reliability across the pipe system while reducing the number of devices that need to be installed, managed, and maintained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2902768B1Leak-detection device, programme, and control method
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 NEC CORP
  • EP2902768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2902768B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2902768B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A signal acquisition unit (2020) acquires a signal. From the signal acquired by the signal acquisition unit (2020), a detection signal extraction unit (2060) extracts, as a detection signal, a signal of any frequency band among a plurality of partial detection frequency bands into which the frequency band that is the subject of detection has been divided. A determination unit (2070) determines, in order, for each detection signal corresponding to each of the different partial detection frequency bands, whether the detection signal shows any leakage, and if at least a prescribed number of the detection signals are not showing any leakage, determines that leakage is not taking place.